Betty Boop at St. James Infirmary

Asteriks: [* * * * *]
Rating: PG

This is a banned episode of Betty Boop, probably because the mirror and icicles appear to be in black face.

The episode is called "Snow White", published in 1933, featuring Cab Calloway's rendition of St. James Infirmary. If you've heard Calloway's versions before, this is a particularly haunting rendition, very similar to Louis Armstrong's version.


This episode of Betty Boop displays some great music, and also trippy animation helped marked by the rotoscoping technique developed by Betty Boop's creator, Max Fleischer. During the performance of St. James Infirmary you might notice the background art matching the lyrics, but also try to notice Koko's (Calloway) movements. They're very detailed and smooth, having been rotoscoped over footage of Cab Calloway dancing.