Tag Archives: Mickey Mouse

September 19, 1952 – The Mickey Mouse Short Film Pluto’s Party is Released to Theaters

“Pluto! Come down here! You’re playing too rough!”

On September 19, 1952, the Mickey Mouse short film Pluto’s Party was released to theaters. This is the only short since the 1930s that features Mickey’s nephews. It was directed by Milt Schaffer, with story by Bill Berg and Leo Salkin.

Mickey is coming out of his house with a giant cake, with Pluto trailing not too far behind. It’s revealed to be a birthday cake for Pluto, as it’s the dog’s birthday. As Pluto tries to sneak a bite of the cake, Mickey calls him out, reminding him that he has to take a bath first. Pluto sulks, and tries to sneak away, but is tricked by Mickey into lading into the washbucket. After his bath, he sits at the table again, wearing a fancy collar, and once again tries to steal some cake. Mickey once again calls him out, telling him to wait for his little guests. Pluto pouts, but soon hears the knocking at the garden gate, and rushes over happily.

All of Mickey’s nephews arrive for the party, bringing Pluto a large bone-shaped present

All of Mickey’s nephews rush in excitedly, knocking poor Pluto flat. They bring him what looks like a giant bone for his birthday, and he happily licks them all in turn. When he opens the package, however, it is revealed to be a little red wagon instead. The nephews attach the wagon to Pluto’s collar and try to make him pull them across the yard. They all leave the wagon, distracted by something else, sending Pluto flying towards the cake, which Mickey saves before Pluto can swipe at it, and he ends up crashing into a tree. The nephews start having “fun” with Pluto, torturing the poor dog, alhtough Mickey admonishes the dog for “playing too rough.”

Mickey then has the boys engaged in a game of “Pin the Tail on Pluto.” When it’s Pluto’s turn, one of the boys grabs Pluto by the tail and spins him fast enough that Pluto can’t stand up, let alone walk straight. He ends up wrapped around a tree and, after peeking, thinks he can easily pin the tail on the picture; he doesn’t realize that his own body is perfectly blocking the picture. Pluto then accidentally stabs himself, and flies towards the picture in pain, perfectly placing the tail on the picture, winning the game. Soon after, Mickey calls everyone over for cake, and Pluto is told to make a wish. Pluto then wishes for all the nephews to disappear. After he blows out the candles, the cake suddenly disappears into the mouths of the nephews, leaving Pluto without a slice, and the nephews quickly leave, declaring the party to be over. Poor Pluto is dismayed to find he didn’t get any cake, until Mickey surprises him with the last piece. Pluto gratefully licks Mickey in-between bites of cake.

August 30, 1940 – The Mickey Mouse Short Film Pluto’s Dream House is Released to Theaters

“Man, if you don’t want nothin’, don’t rub us magic lamps!”

On August 30, 1940, the Mickey Mouse short film Pluto’s Dream House was released to theaters. This short is an example of dialect humor, which was a popular staple of entertainment in this time period, especially with radio programs. If one looks closely, you can see that Mickey and Pluto have been together a long time, as Pluto’s first doghouse was built in 1926 – two years before Steamboat Willie. The short was directed by Clyde Geronimi.

In Mickey’s backyard, Mickey and Pluto are studying the blueprints for Pluto’s new streamlined doghouse. Pluto looks over at his old house, which is falling apart rapidly. Mickey and Pluto then excitedly begin building. As Pluto digs, several things are pulled from the ground, including a magic lamp, which starts talking after Mickey rubs in. The lamp, after scaring Pluto, lets Mickey know that he will grant any wish Mickey asks. Mickey then asks for a doghouse for Pluto. The lamp sputters and spins, and a burst of magic comes out of his spout, causing all the tools to start work on the doghouse by their own accord.

Mickey watches as the hammer starts working by itself to build the doghouse

Mickey watches in astonishment as the house is made, and Pluto is attacked by the tools when he gets a little too close to their activities. Finally, the hosue is created, all tricked out with neon lishgts and a diamond encrusted fire hydrant. The lamp then gives Mickey the idea to wish that Pluto had a bath, and Pluto is sent flying into a tub of water. After a while, Pluto begins to enjoy the bath. Mickey then sits and relaxes in the living room, but has trouble finding something to listen to on the radio. As the lamp scrubs behind Pluto’s ears, Pluto ends up slammed against the wall, hitting it hard enough to knock the radio over and break it. The lamp interprets the sounds from the broken radio as commands from Mickey, and starts beating Pluto up. As Pluto is being tortured, the audience then realizes that this has all been Pluto’s dream. When Mickey tries to wake the whimpering Pluto, the dog howls with fright and leaps into Mickey’s bed. Mickey laughs at his pet’s behavior as Pluto clutches his master tightly.

August 10, 1951 – The Mickey Mouse Short Film R’Coon Dawg is Released to Theaters

“Now, some hunters say that a dog sees with his nose. Well, sir, it’s a fact. And when he starts sniffin’ and a-snortin’, his old nose is a-pickin’ up a television picture that’s just a spittin’ image of old Mr. Coon.”

On August 10, 1951, the Mickey Mouse short film R’Coon Dawg was released to theaters. It was directed by Charles Nichols, with story by Ralph Wright and Al Bertino.

In a farm out in the country, a raccoon is seen traipsing about, but flees when he hears footsteps. Mickey then appears with a shotgun, searching for raccoons, with Pluto sleepily sniffing out the creature. Picking up the scent, Pluto pursues that direction, and Mickey quickly follows. The raccoon hears Pluto’s howling, and sets up some tricks to throw the dog from his path. Pluto falls for the first trick, and the second, but continues his chase through the woods. The raccoon quickly tries another plan to get the dog off his trail, but Pluto refuses to let the scent go. After chasing the raccoon into the water, his collar catches on part of a log, and Pluto starts to drown. The raccoon saves his life, but not before setting up another trick to throw the dog off the scent.

Pluto is momentarily thrown off by the trick the raccoon left for him

As Pluto reaches the bank, he is thrown off by prints from a fish, a frog, and a horse, among the raccoon prints. He spots the raccoon laughing at him from the tree, and the raccoon, seeing Mickey with his gun n the other side of the brush, realizes that he’s trapped. Thinking quickly, he steals Mickey’s coonskin cap, using it to pretend that it is a baby. As Mickey attempts to shoot the raccoon, Pluto grabs the gun with his teeth and pulls it away. Sheepishly seeing the raccoon “with child,” the two slink away, while the raccoon relishes in its victory.