Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"Chess-Nuts" (obviously a play on words with "chestnuts"), is a 7-minute black-and-white cartoon from 1932, so it will be 85 years old next year, and it stars Fleischer Studios' Betty Boop. Early on, we see two men playing chess and then the camera moves to the chess board where Betty Boop, the Black Queen, struggles with staying safe from a bad guy. But luckily, Bimbo is nearby to be Betty's knight in shining armor and come to the rescue. I may like this one here more than the regular viewer, just because I always though chess was a fascinating sport, so if you don't care for chess, maybe you should only watch it if you really like Betty and old cartoons. Also, the little fox is pretty hot in here and they made use of Betty's sexy physical side as they rarely did in other cartoons. We even see her in underwear on one occasions. This is also why I recommend the watch here. Thumbs up, this is one of Betty's more daring movies and also among her better ones. Also loved the "3 Blind Mice" reference.
Michael_Elliott
Chess-Nuts (1932) ** 1/2 (out of 4)This is a rather bizarre mix of live action and animation. The film starts off with two men playing chess and then we turn to the animation as Betty Boop, Bimbo and KoKo take form on a chess board. We then see others come to life and before long a football game breaks out while the King chases Betty. I wouldn't necessarily call this a "good" movie but at the same time it's at least interesting enough to where fans of the series should be mildly entertained. Once again the animation itself is quite good but the first portion of the film is rather boring. Things finally pick up once Betty comes under attack as we're given some very Pre=code moments including her getting her dressed pulled up. The score is good but one wishes the film had gotten off to a better start.
ccthemovieman-1
This Betty Boop cartoon should have had more laughs to it than it did. It was okay but had too few really good jokes.We see a real life scene of two old chess masters hard at work in a competitive match. The pieces on the board suddenly pop out into animated people here and there. Betty is the queen, of course and some old guy claims he is the king but apparently isn't really. Anyway, the bulk of the cartoon is this old geezer fighting it out with others, and with Betty on a chess board. Half the time they play a football game or just throw things at each other. Several times, the dirty old man pulls Betty's skirt up so we see her panties (this was Pre- Code), and that's about it.Overall, certainly not boring but not one of her best, either.
Robert Reynolds
This short is one of the most eccentric cartoons the Fleischer Brothers ever did! It opens with two men at a chess board, apparently playing a match and then turns its focus onto the pieces for the most bizarre game of chess played since Lewis Carroll penned Through the Looking Glass! Very odd, even for a Betty Boop in the early 1930s. Wonderful short. I sincerely doubt, however, that another commenter was talking about this short, from the gist of his or her comments. In print and available. Well worth watching. Highly recommended.
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