The cartoon opens in Harlem. People are dancing, drinking, gambling and generally making merry. Up in heaven (or Pair O' Dice as it is called here), a Black angel despairs that they are losing souls to Hades. He sends an angel (a caricature of Steppin-Fetchit) to teach people to resist temptation. Not surprisingly, he is unsuccessful.
Then a group of angels (caricatures of Fats Wahler, Jimmie Lunceford, Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway) tell the head angel that they need to update the message. The angels go to Harlem and sing "Swing for Sale." It works, and soon they are leading hordes of ex-sinners into Pair O' Dice. Even the devil begs his way in to enjoy the new swinging good news.
Many modern viewers will be offended by the caricatures in this cartoon, particularly the lazy, inept Steppin-Fetchit angel. Despite this legitimate criticism, "Clean Pastures" does a commendable job of reinforcing the fact that swing music was, in fact, African-American music. No Pat Boone/Vanilla Ice rip-offs here. "Clean Pastures" presents this wonderful music in all its ethnic and, yes, revolutionary glory to a primarily White audience. This is quite an accomplishment, considering that the real musicians portrayed in this cartoon would have had to enter and exit a White club by the rear entrance, if they could get in at all!
Tragically, "Clean Pastures" has been blacklisted (no pun intended). WB has refused to release it on TV or home video. It is worth tracking down however, as it deserves more respect than its current status allows it.
Then a group of angels (caricatures of Fats Wahler, Jimmie Lunceford, Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway) tell the head angel that they need to update the message. The angels go to Harlem and sing "Swing for Sale." It works, and soon they are leading hordes of ex-sinners into Pair O' Dice. Even the devil begs his way in to enjoy the new swinging good news.
Many modern viewers will be offended by the caricatures in this cartoon, particularly the lazy, inept Steppin-Fetchit angel. Despite this legitimate criticism, "Clean Pastures" does a commendable job of reinforcing the fact that swing music was, in fact, African-American music. No Pat Boone/Vanilla Ice rip-offs here. "Clean Pastures" presents this wonderful music in all its ethnic and, yes, revolutionary glory to a primarily White audience. This is quite an accomplishment, considering that the real musicians portrayed in this cartoon would have had to enter and exit a White club by the rear entrance, if they could get in at all!
Tragically, "Clean Pastures" has been blacklisted (no pun intended). WB has refused to release it on TV or home video. It is worth tracking down however, as it deserves more respect than its current status allows it.