Betty Boop and Grampy

An occasional co-star in the Betty Boop cartoons was Grampy--and I sure wish they'd put him in more of these films. No matter what, I always seem to smile when the cartoon is complete thanks to this delightful character.

The cartoon begins with Grampy sending Betty a note--asking her to bring some friends to his place for a party. Along the way, she asks two movers, a fireman and a cop--all who are in the middle of VERY important jobs. Regardless, they drop everything and accompany Betty. At Grampy's house, he demonstrates several goofy inventions and serves punch and cake. Then, using his thinking cap, he figures out a way to make music so everyone can dance. And, while it's only dancing, I couldn't help but smile as I watched the old coot dance! A simple and sweet little cartoon from start to finish, it's got great imagination, terrific animation (I loved the 3-D look at the beginning) and the music will make your toes tap. What more could you want from a cartoon?

This is a fun little Boop short that really stars Grampy.

Grampy is an eccentric old man that by today's standards might come off as a little creepy. Nonetheless, he's a man with great charm... and gadgets. On Betty's way to Grampy's house, she invites all the easily attracted men in her path and humorous antics follow.

I still can't figure out why Grampy's house is so far away from the road!

I'd recommend this short for it's creativity and good music alone.

Grampy sends Betty Boop a letter inviting her to a party and asking her to bring the gang. Two piano movers, a fireman and a traffic cop all drop what they're doing to join in. Grampy's various contraptions, and his novel uses for household objects, make his place loads of fun. He even manages to improvise music with an electric fan, a tea kettle, a pair of gloves and a piece of pipe from his oven. Everyone has a good time, but Grampy proves to be the most youthful of the bunch.

Grampy is not a particularly appealing (or unappealing) character; but his inventions are always very funny. Betty has little to do in this cartoon, except attract men to Grampy's party. By the time this was made, the censors had de-Boop-ified Betty: reducing her from a cute little tease to a syrupy sweet goody-two-shoes. At least here she gets to inspire the lust of men willing to cause catastrophe by neglecting their work.

A good deal of the pre-Production Code Betty Boop cartoons are daring and creative, with content that makes one amazed at what's gotten away with. While the later Betty Boop cartoons made after the Code was enforced are still watchable and exceptionally well-made, they are so toned down that they feel bland.

Fleischer were responsible for some brilliant cartoons, some of them still among my favourites. Their visual style was often stunning and some of the most imaginative and ahead of its time in animation. The character of Betty Boop, one of their most famous and prolific characters, may not be for all tastes and sadly not as popular now, but her sex appeal was quite daring for the time and to me there is an adorable sensual charm about her. The good news is that, while her role is limited here, she has not lost her charm, she is still cute and her comic timing is good.

While it was said in the first paragraph that the later Betty Boop cartoons were bland in comparison to the pre-Code ones there were exceptions. 'Betty Boop and Grampy' is one of those exceptions, and even though not as risqué, daring or surreal as the pre-Code cartoons it does fondly remind one of back when the Betty Boop cartoons had more oomph than after the Code was enforced.

The animation is beautifully drawn and detailed and the music infectious, toe-tapping and dynamic. The dance sequences are fun and Grampy steals the show, a riot of a character and one of the best Betty Boop supporting characters. A rare example of a late Betty Boop cartoon where Bimbo and Koko are not missed too much.

On top of that, 'Betty Boop and Grampy' is one of the funniest and more inventive later Betty Boop cartoons, there is some very funny content here and timed with a lot of wit and imagination. Grampy's inventions are ingenious and rich in imagination.

In summary, one of the best later Betty Boop cartoons and a very good one indeed. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Betty gets a telegram from Grampy to come over to his house "for a little party" and "come right over and bring the gang," he adds. "Ohh," she shrieks, and puts on her hat and heads right over. As she is singing about "Gramy's house" while strutting down the street, she is joined by people who overhear her lyrics and tag along. They literally drop everything (i.e. piano) and follow her.

The rest of the cartoon shows the amazing inventions in Grampy's house and, believe me, they are a hoot to see and hear (such as the clever way he produces music for the party.)

This is great stuff - a "feel-good" cartoon, if I ever saw one.