Difference between revisions of "Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs"

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[[File:Coal-black1.jpg|thumb]]
 
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<b>Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs</b> is a 1943 Merrie Melodies animated cartoon directed by Bob Clampett, produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions company and distributed by Warner Bros. The short was released on January 16, 1943.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_Black_and_de_Sebben_Dwarfs Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs] retreived December 20, 2020</ref>
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<b>Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs</b> is a Merrie Melodies animated animation directed by Bob Clampett and produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions for Warner Bros in 1943. On January 16, 1943, the film was released.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_Black_and_de_Sebben_Dwarfs Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs] retreived December 20, 2020</ref>
The cartoon is an all-black parody of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Snow White, known to its audience from the popular 1937 Walt Disney animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. As such, it is one of the most controversial cartoons in the classic Warner Brothers library. Hence, United Artists banned this cartoon from syndication back in 1968, as consequence this cartoon listed into the famous [[Censored Eleven]].
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The cartoon is a black-and-white spoof of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Snow White, made famous by Walt Disney's 1937 animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. As a result, it is one of the most divisive cartoons in the Warner Brothers archive. As a result, United Artists banned the syndication of this cartoon in 1968, and following the consequence this cartoon listed into the famous [[Censored Eleven]].
 
 
The working title was "So White And De Sebben Dwarfs." It was changed at the last minute to avoid confusion with the Disney feature.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035743/ IMDb Trivia] retrieved December 20,2020</ref>
 
  
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"So White And De Sebben Dwarfs" was the working title. To prevent misunderstanding with the Disney feature, it was updated at the last minute.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035743/ IMDb Trivia] retrieved December 20,2020</ref>
  
  
 
==Plot==
 
==Plot==
Coal Black’s setting is modernized, in contrast to the “timeless” approach by Disney’s Snow White. Produced by Leon Schlesinger in 1942, Coal Black is set in World War II, and the dwarfs are small American soldiers on the homefront.<br>
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The setting of Coal Black is modernized, as opposed to the "timeless" approach of Disney's Snow White. Coal Black, directed by Leon Schlesinger and released in 1942, is set during World War II, and the dwarfs are tiny American soldiers stationed at homefront.<br>
 
[[File:Coal-black-model600.jpg|thumb]]
 
[[File:Coal-black-model600.jpg|thumb]]
The short opened with the Mammy character, who, while in shadow, is clearly a large black woman with a distinct "Negroid" voice. The Mammy tells a story to her child who is a big-cheeked pickanniny with a bow in her hair.<br>
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The short began with the Mammy lead, who is obviously a big black woman with a distinct "Negroid" voice despite being in darkness. The Mammy is telling a story to her baby, who is a big-cheeked pickanny with a bow in her hair.<br>
  
The story begin with The Queen who lives in the palace asking for a 6-feet tall prince to the magic mirror. The Prince named Prince Chawmin came in limousine. Back in laundry room the protagonist So White sings "My hair coal black and my name So White and I washes all day.” also looking for Prince Charming. Prince Chawmin meet the So White and tell her he is the prince she's been waiting for and they dance and sing together happily. Angry and jealous The Queen try to get rid So White by calling Murder inc. The Murder inc. take So White and dumped her in the jungle. Alive, So White meet the Sebben Dwarfs the American soldiers on the homefront in World War II.<br>
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The story begins with the Queen of the palace requesting a 6-foot-tall prince to be sent to the magical mirror. The Prince named Prince Chawmin arrived in limousine. The protagonist So White sings "My hair coal black and my name So White and I washes all day" back in laundry room also looking for Prince Charming. Prince Chawmin greets So White and tells her that he is the prince she has been waiting for, and the two dance and sing happily together. Enraged and jealous The Queen attempts to eliminate So White by contacting The Murder Inc. So White was kidnapped by the Murder Inc. and dumped in the jungle. The Sebben Dwarfs, American soldiers on the homefront during World War II, are met by alive So White.<br>
  
Meanwhile, the queen has learned that So White is still alive, and pumps an apple full of poison to give to the girl and kill her. The queen disguises herself as an old peddler woman, and arrives at the Sebben Dwarfs' camp and gives So White the poisoned apple. One of the seven dwarfs alerts the others that the queen has caused So White to death. As the queen makes her escape over the hills, the dwarfs load a cannon with both a war shell and "Dopey." Successfully the queen has been defeated, So White is still dead to the world. The dwarfs note, in spoken rhyme:
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Meanwhile, the queen discovers that So White is still alive and prepares a poisoned apple to give to the girl in order to kill her. The queen disguises herself as an elderly peddler and travels to the Sebben Dwarfs' camp to deliver the poisoned apple to So White. One of the seven dwarfs informs the others that the queen is responsible for the death of So White. The dwarfs load a cannon with both a war shell and "Dopey" as the queen flees over the hills. The queen has been defeated, but White is still dead in the eyes of the world. In spoken rhyme, the dwarfs say:
  
 
<i>She's outta this world! She's stiff as wood!<br>
 
<i>She's outta this world! She's stiff as wood!<br>
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and dat's Prince Chawmin' and his Dynamite Kiss!<br></i>
 
and dat's Prince Chawmin' and his Dynamite Kiss!<br></i>
  
Upon the dwarfs' invoking his name, the prince jumps into the scene in a spotlight and promises to "give her a kiss". The Prince Chawmin kiss So White but she didn't wake up. Prince Chawmin' keeps frantically kissing So White trying to awaken her, but without any luck. Tired, his face turns blue, before turning into a withered old, pale-faced man, shrugging his shoulders in defeat. The "Dopey" dwarf then saunters over to So White, and, to the tune of "You're in the Army Now," lays a goodbye kiss on the girl and So White wake up.
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The prince enters the scene in a spotlight after the dwarfs invoke his name, promising to "give her a kiss." So White did not wake up after Prince Chawmin kissed her. Prince Chawmin' kisses So White frantically in an attempt to awaken her, but to no avail. He becomes a withered old, pale-faced man, shrugging his shoulders in defeat, as his face turns blue from exhaustion. The "Dopey" dwarf then strolls over to So White and gives her a goodbye kiss to the tune of "You're in the Army Now," causing So White to wake up.
  
 
[[File:Coal-black-lobby2.jpg|thumb]]
 
[[File:Coal-black-lobby2.jpg|thumb]]
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In April 1943, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAACP NAACP] protested the caricatures which appeared in Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs, and called on Warner to withdraw it.<ref>Slotnik, Daniel E. (April 28, 2008) [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/business/media/28cartoon.html Cartoons of a Racist Past Lurk on YouTube] Retrieved December 20, 2020</ref><br>
 
In April 1943, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAACP NAACP] protested the caricatures which appeared in Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs, and called on Warner to withdraw it.<ref>Slotnik, Daniel E. (April 28, 2008) [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/business/media/28cartoon.html Cartoons of a Racist Past Lurk on YouTube] Retrieved December 20, 2020</ref><br>
  
The same basic stereotypical elements present in the earlier Censored Eleven films are also present in Coal Black, depicted with more detail and made to conform to Clampett's "wacky" directorial style. This short throws virtually every black stereotype into the mix, beginning with the Mammy character, who, while in shadow, is clearly a large black woman with a distinct "Negroid" voice. The Prince named “Prince Chawmin” is a similarly caricatured black man: he has straightened hair, wears a white zoot suit and a monocle, and has gold teeth (his two front teeth are dices for teeth–an homage to the hoary gambling stereotype attached to African Americans). So White is portrayed as big-bottomed younger black woman, with perky bosoms and revealing clothing. The Wicked Queen is a bandanna and slippers away from a mammy caricature.
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Coal Black contains the same basic stereotypical elements as the earlier Censored Eleven films, but they are depicted in greater detail and made to conform to Clampett's "wacky" directorial style. The Mammy character, who is clearly a large black woman with a distinct "Negroid" voice, is the first of many black stereotypes thrown into the mix in this short. Prince Chawmin is a similarly caricatured black man, with straightened hair, a white zoot suit and a monocle, and gold teeth (his two front teeth are dices for teeth–an homage to the long-held stereotype of African Americans as gamblers). So White is depicted as a younger black woman with big bottoms, perky bosoms, and revealing clothing. A mammy caricature is only a bandanna and slippers away for the Wicked Queen. The characters all have the stereotypical ethnic caricature of large lips and, of course, black skin.
All of the characters have the standard ethnic caricature of big lips and of course black skin tone.
 
  
Also, the film’s depictions of African Americans reflected some realities of African American life in 1942, and these images may also have been part of the film’s undoing in 1968. The dwarfs are an all-African American military unit, and this grouping acknowledged that the United States did have at that time a segregated army. So White’s job as a laundress was one of the most common occupations for African American women at the time, especially in the Jim Crow South.<ref>[https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-censored-11-coal-black-and-the-sebben-dwarfs-1943/ Cartoon Research] retrieved December 20,2020</ref>
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The film's portrayals of African Americans also reflected some realities of African American life in 1942, and these images may have contributed to the film's demise in 1968. The dwarfs are an all-African American military unit that acknowledges that the United States had a segregated army at the time. So White’s job as a laundress was one of the most common occupations for African American women at the time, especially in the Jim Crow South.<ref>[https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-censored-11-coal-black-and-the-sebben-dwarfs-1943/ Cartoon Research] retrieved December 20,2020</ref>
  
 
==External Link==
 
==External Link==

Revision as of 14:13, 11 March 2021

Coal-black1.jpg

Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs is a Merrie Melodies animated animation directed by Bob Clampett and produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions for Warner Bros in 1943. On January 16, 1943, the film was released.[1] The cartoon is a black-and-white spoof of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Snow White, made famous by Walt Disney's 1937 animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. As a result, it is one of the most divisive cartoons in the Warner Brothers archive. As a result, United Artists banned the syndication of this cartoon in 1968, and following the consequence this cartoon listed into the famous Censored Eleven.

"So White And De Sebben Dwarfs" was the working title. To prevent misunderstanding with the Disney feature, it was updated at the last minute.[2]


Plot

The setting of Coal Black is modernized, as opposed to the "timeless" approach of Disney's Snow White. Coal Black, directed by Leon Schlesinger and released in 1942, is set during World War II, and the dwarfs are tiny American soldiers stationed at homefront.

Coal-black-model600.jpg

The short began with the Mammy lead, who is obviously a big black woman with a distinct "Negroid" voice despite being in darkness. The Mammy is telling a story to her baby, who is a big-cheeked pickanny with a bow in her hair.

The story begins with the Queen of the palace requesting a 6-foot-tall prince to be sent to the magical mirror. The Prince named Prince Chawmin arrived in limousine. The protagonist So White sings "My hair coal black and my name So White and I washes all day" back in laundry room also looking for Prince Charming. Prince Chawmin greets So White and tells her that he is the prince she has been waiting for, and the two dance and sing happily together. Enraged and jealous The Queen attempts to eliminate So White by contacting The Murder Inc. So White was kidnapped by the Murder Inc. and dumped in the jungle. The Sebben Dwarfs, American soldiers on the homefront during World War II, are met by alive So White.

Meanwhile, the queen discovers that So White is still alive and prepares a poisoned apple to give to the girl in order to kill her. The queen disguises herself as an elderly peddler and travels to the Sebben Dwarfs' camp to deliver the poisoned apple to So White. One of the seven dwarfs informs the others that the queen is responsible for the death of So White. The dwarfs load a cannon with both a war shell and "Dopey" as the queen flees over the hills. The queen has been defeated, but White is still dead in the eyes of the world. In spoken rhyme, the dwarfs say:

She's outta this world! She's stiff as wood!
She's got it bad, and that ain't good!
There's only one thing that'll remedy this
and dat's Prince Chawmin' and his Dynamite Kiss!

The prince enters the scene in a spotlight after the dwarfs invoke his name, promising to "give her a kiss." So White did not wake up after Prince Chawmin kissed her. Prince Chawmin' kisses So White frantically in an attempt to awaken her, but to no avail. He becomes a withered old, pale-faced man, shrugging his shoulders in defeat, as his face turns blue from exhaustion. The "Dopey" dwarf then strolls over to So White and gives her a goodbye kiss to the tune of "You're in the Army Now," causing So White to wake up.

Coal-black-lobby2.jpg

The Controversy

In April 1943, the NAACP protested the caricatures which appeared in Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs, and called on Warner to withdraw it.[3]

Coal Black contains the same basic stereotypical elements as the earlier Censored Eleven films, but they are depicted in greater detail and made to conform to Clampett's "wacky" directorial style. The Mammy character, who is clearly a large black woman with a distinct "Negroid" voice, is the first of many black stereotypes thrown into the mix in this short. Prince Chawmin is a similarly caricatured black man, with straightened hair, a white zoot suit and a monocle, and gold teeth (his two front teeth are dices for teeth–an homage to the long-held stereotype of African Americans as gamblers). So White is depicted as a younger black woman with big bottoms, perky bosoms, and revealing clothing. A mammy caricature is only a bandanna and slippers away for the Wicked Queen. The characters all have the stereotypical ethnic caricature of large lips and, of course, black skin.

The film's portrayals of African Americans also reflected some realities of African American life in 1942, and these images may have contributed to the film's demise in 1968. The dwarfs are an all-African American military unit that acknowledges that the United States had a segregated army at the time. So White’s job as a laundress was one of the most common occupations for African American women at the time, especially in the Jim Crow South.[4]

External Link

Watch Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs at Dailymotion
Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs at IMDb

References

  1. Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs retreived December 20, 2020
  2. IMDb Trivia retrieved December 20,2020
  3. Slotnik, Daniel E. (April 28, 2008) Cartoons of a Racist Past Lurk on YouTube Retrieved December 20, 2020
  4. Cartoon Research retrieved December 20,2020