Sunday Go to Meetin' Time

Merrie Melodies short, directed by Friz Freleng, notable today for being one of the Censored Eleven. For those who don't know, the Censored Eleven are cartoons that were withheld from syndication because they were considered to be too offensive due to their use of racial stereotypes. This cartoon's story takes place in a small, sleepy town on a Sunday morning. Various black characters happily head to church, singing and dancing along the way. One of them, Nicodemus, sneaks away so that he may steal chickens. In the course of his chicken-stealing attempt, he manages to knock himself out and has a nightmare that he goes to Hell. When he awakens he rushes to church, seemingly having changed his ways.

I believe those involved with this short probably thought they were telling a colorful, harmless story with a nice moral lesson, using minstrel imagery and stereotypes that weren't considered offensive at the time (at least in the mainstream). Now, of course, this is something that's difficult for many of us watch and certainly difficult to enjoy in the way it was intended. These things can be hard to rate fairly but I'll try. The depictions of blacks are grotesque but, otherwise, the animation is solid for the time. It's hard to judge color and sound quality when this hasn't been released in any kind of cleaned-up condition that I'm aware of. Overall, racism aside, it's a forgettable short that was pretty typical of the kinds of cartoons that were being produced at the time by Leon Schlesinger. If you're an animation buff you'll want to see it and the other shorts on the Censored Eleven list. Most people won't want to see this and children certainly shouldn't be exposed to it until they are old enough to understand the context and history behind it. I should also add that, while watching this makes me uncomfortable, I'm against locking it away and pretending it doesn't exist. That doesn't help anything.

While it's true that "Sunday Go To Meetin' Time" contains very stereotypical portrayals of African-Americans, it appears that the people behind the cartoon were actually taking some interest in African-American culture. The cartoon has a man skipping church, but then getting knocked out and dreaming that Satan sentences him to eternal damnation for his misdeeds. Personally, I'd rather go out and entertain myself than spend all day in any religious institution. Maybe I'd go out and watch a movie (in religious people's minds, it would easily get me sent to Hell if the movie starred someone like Elke Sommer; if so, then Hell here I come!).

But I digress. This cartoon is worth seeing, just as long as you understand the offensive content.

Nicodemus sneaks out of church, only to find himself knocked unconcious by a fence post. He awakens in the devil's court, and has to "give the devil his due". The cartoon isn't really racist at all, except for a scene in which a mom is putting shoe polish on her child's head. The rest of it really celebrates African-Americans as singing, happy folks, and isn't ment to be malicious. Then again, it might not appeal to everyone, but it was made 66 years ago (almost 67), and things have changed. Worth seeking out.

This was the second, in chronological order, of the Censored 11 Warner Bros. cartoons I've watched on Thad's Animation Blog. Sunday Go to Meetin' Time has the stereotypical drawn caricature of African-Americans with big white lips as well as the Stepin' Fetchit prototype in leading character Nicodemus. A really offensive scene has a mother putting shoe polish on her bald kids' heads then the father shining them on the other side. Other than that, this was a pretty entertaining musical cartoon about the leading character going to Hell and back. That Friz Freling directed this should come as no surprise since his musical shorts are usually some of the most entertaining. Worth a look for any animation buff who's aware of certain time period acceptance of certain stereotypes.

"Sunday Go to Meetin' Time" is a short from Looney Tunes which was pulled from circulation long ago due to its dates content. And, while the short has some good and interesting things about it, you can't divorce this from much of the material...which is seriously dated and offensive.

The story begins on a Sunday and almost all the black characters are heading to church. All this occurs with a very catching tune...and these black characters all have very large, stereotypical lips...though they are also portrayed as decent people. However, one of them (a guy who looks a lot like Stepin Fetchit) is out trying to steal chickens...when he accidentally knocks himself out. He then is transported to Hell for a variety of reasons...including stealing watermelons and chickens as well as shooting craps! But when he awakens, he realizes the error of his ways and rushes to church.

The quality of the animation and music are excellent. Also, this could have been a pretty good short but all the stereotypes are pretty offensive to most and I can certainly see why they pulled it from circulation.

If you do want to see it, it's posted on YouTube...though the copy is in horrendous shape.