FREE TOON PREVIEW

ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL CARTOONS OF A GENERATION

"Coal Black and the Sebben Dwarfs"

Warner Bros has done it's best to bury this fantastic cartoon, but it remains one of the most controversial cartoons ever made and at the same time one of the most acclaimed! Intended to parody Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Sebben Dwarfs" Bob Clampett legendary Director of Warner Bros Cartoons and co-creator of the early TV puppet series "Time for Beany" came up with the idea for a toon that would combine his love of jazz, appreciation for Black musicians and his outrageous sense of humor. The story goes the name was to have been "So White and the Sebben Dwarfs" but the studio insisted on a change to "Coal Black". (Although the character's name mentioned in the film is SO WHITE).

Clampett took his team of animators (Rod Scbribner, Virgil Ross and Mike Sasanoff) to a string of Central L.A. jazz night clubs to capture the vitality of jitterbug, jazz and jive. Then he signed on some of the greatest black entertainers of the day to perform. Vivian Dandridge became the voice of So White. Vivian's mother, Ruby Dandridge became the evil stepmother Queenie. Zoot Watson eagerly lent his voice talents to the character Prince Chawmin. Eddie Beals contributed the tremendous jazz and boogie score. Clampett wanted an all black orchestra, but the purse strings were held too tightly at Warner Bros for him to get that concession.

In recent years the cartoon has taken on a reputation as dark as the title itself.. But defenders rightly point out the film was made entirely without malice and with the unbridled cooperation of black artists. Clampett's own motives are proven pure by the fact that he insisted on and got clearance to use the two Dandridge ladies, Zoot Watson and Eddie Beal at a time when Hollywood's racial bias wasn't very well hidden. Also, Clampett saw to it that themes within the picture cast blacks in a favorable light. For example, one of the war time patriotic scenes shows black soldiers wearing US Army uniforms performing acts of courage and heroic deeds. It's true the characters were in caricature, but it is acknowledged that these scenes were among the very few out of Hollywood in the era which depicted blacks in favorable roles. There are some unkind stereotypes like the razor attached to the bayonet in the photo above right.

According to the film's defenders ... this TOON was very popular among hip black musicians of the era and general audiences of all hues. A few years ago this was voted in the top half of the 100 greatest cartoons ever made.

Movie buffs take note of the homage to "Citizen Cane" when the camera goes in on Prince Chawmin's lips and he pronounces in a deep voice whisper ... "Rosebud".

The larger audience has only been able to wonder about it. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS CARTOON? It is offered here to give you an opportunity to make up your own mind. We take NO editorial position and present it strictly for it's historical value as representative of War Time Entertainment in America.

By the way ... if you want to BUY a VHS video of this historic toon, it's yours for just $19.95 plus S&H!

In addition to "COAL BLACK" we will send you SIX more outrageous politically incorrect Cartoons as a FREE BONUS. You'll get:

"Jungle Jitters" from Warner Bros color
A door to door salesman hops into the canibal's stew pot to avoid marrying the Queen who imagines him as Clark Gable and Robert Taylor.

"Scrub Me Mama with a Boogie Beat" from Walter Lanz B&W
The steam boat pulls into lazy town and a brown bombshell teaches the town some hot moves. Probably the greatest boogie sound track ever recorded.

"Scalp Trouble" Warner Bros B&W
Porky Pig and Daffy Duck battle native "Injuns" at an old western fort.

"Molly Moo Cow and Robinson Crusoe" Van Beuren color
Molly rescues R.C. from ... you guessed it .., canibal's stewpot.

"Japoteurs" Superman Cartoon Short Paramount color
The man of steel takes on sneaking saboteurs during World War II.

"Private Snafu" Warner Bros Warner Bros B&W
Situational normal in this World War II anti nazi propaganda cartoon made for Uncle Sam as a training film.

"Jungle Drums" Superman Cartoon Short Paramount color
Lois Lane is menaced by natives with bones in their noses which are led by a nazi dressed as a jungle god.

To buy "Coal Black" and SIX other Politically Incorrect Toons on VHS Video Tape enter your name in the space below and click on for Secure Server.

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