Jack and the Beanstalk (1931)

Jack and the Beanstalk was originally released November 21st, 1931 and is the final cartoon in which Betty Boop is an anthropomorphic dog woman. What's also interesting is that Bimbo was given his older design again for this short, even though he had evolved into his most recognizable design in earlier animated Talkartoons shorts since The Herring Murder Case (1931), which makes me think this short must've been made earlier and possibly delayed, especially considering that Betty was given her human design for the first time in the preceding Mask-a-Raid (1931).

Bimbo declares war on that obnoxious giant in the sky, always littering on his farm. Bimbo has a can of beans under his hat that he plants intending to grow a beanstalk (apparently he's read Jack and the Beanstalk). Rather than Bimbo climbing the beanstalk, it raises Bimbo, as it grows, through the heavens right to his enemy. Bimbo gets sidetracked a little when he sees Betty Boop imprisoned and forced to prepare food for the giant. Like a gentlemen, he helps her stir the giant bowl of split pea soup.

Later, while Bimbo is busy annoying the giant, an anthropomorphic mouse (Mickey, is that you?) crawls out and grabs on to Betty, providing Bimbo with the dual objective of defeating the giant and saving Betty from asshole Mickey. Betty's sudden cries of "save me!" feel forced and are perhaps a parody of the damsel in distress theme. While she's shouting for Bimbo to save her, Betty's face strangely transforms into what looks like someone else's face.

Again Fleischer Studios managed to adapt another classic tale before Disney (I'm referring to Mickey and the Beanstalk from 1947). I was happy to discover a Jack and the Beanstalk Talkartoons short starring Betty Boop and Bimbo, as I had overlooked it for sometime, but I thought it was a little disappointing after I watched it, and it didn't seem to get better on repeat viewing. Betty is of course wonderful during the times she is animated on screen, but the cartoon is a little lacking otherwise. It is interesting to see Fleischer Studios apply their usual wit to a well-known fairytale, but it really could've been better. It is what it is though, and I don't hate it. To be fair, a lot happens in its near seven minute running time, and as usual the animation is charming and technically impressive for its time. I loved the numerous images of castles on the clouds as Bimbo makes his ascent riding the beanstalk. I have to admit to also thinking about the Super Mario Brothers hidden coin levels.