Dizzy Red Riding Hood (1931) More at IMDbPro »

"Dizzy Red Riding Hood" (1931) is an early attempt by the Fleischers to place Betty Boop in a children's tale setting with surreal imagery and the occasional ribald gag. It's not as successful as the Boop version of "Snow White" (1933), one of Fleischer's undisputed masterpieces, but it is enthralling, occasionally funny and offers a surprising portrayal of Betty's dog sidekick, Bimbo, as more of a leading man. Here, Betty, dressed up as Red Riding Hood, ventures into the dark, foreboding forest on the way to Grandma's despite warnings (by the trees) of a wolf at large. She sings a song about picking flowers and includes a verse about pansies, to which an effeminate tree responds in song, "And the fairies like them, too." The hungry wolf, who follows Betty with knife and fork at the ready, offers only a momentary threat. The one Betty really has to worry about is the lusty Bimbo himself who makes short work of the wolf, puts on his skin and beats Betty to Grandma's house where he waits in bed disguised as the wolf disguised as Grandma. As Betty sings a song to "Grandma" about how big "her" eyes, ears, teeth, etc. are, Bimbo seems to take great glee in groping her and lifting her up. The ending is surprising, but quite satisfying, especially for fans who've always wanted poor Bimbo to get more of a break.

As usual with the early Boops, the black-and-white animation is filled with objects and pieces of nature that come to life and talk to Betty. It's a fun cartoon to watch, although it's never as inspired as the peak period Boops of 1933, such as "Snow White" and "Minnie the Moocher." Despite the risqué gags, which will go over the heads of the very young, "Dizzy Red Riding Hood" should still be safe for the same kids who enjoyed such family-friendly Betty Boop children's tale parodies as "Mother Goose Land" and "Betty in Blunderland."