Dizzy Dishes

About the production

Produced during the transition from silent to sound cinema, this short was part of the 'Talkartoons' series which focused on synchronizing animation with popular music. The animation was handled primarily by Grim Natwick, who is credited with the initial design of the character that would become Betty Boop. The production utilized the 'bounce' style of animation where characters and objects move rhythmically to the beat of the soundtrack. The film was produced in the Fleischer's New York studio, which maintained a grittier, more urban aesthetic compared to the West Coast style of Disney.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

Dizzy Dishes (1930) belongs to Fleischer sound transition and Betty's evolution from dog-eared singer to star.

Why this film matters

Betty's debut marked alternative animation sensibility to Disney innocence before Code taming.

Making of

The creation of the female character in 'Dizzy Dishes' was somewhat accidental; Grim Natwick was tasked with creating a girlfriend for Bimbo and drew a humanoid figure with long, floppy dog ears that resembled earrings. Dave Fleischer encouraged the animators to push the boundaries of surrealism, leading to the kitchen scenes where food items take on lives of their own. The recording of the audio was done using the Western Electric sound-on-film system, which was cutting-edge for 1930. The animators worked closely with the musical director to ensure that every 'squash and stretch' movement landed on a musical beat, a process known as 'Mickey Mousing' (though pioneered equally by Fleischer).

What critics said

Audiences responded to voice and design; animation history treats it as foundational Betty text.

Did you know?

• the production marks the first appearance of the character who would evolve into Betty Boop, though here she is depicted as an anthropomorphic French Poodle.
• The character's signature 'Boop-Oop-A-Doop' phrase had not yet been fully established, but her vocal style was already present.
• The singer character was modeled after the popular 'Boop-Boop-a-Doop' girl Helen Kane, leading to a famous future lawsuit.
• Grim Natwick, the lead animator, later admitted he didn't know how to draw a dog well, which is why the character looked more human than intended.
• The waiter character is a variation of Bimbo the Dog, who was the primary star of the Talkartoons at the time.
• The song performed in the short, 'I Have to Have You', was a popular hit from the 1929 film 'The Dance of Life'.
• The animation features 'rubber hose' physics, where limbs stretch and bend without joints.
• The short contains several 'pre-code' elements of humor that would later be censored by the Hays Code.
• The background art features the distinctively dark, surrealist ink-wash style of the early Fleischer era.
• The film was originally released as part of a package of shorts to accompany Paramount feature films.

Visual style

As an animated short, the 'cinematography' involves hand-drawn backgrounds with high-contrast ink washes. The use of perspective is often distorted for comedic effect, and the 'camera' remains mostly static while the action moves frantically within the frame. The lighting is represented through stark black-and-white shading, creating a noir-like atmosphere in the kitchen scenes.

Innovations

The film demonstrates advanced sound-synchronization for 1930, particularly in the way the character's mouth movements match the scat-singing. The Fleischers' use of the 'Rotoscope' (though used sparingly here) and their unique approach to rhythmic timing set a technical standard for the industry. The 'rubber hose' animation technique is seen here in its highly developed form.

Music

The soundtrack is a lively jazz score featuring the song 'I Have to Have You' (written by Leo Robin and Richard A. Whiting). The music is central to the film, dictating the pace of the animation. The voice work by Margie Hines (the first voice of Betty) established the high-pitched, squeaky vocal archetype that would define the character for decades.

Famous quotes

I have to have you, I have to have you! (Lyrics sung by the early Betty Boop character)

Memorable scenes

• The debut of the poodle-version of Betty Boop on the cabaret stage, where she performs her signature dance and song.
• The kitchen sequence where the waiter battles various sentient food items and kitchen utensils.
• The final scene where the waiter attempts to serve a giant roast to a customer, only for the roast to come to life.

What audiences thought

Contemporary audiences were captivated by the 'Talkartoons' because of their innovative use of sound and popular music. The character of the poodle-singer was an instant standout, leading to a flood of fan mail asking for more appearances of the 'girl' character. Today, animation fans view it with a mix of curiosity and reverence as the starting point for a cultural phenomenon.

Film connections

Influenced by

• Helen Kane
• Vaudeville
• The Jazz Age
• German Expressionism (visual style)

This film influenced

• The Betty Boop series
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit
• Cuphead (video game aesthetic)

Film restoration

The film is preserved and exists in the public domain. It has been restored and included in various 'Betty Boop' and 'Fleischer Talkartoons' DVD and Blu-ray collections, including those by Olive Films and the UCLA Film & Television Archive.

Where to watch

• YouTube (Public Domain)
• Internet Archive
• Betty Boop: The Essential Collection Blu-ray
• Various classic animation streaming services