MovieChat Forums > Cats Don't Dance (1997) Discussion > racial subtext

racial subtext

posted 18 years ago by mamacaraig
35 replies | jump to latest

Has anyone else noticed that this movie is probably an allegory about blacks in Hollywood?

Like the talking animals in this movie, they had to settle for supporting roles to white stars like Shirley Temple. Their real talents were hidden. Ironically, while "cats don't dance" in this movie, in real life, blacks were relegated to just dancing in the background.

The animals rallying to finally show what they can do could be symbolic of blacks finally bringing their own talents to the mainstream.

By the way, this is not intended to imply that Shirley Temple was racist. From all I've read, she was quite polite and civil to her black co-stars. The Darla Dimples character is clearly just a joke, complete with a Sunset Boulevard-Frankenstein butler.

[–] kasumi_arakara 17 years ago

I just saw it and I don't think the movie has any racist subtext in it. I think it was purely meant to show the point of view of all the people (or..animals heh) who weren't the next best thing and were overlooked in that time of showbiz. I don't see how it was purely focused on any single race, just secondary, amateur, too old, has-been, etc. people all together. Just everyone who couldn't get a respectable role at that time and had to settle for a background character, hence Cranston's "always the scapegoat" comment.

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"I'm assuming that's a joke. I'm ignoring you for time reasons." -Wilbur Robinson

[–] lexinator22 17 years ago

i totally agree with you for example the fish (i can't remember her name right now) seems like she used to be famous but got older and got "washed up", hence why they probably picked a fish for her character

i think while it definately alludes to blacks treated unfairly in showbiz in the 30s and 40s, i think it's also trying to make the point that sometimes the entertainment industry is too focused on appearances and not focused enough on peoples talent or passion.

[–] afbabie13 17 years ago

I don't think its over analyzing at all. Although it may be a more generalized discrimination as apposed to strictly African Americans of the time period... I still think it alludes to African Americans specifically at some points. When all of the animals get together outside of the studio and sing and dance, the music is very much jazzy and certain animals are playing bass and drums, and jazz music is/was highly associated with African Americans playing in Jazz clubs at the time. Just my two cents :)

[–] ChimneyBert 17 years ago

I think it's more about the fact that it's hard for anyone different to break into Hollywood. Whether they be black, asian, indian, or a not so glamorous white female.

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] TheBalladofGriseldaGunderson 16 years ago

When I watch the movie I notice as well. I think it was obvious that the animals were a metaphor used to show how Hollywood was submissive toward minority/non-white talent do to the prejudice setting of the time period. I wouldn't say that it's particularly displaying the struggles of African-Americans (though at first that was my belief), that would be unfair to say. Perhaps it is
as RaineaTrenton explains.
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[–] triniturtle09 15 years ago

I totally agree about the discrimination in Hollywood subtext. I never noticed it before, but then again- I was about 6 or 7 when the movie came out. Rewatching it today, the subtext came to mind almost immediately. I came to this board to post about it and was not surprised to see that many others came to the same conclusion.

[–] christen18-1 15 years ago

I was just thinking the same thing and my boyfriend thought I was crazy for thinking it. Blacks were pushed into stereotypical roles in Hollywood and never really got a chance for some time to have big roles (for the most part). Plus, there's a part in the movie where Danny is taking the bus home and the bus driver says (not word for word) "animals don't belong here, they belong on the farm". I'm just saying, it seemed to be deeper than most think.

[–] StarskyandChinaHutch 14 years ago

Subtext? More like tanktext, HIYOOOOOO

Who busts the Crimebusters?

[–] super-staff 14 years ago

When I was a kid, I always noticed that it was an allegory for racial tensions in Hollywood.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] b-touch 10 years ago

It's more than probably an allegory - it's absolutely an allegory.

So is, for the record, "Who Framed Roger Rabbit".

[–] KingSinister 9 years ago

Yep this movie is a FLAT out allegory