bigverybadtom
Like probably most people here, I saw it during an episode of "Mystery Science Theater 3000". What is it? An old advertising short for a band instrument manufacturer. Why is it creepy? Largely because it's obviously a woman unconvincingly playing a man.Yes, like many children I saw Mary Martin play Peter Pan on television. But Mary Martin was convincing as an overgrown boy. Here, "Mr. B Natural" is clearly a woman, with a woman's lipstick and makeup, and clothing that fits tight enough so that even a three-year old could see is an adult woman. And she talks in a high, unmistakably grown woman's voice. In her behavior in the advertisement, she dances around too much as well.The advertisement's intended message is that being a member of a school band is what children would enjoy becoming. One little problem-in my high school days, people who played in the band were known as "band fags"-obviously not meant to be complimentary. Whether fair or not, you could get more respect in school by joining the swim team. But that typically does not require anyone to buy expensive musical instruments.
aa56
Seems to me Betty Luster was trying to be a cross between Mary Martin's Peter Pan and Betty Hutton's Annie Oakley, two popular female stars and characters circa the time Mr. B Natural was made. In Mr. B's case, however, something went awry with the character's nervous system. Not sure if Betty was over-acting or was directed to be that way in an exuberant attempt to mimic Martin and Hutton. It's too bad her career seemed to have stopped after Mr. B. Got to admire her enthusiasm!The concept of the film is so charmingly innocent. A grown woman can magically appear in a boy's bedroom anytime he chooses to summon her! What pornographers would do to that story today!
"Manos!"
This is without a doubt the single most frightening piece of film, short or otherwise, that I have ever seen! What about Blair Witch, you say? Or Scream? Or Texas Chainsaw Massacre? They have *nothing* on the all-engulfing terror that festers at the very heart of this thankfully brief atrocity of film.I gave it a two. (well, Mr. B was kinda cute, after all...)
Rattrap007
This is by far the most disturbing short film I have ever seen. Mr. B Natural is supposed to be man, yet is played by a spritely, spirited, yet very annoying woman. She visits young Buzz and introduces him to the 'joy of playing music'. You will This is however, the greatest short ever shown on Mystery Science Theater 3000. I'm not saying that the short it self is higher quality than the others, but it is the funniest one with the heckling from Joel and the bots. The are just as frightened by Mr. B, whom Joel says is 'hot' when she/he/it is draped across a chair in a semi-sexual pose. They make the greatest want to take a long shower after viewing because it makes you feel so ill and dirty. jokes towards Mr. B. When Buzz asks where Mr. B comes from Tom Servo quickly inserts "Bellvue", which is a famous mental hospital. To sum up, do not watch for any reason unless you are watching the MST3K version. Ewww!
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