everything you have heard about this movie is true.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

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 and imagery. This one takes place in an African village populated with black people, except for the queen, who is an old white woman (or some kind of bird, I couldn't really tell). The natives are dancing and carrying on at the start of the cartoon when a traveling salesman shows up and gets himself into trouble. Not a funny cartoon and, yes, as politically incorrect as they come. At one point one of the African natives even does an Asian accent. Most of the jokes are dumb, including the dated parodies of Robert Taylor, Clark Gable, and the now-forgotten Al Pearce. The animation is actually quite nice, grotesque depictions of black people aside. It's colorful and the action is well-animated. The music is also good, including the Looney Tunes theme song used during the merry-go-round bit. But really there's no reason to see this unless you are an animation buff or curious about the Censored Eleven.

This is one of the famous "Censored 11"--Looney Toons cartoons that were pulled from circulation in the late 1960s because they were considered racially offensive.I have seen the 11 films and found this one among the least offensive of the cartoons, though what is and isn't offensive is awfully subjective--one person might see it and have a fit and another may not. Some of the 11 are offensive to anyone who isn't a total jerk--this one, however, is debatable.What may offend some is the depiction of cannibals (though how do you depict them well?!). They all look very stereotypical--with big lips and some with bracelets on their necks (though as one astute reviewer pointed out, this is from Burma--no where near cannibal country). One of them also looks a bit like Steppin Fetchit but with huge lips. Considering that these were among the only images of Black Americans on TV for many years, I could see someone being offended by this. Today, with a more diverse lineup on television, this cartoon might even pass unnoticed if shown, but who can tell? My problem with the film isn't so much because of the racist qualities but because of the overall lack of quality in the cartoon. The bottom line is that it just isn't funny and I doubt if anyone will miss this or the vast majority of cartoons from the 1930s--an era when the toons just weren't that good compared to the 40s and 50s. Sure, there are many exceptions, but in general the cartoons were big on being cute but seldom had laughs or interesting characters. Friz Freleng-directed shorts of the 1930s just don't hold a candle to his edgier and funnier films such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Roadrunner cartoons of the studio's golden age. And this is one Freleng short you probably won't mind skipping.My advice is that this and all the Censored 11 cartoons should not be shown on broadcast television unless they are shown with some sort of prologue that could explain the context and reasons they offend. Having them continue to be available on the internet (when you can find them) isn't a bad thing, however, as I am loathe to ban any sort of speech and it is an unfortunate but important part of our history. And if we eliminate EVERYTHING that might offend from our history, then we are left with,...well,...nothing!

This is another of the "Censored 11" Warner Bros. cartoons that I found on Thad's Animation Blog. Thad thinks most of the gags are stupid but since Friz Freling directed this, there are at least a few clever ones like the Looney Tunes Theme-"The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down"-being depicted with these cannibals going up-and-down on a pole in a circle with a tent-like roof and a few others whistling in unison or the tall humanized salesman getting punched in the stomach. Besides that, however, the stereotypical characterizations pretty much defeats whatever entertainment value this short once had and dated references to old-time radio stars doesn't help. And what's with one of the natives speaking in a pseudo-stereotypical broken Chinese English? And why is their leader a white prissy queen drawn as a chicken? And why does she see the dog salesman as humanized Clark Gable and Robert Taylor? If you're a Warner cartoon completest, I'd recommend Jungle Jitters for one time viewing. Otherwise, stay away.

I suspect that even if there weren't stereotypes and caricatures that would be viewed as unacceptable today, this one probably wouldn't air today because it simply isn't all that funny. It starts off okay, but then we meet the "hero", who's about as stupid as they come (I've seen better heads on a glass of root beer) and it goes downhill from his entrance on. This one just doesn't work for some reason. Of interest only to die-hard Warner Brothers fans and rare cartoon enthusiasts. Otherwise, skip this altogether.