What's your opinion of "Coal Black?"

[Pietro]

This cult Clampett classic seems to be popping up here on GAC a lot lately, so I thought, what the hey, I'll start an entire thread on it :p

What do you think of "Coal Black and De Sebben Dwarfs?":sowhite:

-Pietro:daffy:

[The G Man]

It's a lively, funny cartoon that stands out as one of Clampett's best, and often misunderstood by the people who think it's "racist." :rolleyes:

[J. B. Warner]

Top of the list of Clampett's best cartoons, IMO anyway.

[Daffysleftfoot]

A true masterpiece. Deserves much more respect on the home video market.

[Cartman]

What's my opinion you ask?

Well it's one of the best cartoons ever produced by the boys at Termite Terrace. It's a humorous parody of Disney's Snow White and the swinging jazz music makes this a must-see. It's too bad there are a lot of ignorant people out there who consider it racist. I bet if a more up-to-date version of this cartoon were made today replacing jazz with rap and a ghetto setting, it would be all over the place.:rolleyes:

[RetroMan]

A fantastic cartoon the likes of which are rarely (if ever) seen today. Just about everything about it is enjoyable, the animation, the humor, the great score and lyrics (That'll make So White weak in the knees - Man that stinks like limbugga' cheese!)... too bad I lost my copy.

[Jeff]

Love it. Compressing the whole story of Snow White into 7 minutes combined with the fantastic and lively musical score gives the cartoon extra spunk, especially for a wartime cartoon.

Regards,
Jeff

[Emmanuel Cruz]

This is a great cartoon. The humor is dead-on perfect, the music is great, and despite all the stereotypes, I still can watch this cartoon over and over and get a kick out of it every time. My favorite theme in cartoons is music, and this one is a great music cartoon. Definitely one of my favorite Clampett cartoons.


-Emmanuel:bosko:

[Geezil]

"Looney Tunes Golden Collection" boxed sets: only excellent.

"Coal Black..." as a you-find-it-because-we're-not-ever-saying-where "Easter egg": priceless. :sowhite:


George W. as the "No More Grey Market Dubs of This One in Our Lifetime if We Can Help It" Geezil

[Merrytoon]

One of the best classic cartoons out there. I'm a huge fan of musicals, and cartoons, so musical cartoons are usually my favorites, and this one is especially well made. I love the historical aspect of it as well. Obviously, the cartoon is very dated, but that's partly why I like it, it gives me a glimpse into the past. I'm also a big lover of parody, and this whole cartoon is one big musical parody. Out of all of the "censored 11" cartoons that I've seen, "Coal Black..." is the only one I actually thought was good for anything besides the historical context and "shock value".

[frizfrelengfan]

Like Emmanuel and Merrytoon, I love musical cartoons (one of the reasons I'm a Friz Freleng fan, even though this one is Clampett's). This cartoon has great music and great rhyming humor and is an offbeat take on a well-known tale, told at a frenetic pace. I think it's a masterpiece! I didn't live in those times so I can't say whether it was offensive in the context of its time.

[cabe624]

I'm also a big musical cartoon fan, and "Coal Black" is probably my favorite of all of them (with "Tin Pan Alley Cats" running a close second). To state the obvious, it's really a masterpiece in every respect; Direction by the great Robert Clampett, superb and truly original animation by Rod Scribner, fine story and some hilarious gags by Warren Foster, a typically outstanding score by Carl Stalling, and great voice work by all the actors involved.

[Lee Glover]

"Coal Black" is one of my favourite LT cartoons. This is Bob Clampett and Carl Stalling at their very best. A great combination of fast-paced gags and jazzy musical numbers.

[frogboxer]

Well, it looks like I'm going to be the first one not to say it's a great cartoon or one of my favorites.

Now, before you start coming after me with torches and hayforks, let me explain myself.

I think it's a good cartoon, just not a great one. And by "good" I mean definitely above average and definitely one worth watching and owning.
(Other people, when they say good but not great, they really mean mediocre. That's not what I'm saying.) I just think that there are many other Clampett cartoons that are a lot better: e.g., Falling Hare, Book Revue, Porky in Wackyland, A Corny Concerto, Kitty Kornered, and the list goes on.

I will say this, however: I certainly don't think it deserves all the censorship it has received and it's unfortunate more people aren't given the opportunity to see it.