Tag Archives: Black and white

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.

December 30, 1928 – The Mickey Mouse Short Film The Gallopin’ Gaucho is Released to Theaters

“Help!”

On December 30, 1928, the Mickey Mouse short film The Gallopin’ Gaucho was released to theaters. It was the second Mickey Mouse short film released by Disney, as well as the second film created; the film was created before Steamboat Willie, but was originally created as a silent film, much like the Oswald shorts. After the success of Steamboat Willie, The Gallopin’ Gaucho was given a sound track. The short also parodies the Douglas Fairbanks film The Gaucho, which had been a hit the previous year. The short was directed by Walt Disney, with Walt voicing Mickey and Minnie.

Mickey is seen riding an ostrich across the desert before arriving at Cantino Argentino. He hops in the window and watches Minnie dancing while posters issuing a reward for his capture grace the walls. Minnie entices him to dance and, after having a beer, he dances the tango with her. Mickey twirls her into the arms of Pete, and she screams for help. Mickey challenges Pete, but is thrown off as Pete grabs his donkey and rides away with Minnie. Mickey calls for his ostrich, which has gotten rather inebriated. Nevertheless, Mickey rides his ostrich in hopes of saving Minnie, though at one point the ostrich ends up riding Mickey. Mickey follows Pete down a cliff after reviving his ostrich in a bucket of starch, and follows the villain into a building. Mickey manages to fashion a rope from his tail and is able to get to the top floor, only to find Minnie chained up. Pete and Mickey engage in a sword fight, with Mickey emerging triumphant. He saves Minnie, and the two ride off together on the back of Mickey’s ostrich.