George Pal's Puppetoons aren't seen much these days, mostly because this top-motion genius with cartoon sensibilities chose as his central character "Jasper", a small Black boy and these days, that's racist. Why Pal, a Hungarian émigré, should have decided on him as a central character is an interesting question. Within half a decade, however, Pal was out of short subjects and producing fantasy and science fiction films that were doubtless more profitable.
Whatever the reasons, JASPER'S MINSTRELS comes off as an exercise in nostalgic fantasy. Even though the framing device can be viewed as racist, the Dutch angles of the interior story -- a minstrel show performance -- makes it more stylized, lending an air of unreality that softens the effect. here are also some musically elaborate performances of "Polly Wolly Doodle", "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" and "Dixie" that are well done.
I enjoyed this one, but quite obviously, your sense of outrage may make you hate it.
Whatever the reasons, JASPER'S MINSTRELS comes off as an exercise in nostalgic fantasy. Even though the framing device can be viewed as racist, the Dutch angles of the interior story -- a minstrel show performance -- makes it more stylized, lending an air of unreality that softens the effect. here are also some musically elaborate performances of "Polly Wolly Doodle", "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" and "Dixie" that are well done.
I enjoyed this one, but quite obviously, your sense of outrage may make you hate it.