Title: Red Hot Mamma
Year: 1934
Director: David Fleischer
Country: US
Language: English
As a result of ongoing controversy- catholics outraged at the animated heroine's suggestive sexual nature- pressure from Paramount meant that the Fleisher studios had to tone down Boop. This cartoon would be one last chance to raise a middle finger to the preachy censors. In Red Hot Mamma our beloved flapper literally goes to hell.
It's a cold winter night and Betty Boop lights a fire. Unfortunately she is still cold and the only thing that can warm her are the fires of hell.
Rejected by the British Board of Film Censors in the United Kingdom due to depicting hell in a humorous manner, its clear that the Fleisher Studio didn't give a shit when it came to offending the more religious in society. Boop shorts had already become less compelling because of being forced to tip-toe around the issues and soon this would be the last cartoon of hers to have a jazzy score (somehow jazz also = devil?) .
Red Hot Mamma is a marvel to look at; its animation is impeccable and the surreal nature of the story is a spectacle to behold. The plot is quite thin, but considering how few cartoon characters in cinema have gone to hell, especially in those days, one can still be captivated by the sheer rarity. The creative jokes throughout make for a good laugh; it's quite a fun cartoon that has aged very well.
Delightfully gratuitous silhouette images of Betty in her nightgown aside, Red Hot Mamma may not be one of the studios' greatest Betty Boop cartoons, but it is certainly one of the most daring. It deserves to be beloved based on courage alone.
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