Tag Archives: 1930s

May 19, 1934 – The Mickey Mouse Short Film Gulliver Mickey is Released to Theaters

“Now, you all keep quiet, and I’ll tell you about the time Uncle Mickey was shipwrecked.”

On May 19, 1934, the Mickey Mouse short film Gulliver Mickey was released to theaters. It was based on the book Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift. The short was directed by Burt Gillett.

Mickey is reading the book Gulliver’s Travels, when he spots his nephews pretending to sail a boat across the floor. Mickey pretends to be a whale and rocks their boat, but is surprised when they attack him. The boat tumbles from his jump, and the nephews all start to cry when they think their game is over. Mickey, in an effort to calm them, decides to use one of Gulliver’s travels to tell his nephews a story. He begins the story with a violent storm, which left him shipwrecked on an island. He fell asleep on the shore, waking up to find that he had been tied down by the townspeople. He is surprised, but amused, by the size of the people, though they are not amused by his antics. The tiny army attacks him, though Mickey once again only finds it more comical than anything. He is able to deflect anything they throw at him, until a giant spider comes into town destroying everything. Mickey fights the spider valiantly, though it looks as though the spider may win. In the end, Mickey acts out fighting the spider by punching a pillow, much to his nephews’ amusement, though one nephew scares Mickey with a rubber spider, showing Mickey might not be so brave after all.

March 18, 1933 – The Mickey Mouse Short Film Mickey’s Mellerdrammer is Released to Theaters

“Let’s hide in Uncle Tom’s cabin!”

On March 18, 1933, the Mickey Mouse short film Mickey’s Mellerdrammer premiered in theaters. The subject matter is somewhat controversial, as it has Mickey and friends putting on a production of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. It’s important to remember that this short is a reflection of the attitudes of the 1930s, and the play was the most well-known play in this time. The short was directed by Wilfred Jackson.

Mickey and his friends are putting on a production of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, with Mickey as Uncle Tom and Topsy, Minnie as Eva, Clarabelle Cow as Eliza, and Horace Horsecollar as Simon; the cast is also joined by fifty bloodthirsty bloodhounds. The theater is packed, and the cast quickly prepares themselves, with comic ways of applying their costumes. The play begins with a rousing musical number, with Horace and Goofy helping with sound effects and props. The audience boos the villain, Simon, as he enters on stage, while Mickey does a quick costume change to become Uncle Tom. His performance is well-received, but the play is interrupted when Horace uses his whip to accidentally pull Goofy on stage. When the play resumes, the audience starts throwing rotten fruits and veggies at poor Horace. The next scene is quite an affair, with Clarabelle playing Eliza and crossing the ice. Mickey and Minnie help dress several dogs as bloodhounds, though they attempt to dress one cat up as well. The cat rushes the stage, and the dogs chase after it, destroying the set and musical instruments of the orchestra. The audience cracks up, and Mickey quickly pulls the curtain. Minnie and Mickey head out for their bows, while Horace is pelted with rotten fruits and vegetables again.

February 11, 1932 – The Mickey Mouse Short Film The Grocery Boy is Released to Theaters

“Groceries! Groceries!”

On February 11, 1932, the Mickey Mouse short film The Grocery Boy was released to theaters. It was directed by Wilfred Jackson.

Mickey is busy in his grocery store weighing potatoes. Once he completes the task, he tries to unload them, but spills them all over the floor. The phone rings, and he trips over himself to answer it. Minnie is calling, but she is in a foul mood, asking tersely if he would please hurry with her groceries; secretly, she can’t wait to see her sweetheart. Mickey rushes to her house and delivers her groceries with a smile. Mickey says hello, but Minnie tells him goodbye, quite obviously playing hard-to-get. When Mickey angrily tries to leave, he accidentally opens a closet where the ironing board falls out, and the iron falls on Mickey’s head. Minnie drops her ruse and tends to Mickey, but soon has to tend to the turkey in the oven. Mickey musically assists Minnie in preparing the food, with the dishes joining in the melody. Meanwhile, Pluto has also noticed the turkey in the oven, and runs off with it, with Mickey chasing after him around the house. Minnie finally catches the dog and tries to wrestle the turkey away, with little success. Minnie also tries to save the cake they baked, but that crashes on Mickey’s head.

January 13, 1934 – The Mickey Mouse Short Film Shanghaied is Released to Theaters

“The captain’s got a girl, the captain’s got a girl…”

On January 13, 1934, the Mickey Mouse short film Shanghaied was released to theaters. It was directed by Burt Gillett.

The sailors are singing a song about their captain, mocking that he’s got a girl, when one sailor gets knocked out by Pete, who has tied up Mickey and Minnie in his cabin. Pete walks over to Mickey and mocks him before turning his attention to Minnie. Minnie pays no mind to his flirtations, and her screaming has Mickey breaking free from his bonds to save his girl. Using a swordfish from the wall, Mickey attempts to battle Pete, who continues to not take him seriously. A humorous sword fight ensues, though Mickey’s swordfish proves to be a poor weapon. Mickey, however, is able to use everything in the cabin at his disposal and free Minnie at the same time. As the two start to make their escape, Pete sends his crew after Mickey, but Mickey is able to use a cannon and miscellaneous kitchen supplies to subdue them. With one final attack using a harpoon, Mickey ends the attack by Pete and his crew, leaving Pete to be chased by sharks in the ocean while Mickey and Minnie steer the ship to safety.