Clean Pastures

Clean Pastures

Year: 1937

Runtime: 8 mins

Language: English

Director: Friz Freleng

AnimationMusicComedy

When the Lord sees the ‘Pair‑o‑dice’ stock falling, He sends a dim‑witted, slow‑talking angel to Harlem to recruit customers. After his failure, a troupe of musical angels arrives, their swing so tempting the Devil wants to join. The short cartoon was among United Artists’ “Censored 11,” barred from TV syndication in 1968 for racist stereotypes.

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Timeline & Setting – Clean Pastures (1937)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Clean Pastures (1937). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1930s

The action unfolds during the Jazz Age in Harlem, a time of vibrant Black culture, nightlife, and musical experimentation. The story references popular performers and musical styles of the era, shaping its energy and humor. The heavenly sequence and revival spectacle sit atop the era's cultural context, blending sacred and secular imagery.

Location

Harlem, New York City, Pair-O-Dice (Heaven)

Harlem serves as the bustling backdrop of nightlife and dance, where bars, clubs, and dancing fill the streets. Heaven's Pair-O-Dice is depicted as a satirical paradise that contrasts earthly vices with a chance at redemption. The story shifts between a lively Harlem world and the otherworldly casino-like heaven, using music and performance to bridge the two realms.

🎶 Jazz culture 🗽 Urban life 👼 Afterlife satire

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:53

Main Characters – Clean Pastures (1937)

Meet the key characters of Clean Pastures (1937), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Saint Peter

The heavenly gatekeeper who reads the earthly headline and tries to steer the chaos toward redemption. He dispatches Gabriel to stage a musical intervention that lures the living toward paradise. He embodies a playful heavenly bureaucracy with a sense of humor about sin and salvation.

👼 Heaven's gatekeeper 🎭 Satirical authority

Gabriel

An angelic messenger who relays orders and orchestrates the earthly-celestial crossover. He positions himself by a sign and assists in the plan to redirect souls through music and revival. His presence anchors the blend of sacred and secular imagery in the story.

👼 Messenger ✨ Divine intervention

Al Jolson / The Devil

A dual-identity caricature blending the Jolson persona with a devilish foil. He acts as comic instigator and catalyst, adding mischief while remaining a figure of temptation. Voiced in the short by the listed cast as a notable celebrity impression.

🎶 Musical 😈 Mischief

The Four Blackbirds

A vocal group that provides the backing harmonies for the film's musical numbers. Their presence strengthens the musical backbone and underscores Harlem's authentic jazz sound.

🎤 Vocal Group 🎶 Jazz Influence

Louis Armstrong (caricature)

Caricature of the famed trumpet player performing with exuberant energy, contributing to the film's jazz-driven atmosphere. The gag highlights Armstrong's distinctive style as a source of rhythm and charisma.

🎺 Trumpet 🎷 Jazz Icon

Cab Calloway (caricature)

Energetic caricature of the showman known for dynamic performances and lively stage presence. His numbers help propel the revival and draw crowds toward Pair-O-Dice.

🎷 Showman 🎶 Swing

Fats Waller (caricature)

Caricature of the witty pianist delivering piano-driven numbers that anchor the musical sequence. His presence adds flavor and tempo to the narrative.

🎹 Pianist 🎶 Jazz Legend

Jimmie Lunceford (caricature)

Caricature of the bandleader whose swagger and ensemble energy push the story forward through rhythm and dance. He contributes to the project's big-band mood.

🎺 Bandleader 🕺 Showmanship

Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson (caricature)

Caricature of the renowned dancer whose precise footwork and stage presence injects movement and humor into the scenes.

🕺 Dancer 🎩 Stage Presence

Harlem Crowd

The Harlemites whose dancing, cheering, and energy drive the narrative forward, embodying the culture and vitality of Harlem's nightlife.

🗽 Harlem 🎉 Crowd Energy

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:53

Major Themes – Clean Pastures (1937)

Explore the central themes of Clean Pastures (1937), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕊️ Redemption

Redemption sweeps through the plot as sinners are offered salvation through communal music and revival-like spectacle. The halos granted at the end symbolize transformation achieved through rhythm and shared joy. The piece uses humor to critique vice while affirming the redemptive power of art.

🎭 Racial Caricature

Caricature and performance are central to the humor and commentary, with exaggerated depictions of Black jazz icons and minstrel traditions. The film uses satire to explore cultural representation within the constraints and opportunities of early animation. The revival setting reframes stereotypes through music and spectacle.

🎶 Music as Narrative

Music drives the plot, turning numbers like Swing for Sale into milestones on the journey from Harlem clubs to Pair-O-Dice. The score anchors the story and influences pacing, energy, and audience response. The animation relies on rhythm and song to carry emotion and progression.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:53

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Musical Heaven and Hell movies like Clean Pastures

Stories where celestial beings use music to compete for souls in a playful rivalry.If you enjoyed the playful celestial rivalry and swing music of Clean Pastures, explore more movies like it. This collection features whimsical films where heaven and hell clash through musical battles and joyous conversion, offering a lighthearted and energetic viewing experience.

surrealjazzycelebratoryplayfulmusicalenergeticwhimsicalfantasy

Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically involve a cosmic challenge, often initiated from heaven, to revitalize a failing paradise or win back souls from a charmingly mischievous underworld. The plot is straightforward, driven by musical numbers that serve as the primary means of conflict and resolution, leading to a happy, celebratory ending where even the opposition is won over.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared core concept of a musical competition between divine and infernal forces, their whimsical tone, fast pacing driven by musical sequences, and their light, happy resolutions. The focus is on surreal fun rather than theological depth.

Energetic cartoon musicals similar to Clean Pastures

Fast-paced cartoons where the plot is a simple vehicle for vibrant musical spectacle.Fans of the fast-paced jazz and vibrant animation in Clean Pastures will enjoy this selection of similar cartoon musicals. Discover more animated shorts where a simple story provides the framework for a celebratory and playful musical performance, capturing a classic era of animation.

musicalenergeticjazzyplayfulcelebratoryvibrantshort filmanimation

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern is exceedingly straightforward: a simple premise or problem sets the stage for a series of musical sequences that constitute the bulk of the runtime. Character journeys are minimal; the emotional arc is one of building jubilation through each successive number, culminating in a collective, happy finale.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their format as short animated works, their primary focus on musical performance over complex plot, their fast pacing, and their light, celebratory mood. They capture a specific era and style of animation designed for quick, energetic fun.

Unlock the Full Story of Clean Pastures

Don't stop at just watching — explore Clean Pastures in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Clean Pastures is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Clean Pastures Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Clean Pastures, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Clean Pastures Summary

Clean Pastures Timeline

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Clean Pastures Timeline

Clean Pastures Spoiler-Free Summary

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Clean Pastures Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Clean Pastures

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