This is going to be fairly similarly worded to some of my other reviews for the Betty Boop cartoons made after the Production Code, as they all have the same strengths and flaws pretty much.A good deal of the pre-Production Code Betty Boop cartoons are daring and creative, with content that makes one amazed at what's gotten away with. While the later Betty Boop cartoons made after the Code was enforced are still watchable and exceptionally well-made, they are so toned down, with the risqué and surreal edge and creativity of the pre-Code cartoons gone, that they feel bland.Fleischer were responsible for some brilliant cartoons, some of them still among my favourites. Their visual style was often stunning and some of the most imaginative and ahead of its time in animation.In one of her cartoons made after the Production Code was put in place, Betty Boop stars with Henry in a cartoon that is nowhere near among her best (though certainly steps up from her previous cartoon 'Making Stars' which was very much a misfire), and she herself is past prime but cute and amusing enough with some inventive moments.'Betty Boop with Henry the Funniest Living American' is very cute with the animals, and there are amusing moments such as the lengths Henry goes through to get the birds back and some good imagination in the visuals and timing. The animation is beautifully drawn and detailed and the music infectious and dynamic. The voice acting is good.Henry gives the cartoon some fun and he doesn't veer on the wrong side of annoying or freaky, if never really living up to the cartoon's deceptively hyperbolic title. The animals are nice.On the other hand, although Betty hasn't lost her charm or sense of comedy (and she works well with Henry), what made her such a popular and prolific character (her sensuality and sex appeal, with daringly risqué material) at the time is heavily muted as a result of the Code so she does feel somewhat bland.Similarly the cartoon in general in comparison to her pre-Code cartoons. If anybody enjoyed the pre-code Betty Boop cartoons for being wonderfully surreal and for its daring risqué content that was ahead of the time back in the 30s and wouldn't be seen a lot now in cartoons, they will be disappointed here. Both are missing which gives a rather tame. More creativity and more consistent humour would have been more welcome, as well as a story with more variation and material.Overall, cute and amusing but not representative of Betty Boop at her best. 6/10 Bethany Cox

This Betty Boop cartoon took me by surprise. I had no idea that Henry* was ever in cartoons and this was an interesting combination that occurred, probably because of Fleischer Studio's relationship with King Features Syndicate—the same organization that published the Popeye and Henry cartoons in the newspapers. However, judging from the results, I can see why Henry never became much of a movie star, as he's just kind of creepy and possibly brain-addled. The cartoon begins with the always mute Henry coming to Betty Boop's pet shop. He wants a dog (Pudgy) and Betty tells him he can have the dog IF he minds the store for her. However, he pretty much ruins the place and Betty is furious. However, I kept thinking why would you leave a mute bald kid with a HUGE head in charge of a pet shop?! In the end, Henry redeems himself and everyone is happy.The title card for this short calls Henry "The Funniest Living American". Perhaps this was a reference to the death of the humorist Will Rogers that same year. Or, it was an indication of just how depressing the Depression was. After all, if this annoying bald freak was the funniest guy we had to offer, life must have really, really sucked! Simply put, he wasn't very funny. Freaky, yes…but funny,…not in the least.*Carl Anderson introduced this comic character in 1932 and he lasted in newspapers all the way up to 1979 and even later with reprints of old strips. I loved him as a kid because I could enjoy him without being able to read.

PERHAPS in an attempt to find another "Hot Property" for adaptation, the Brothers Fleischer thought back to their highly successful foray into the world of the Newspaper Comic Strip with their production of 1933's POPEYE THE SAILOR (Fleischer Studios/Paramount). Although it was a part of the BETTY BOOP Series, Miss B. only made a brief appearance in the short; leaving the rest as a pilot episode for the possible emergence of a full blown series.AS is now common knowledge, the gruff, squinty eyed, brawlin' seaman became perhaps the most successful cartoon series ever; outlasting and literally outliving the Fleischers and their Studio, lasting to this day.RETURNING to King Features for another try at luck was no doubt the reason for trying out the very popular HENRY Comic Strip character in a BETTY BOOP outing; objective being the seeking of another series. The reasoning then surely seemed sound. HENRY was a most popular feature in the Hearst Papers' line-up; appearing as both a Daily and on Sunday's Color Comics Supplement, PUCK, THE COMICS WEEKLY. You know, "What Fools These Mortals Be!" Remember that one, Schultz? IN viewing the chubby, little, bald boy Comic Strip 'Hero' and his on screen antics, both solo and in tandem with Miss Betty; we were pleasantly surprised in seeing just how well the character was handled. The story and Director Dave Fleischer both afforded a plethora of comic strip-like situations and sight gags that seemed most appropriate for the character of little Henry. These mostly silent vignettes were very important to the animated film in remaining faithful to the printed page; as the HENRY Feature was mostly done in a sort of 4 color 'mime'.IN the cartoon, titled BETTY BOOP WITH HENRY: THE FUNNIEST LIVING American (Fleischer Studios/Paramount Pictures Corporation, 1935), we see what is; basically being a one situational exercise; being punctuated with the usual array of Dave Fleischer's rapid fire, machine gun-like gags. In short, Henry spots a puppy in the window of Betty Boop's Pet Shop. It is a sort of love at first sight as Henry attempts to purchase the little pup dog with the only money he had, to coins in his pocket. He is in formed by Miss Boop that it would be $2.00 in depression era money to make the purchase. Tears appear as the little guy leaves dejectedly.BUT a reprieve is soon on the horizon as Betty asks the boy to mind the store, while she leaves on urgent business. In return for his services, Miss Betty promises him the little dog in return. Of course, they have a deal and Betty leaves.GETTING to the work of cleaning cages and feeding the livestock affords the opportunity for the Fleischer Crew to fire up a whole new string of gags; this time featuring bird seed, Henry's bald pate and push brooms. (But not all at once of course, Schultz!) Henry's enthusiasm for mass feeding of the store's avian population by first literally seeding his head soon leads to a mass defection of the birds; out of the store to the open street in a mass jail break.BETTY returns to this sight and expresses her disappointment and anger with Henry's temporary custodial care. All bets were off, no doggie for Henry. He begins to leave; dejectedly; but soon convinces the proprietress to give him another shot at fixing things up. His head covered with bird seed, he manages to corral all of the little feathered creatures; returning them to their pet store coop. Happily, the little fella leaves; but this time he has his own affectionate, little, face licking puppy.UNDOUBETLY this was a winning combination. We have the carefree, energy filled, free wheeling of the boy, the kindness of Betty and the emotions of the situation and doubtful outcome of the 'boy and his dog' situation. Max and Dave Fleischer had given us a sort of almost minor mini-masterpiece of a surreal comedy short.WE were quite surprised that no HENRY Series followed. Judging by the fairly faithful treatment of the character, it certainly could have been sustained for some time. At any rate, this teaming was in many ways the best of the Betty Boop try out pictures. Although the first, POPEYE THE SAILOR (Fleischer/Paramount, 1933), was the most successful (and barely had any Betty Boop in it, save for a cameo as a carnival hula dancer); the HENRY Short was much better than the two following King Features "tryouts", BETTY BOOP AND THE LITTLE KING and BETTY BOOP AND LITTLE JIMMY, both 1936.POODLE SCHNITZ!!

The silent one-panel cartoon Henry comes to Fleischer Studios, billed as "The world's funniest human" in this dull little cartoon. Betty, long past her prime, thanks to the Production Code, is running a pet shop and leaves Henry in charge for far too long -- five minutes. A bore.