| Swing Wedding | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Hugh Harman |
| Produced by | Hugh Harman Rudolph Ising |
| Animation by | Larry Martin (unc.) Tom McKimson (unc.) |
| Color process | Technicolor |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
|
Running time | 8 min (one reel) |
| Language | English |
Swing Wedding is a 1937MGMHappy Harmonies cartoon directed byHugh Harman.[1]
A "sequel" to the 1936 shortThe Old Mill Pond, the cartoon portrays awedding celebrated by a group offrogs in a swamp. The frogs are designed ascaricatures of variousAfrican American celebrities of the 1930s, such asEthel Waters,Stepin Fetchit,Louis Armstrong,Cab Calloway,Fats Waller and theMills Brothers.
Though hailed as "'one of the finest one-reelers in all of animation" by some commentators,[2] others have derided the use ofZip Coon-type figures and stereotypical dialogue (including expressions such as "Who dat?" and "Yowza!").[3] The film also contains a controversial scene in which a frog musician uses histrumpetvalve as asyringe. The scene plays on thestereotype of blackjazz musicians using drugs before performing.[4][5]
This cartoon was re-released in a shorter version called "Hot Frogs" in 1942 as a "soundies" format.
The story parallels a Mill Pond sequence but without a wedding in the plotline. InSwing Wedding, Ethel-like Minnie sings "Let Me Take You Down to Chinatown (It's Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day)" quite well, backed up by the Boswell Sisters sound-alike gal frogs, who wear flimsy long gowns that reveals their very chorus-girl legs right up to their crotches. InThe Old Mill Pond following a big number by Frog Calloway, Ethel as Minnie sings "Jungle Rhythm" without back-up singers, although she is attended by a chorus line of dancing gals. Cab's appearance is delayed in Swing Wedding until cued by his intention to steal Minnie away from Smoky Joe.
— Wild Realm Reviews, The Jazz Frogs
National Exhibitor (March 20, 1937): "The frogs put on a wedding to hot music. Caricatures are made of Negro mannerisms. There appear characters very much like Stepin Fetchit, Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller. This isn't up to the previous efforts from the Harman-Ising bunch".[6]
Boxoffice (Apr 10, 1937): "Against a background of riotous color, Harman-Ising studios have executed a clever satire on the current craze for swing music which is certain to add a bright note to any program. Such famoussepia stars as Cab Calloway a famous American jazz singer, dancer, bandleader and actor, "Fats" Waller a Pianist and Bill Robinson who was a famous tap dancer during the first half of the 20th century these African American musicians and dancers are caricatured as frogs and the resemblance to the millpond denizens is astounding. The musical accompaniment to the gay frog-pond wedding ceremony is delightfully swinging, although the basic tunes are easily recognizable. A distinctly novel color cartoon".[6]
Selected Motion Pictures (May 1, 1937): "A colorful fantasy of the wedding of two frogs. Fine musical syncopation. Amusing though noisy entertainment".[6]
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