Clean Pastures

The cartoon opens with a cappella voices singing 'Save Me, Sister, from Temptation,' establishing a theme of redemption from the very start. The music frames the moral arc, suggesting sinners can be redeemed through rhythm. This opening sets a spiritual mood that threads through the entire story.

Saint Peter reads the headline that Pair-O-Dice has hit a low while Hades's influence grows, signaling a moral imbalance. He tasks Gabriel with going to Harlem to fix the situation. The stakes are introduced as the battle between vice and salvation begins.

Gabriel arrives in Harlem and positions himself by a recruitment sign promising Paradise if people change their ways. He aims to rally the locals toward Pair-O-Dice with the heavenly plan. The scene marks the shift from celestial to earthly settings.

Angels caricaturing famous jazz musicians decide that rhythm is the key to drawing souls to paradise. They head to Harlem to perform and lead the crowd toward salvation. The plan blends humor, music, and celestial swagger.

The Four Blackbirds-backed ensemble launches the major number 'Swing for Sale' with caricatures of Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, and others. Harlemites crowd around, drawn by the infectious energy in the air. The performance becomes the catalyst that shifts the mood away from vice.

The band leads the Harlemites on a revival-like camp meeting as they move toward Pair-O-Dice. The sequence blends music, dancing, and a spiritual fervor as the city recoils from its vices and follows the music toward paradise. The journey mirrors a traditional revival with a playful cartoon twist.

Upon reaching Pair-O-Dice, newcomers receive halos, signaling their redemption and entry into paradise. The halos are celebrated with the crowd and a burst of musical energy. The moment confirms that salvation is achievable through the power of rhythm.

The Devil himself arrives at Pair-O-Dice and asks for admission, turning the crowd's triumph into a playful challenge. The gag underscores the cartoon's irreverent approach to salvation and legend. The moment heightens the humor while affirming the power of music to attract even malign forces.

Caricatures of Bill Robinson and Al Jolson perform brief snippets of 'Old Folks at Home' and 'I Love to Singa' amid the bustling scenes. The numbers serve as light interludes that nod to vaudeville traditions and keep the energy high. Music remains the driving force behind the narrative.

The climax shifts into a jazzed-up version of Oh! Dem Golden Slippers, merging revival momentum with swing. The number crowns the parade toward paradise and seals the film's message about salvation through rhythm. The sequence leaves the audience with a jubilant sense of redemption.

As the music fades, the Four Blackbirds provide backing vocals over Stalling's score, tying together the musical and narrative threads. The closing mood reinforces the theme that rhythm can guide souls to paradise. The ending blends humor, spectacle, and a final wink to the audience.