Cathardincu Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Twilightfa Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.

Grimossfer Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

PiraBit if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Tad Pole . . . about Looney Tunes director Friz Freleng's Profile-in-Courage-worthy response to Thomas Alva Edison's 1905 offering, THE WATERMELON PATCH, which had shocked Friz when it was screened by his racist third grade teacher. (If you do not want to trust my account of Edison Manufacturing Co.'s PATCH, it is readily available to see for yourself in its 10 minute, 42 second original entirety on YouTube; PATCH is so egregious in its suggestion of a "Final Solution" for American Blacks that President Obama PERMANENTLY banned Edison's light bulbs under a guilt-by-association clause which even Leader Trump does not dare to reverse.) PATCH opens with eight Black men crawling in a field to filch melons until chased toward their rural community center by a pair of White Skeletons; the scene then shifts to that cabin, in which other Blacks are gyrating with NO sense of rhythm, including the two Gay Dudes Twerking, and the musician strumming a Racist Banjo. When the melon thieves arrive, one of them "serves" this treat by dropping it to shatter on the floor, whereupon there's a lingering Edison group shot with 16 Blacks of all ages posed in rows as they sloppily slurp up the melon pieces. Just then five Whites--including former KKK Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd--run up to the cabin, nailing all exits closed and blocking the chimney, so that these Black men, women an children will be asphyxiated (no doubt inspiring Hitler's initial plan to off all the Jews by driving them around in the back of trucks into which the exhaust was vented; however, this diverted too much gasoline from Adolf's Blitzkrieg, causing Der Fuhrer to go to Plan Xyklon-B).CLEAN PASTURES, on the other hand, celebrates the Black Culture of the 1930s by portraying an Urban Population with a good command of Jazz, Rhythm, and sophisticated musical instruments such as the trumpets and pianos favored by Beethoven rather than the Racist Banjo popularized by Southern Crackers such as that plagiarist Stephen Foster. Know-Nothings have been ragging on Mr. Freleng for decades, just because the Racist Ted Turner and his infamous spouse Hanoi Jane (the deplorable pair behind the Atlanta "Braves" Tomahawk-Chopping Politically Incorrect Fad) got smashed on six pitchers of mint juleps on their Verandah one night and randomly Red-Lined CLEAN PASTURES and several other of Friz's film offerings. But now YOU know the rest of the story (and hopefully will make the Real Racists pay by putting any future payments of "Edison Bills" into escrow until a Judicial Referee settles the question of Reparations on which the Edison miscreants are trying to block payment).

TheLittleSongbird Was put off seeing 'Clean Pastures' due to its low rating and that it's one of the "Censored 11" cartoons withheld from syndication for being deemed as having offensive content.However, as somebody who also trusted those defending the cartoon, due to them being from people well-respected by myself and also as somebody who has actually enjoyed some of the "Censored 11" cartoons, 'Clean Pastures' got the benefit of the doubt with an open mind treatment. While one can absolutely understand why some would be offended or dislike it now, to me it is one of the better "Censored 11" cartoons.There are "Censored 11" with far more offensive stereotypes, such as 'Angel Puss', 'Hittin' the Trail for Hallelujah Land', 'Jungle Jitters' and 'All This and Rabbit Stew'. There are also far duller ones than 'Clean Pastures', again 'Angel Puss' and 'Hittin' the Trail for 'Hallelujah Land', and ones that forget to entertain like all three of the cartoons just listed as cartoons more offensive.Not that 'Clean Pastures' is perfect. The Steppin Fetchit-like angel character is disastrously executed. Not just because of the character being racially offensive, with an agreed "I hate my race" vibe but the character is also very obnoxious, unfunny, ineptly lazy (which is a common stereotype of the time with the portrayal of black people admittedly, but it is one that's overused, unflattering and to me it's not true either) and poorly drawn. Am not a fan of exaggerated character features usually, and 'Clean Pastures' is not an exception, the big lips for example just look gross and ugly.Most of the animation is very good indeed, much of it is beautifully drawn and meticulously detailed in the backgrounds and vibrant use of colour. The best thing about 'Clean Pastures' is the soundtrack, which is incredibly infectious (jazz is a very catchy and quite sexy style of music) and just an amazing soundtrack on its own. Regarding the issue of racism, only the Steppin Fetchit caricature is in poor taste, compared to the stereotypes of 'Jungle Jitters' for example and considering the context this is one of the tamer "Censored 11" cartoons outside of that character.'Clean Pastures' makes up for this issue by being very entertaining, especially with the soundtrack and recognising the caricatures and their roles in the story, instead of forgetting to entertain like 'Angel Puss' for example did. In fact, it is most in common with 'All This and Rabbit Stew' where there is a character that significantly brings the cartoon down but the cartoon is still very funny and clever, very like 'Clean Pastures'. As well as being one of the most energetic along with 'Coal Black and De Sebben Dwarfs' and 'Goldilocks and the Three Jivin' Bears'. The voice acting is very good.In conclusion, not a bad cartoon at all and one of the better "Censored 11" cartoons. 7/10 Bethany Cox

utgard14 Merrie Melodies short, directed by Friz Freleng, notable today for being one of the Censored Eleven. For those who don't know, the Censored Eleven are cartoons that were withheld from syndication because they were considered to be too offensive due to their use of racial stereotypes and imagery. Its title is a take on the 1936 film Green Pastures, which was a wonderful movie that told familiar Bible stories with an all-black cast. The story here has angels trying to save the people of Harlem from their sinful ways by using jazz music to lure them to the side of Heaven (called Pair-O-Dice here...get it?). Pretty offensive to many today, this is actually one of the better Censored Eleven cartoons. That's in large part because of the bits of great jazz music that play throughout. The animation is also good for its time, if one can look past the grotesque depictions of black people. Animation buffs and anyone interested in jazz or black culture from the period might want to seek it out. But, for obvious reasons, it's not something your average person will enjoy today.

didi-5 This cartoon, one of Warner Bros. 'Censored 11', is one of the funniest ones I have seen and it is such a shame a wide audience are denied the chance to see it.The premise is that Pair-O-Dice (geddit?) a place where the angels congregate, is suffering from those sinners just heading for Hades instead. So ... with the help of Al Jolson, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, and Fats Waller, and 'Swing for Sale', is it possible to turn around the fortunes of the holy land? The caricatures of the great musical personalities are great and the title (a parody of 'Green Pastures') is inspired. Highly recommended if you can get to see it.