February 21, 1947 – The Pluto Short Pluto’s Housewarming is Released to Theaters
On February 21, 1947, audiences were shown a new Pluto short, Pluto’s Housewarming. Charles Nichols directed the film, from a story by Eric Gurney and Bill de la Torre, and with music by Oliver Wallace. This is one of the few shorts where Pluto does battle with his nemesis Butch the Bulldog, who was introduced in the 1940 short Bone Trouble. As with many of the Pluto stories that dealt with Pluto and another critter, the short relies on charm to carry it through, with much success and usually a new friend for Pluto.
Pluto’s doghouse on the beach has been completed, and shines in the summer sun. Excited about the prospect of moving, Pluto takes all of the bones he’s collected from his dilapidated old shanty, and gives his old house a haughty snort after he and his possessions are out the door. He moves into his new house, giving his bones a quick clean before pushing them inside, and begins to organize them by type into little cubbies built beneath his bed. Realizing that he’s forgotten something, he dashes back to the old place to grab his “Home Sweet Home” sign, kicking dust at the old shack before trotting to his new home.
Pluto's enticing new doghouse attracts wildlife, including this tiny turtle
As Pluto heads back, however, he notices that his bones have been tossed out, and is astonished to see a tiny turtle having taken up residence in his new home. The turtle gives Pluto a wave, and continues to set up house. When the turtle tries to push out Pluto’s bowl, Pluto takes a stand against this. Pluto ends up winning this non-aggressive fight by pushing the tiny turtle out onto the beach, only to have the turtle turn around and walk right back in. Pluto ends up carrying the turtle with his teeth in order to dispose of him, throwing him under a crate and leaving him trapped there.
A bit later, Pluto is seen gnawing on a rib bone, when the turtle knocks on the window. As Pluto angrily goes out to dispose of the unwanted squatter, the turtle sneaks in and decides to curl up on the bed, only to find Pluto carrying him away once again. When Pluto comes back, he finds another unwelcome visitor: Butch, the bulldog, who has been chewing on Pluto’s bones in the few moments Pluto was disposing of the other pest. Although Pluto is ready to deal with Butch, Butch seems unconcerned that Pluto is angered by his presence. When Pluto bites Butch, however, Butch goes on the attack.
Butch is surprised to see such a creature challenging him for squatter's rights
Pluto manages to hide in his old shack while Butch gets stuck in the doorway. Convinced that Pluto will stay there, Butch returns to the new house and spies the turtle in the doorway, with crossed arms and a glare on his face. The turtle shows Bruce he’s ready to fight, and ends up biting the bulldog on the nose. When Butch tries to retaliate, the only thing Butch can get his teeth around is the turtle’s shell. Butch tires himself out trying to bite the turtle, and the turtle slips out of his shell when Butch isn’t noticing, giving him a nice bite on the foot. The turtle retrieves his shell and uses it to trip up the bulldog.
Meanwhile, Pluto watches nervously from the old shack, and is amazed to see that the tiny turtle has bested Butch. The turtle gives Butch one last present – a bite on the tail – that sends Butch flying down the beach whimpering. The turtle lands in front of Pluto, limp, which causes Pluto to think the poor creature has died in the line of duty. As he begins to cry, one teardrop falls from Pluto’s snout and revives the turtle. The two hug and decide that they both can live in the new doghouse amicably.
disneydetail 