Walt Disney Treasures – Mickey Mouse Cartoons in Black and White

Mickey Mouse in B&W…, September 21, 2002

Despite this being a seminal moment in DVD history having the black and white Mickey Mouse cartoons available in the best possible digital format, this Disney Treasures collection is not a complete set. As mentioned, this set will contain 34 black and white MM shorts, but they are only selections out of about 75 made between 1928-1935. Last year’s “Silly Symphonies” collection was put together in a similar way with a little more than half of the 73 or so made. Rumors are that next year’s DT series will include a “Mickey Mouse in Living Color Vol. 2”, which means that host/compiler Leonard Maltin possibly intends to include second volumes of past and future collections in this series that don’t contain everything in one set due to large amounts originally produced. When these MM black and white shorts were available on laserdisc years ago, they were also released in two volumes.

Here is a complete list of the B&W selections on this collection (year-by-year) straight from the Disney press release:

1928–“Steamboat Willie”, “The Gallopin’ Gaucho”, “Plane Crazy” (actually the first official Mickey Mouse short–originally silent with sound added later and re-released following the success of “SW”).

1929–“The Karnival Kid”, “Mickey’s Follies”

1930–“The Fire Fighters”, “The Chain Gang”, “The Gorilla Mystery”, “The Pioneer Days”

1931–“The Birthday Party”, “Mickey Steps Out”, “Blue Rhythm”, “Mickey Cuts Up”, “Mickey’s Orphans”

1932–“The Duck Hunt”, “Mickey’s Revue”, “Mickey’s Nightmare”, “The Whoopee Party”, “Touchdown Mickey”, “The Klondike Kid”

1933–“Building a Building”, “The Mad Doctor”, “Ye Olden Days”, “The Mail Pilot”, “Mickey’s Gala Premiere”, “Puppy Love”, “The Pet Store”, “Giantland”

1934–“Camping Out”, “Gulliver Mickey”, “Orphan’s Benefit”, “The Dognapper”, “Two-Gun Mickey”

1935–“Mickey’s Service Station” (Curiously, “Mickey’s Kangaroo” is not included here. This was really the last B&W Mickey cartoon done shortly after he premiered in color in “The Band Concert”).

The press release has stated that, in addition to all the features mentioned above, there will also be rare footage of the only MM B&W pencil test known to exist. This pencil test was done for “The Mail Pilot.” Also, new interviews were apparently done with the legendary animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston for the documentary. Much-needed audio commentary (presumably by Leonard Maltin) has also been added to the poster gallery on disc 2 that was absent from last year’s “Mickey Mouse in Living Color.”

For those not acquainted with last year’s “Mickey Mouse in Living Color”: that collection collects Mickey’s first three years in color between 1935-1938. Next year’s rumored Vol. 2 will probably complete the color Mickey, going up to his last short under Walt Disney–“The Simple Things” (1953).

More rumors for next year’s DT series: “Wartime Cartoons” (originally intended for this year) and “The Chronological Donald” (obviously the first phase of the many Donald Duck cartoons produced through the 1930’s-1960’s).

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Surprises From the Revisionist Disney Empire, December 6, 2002

By 

Frank M. Young III “eubiecat” (Seattle, WA USA) –

  

I was leery of this set, but bought it without hesitation. My greatest concern was that the highly revisionist modern-day Disney would butcher these early, rude ‘n’ crude Mickey Mouse cartoons, which are rife with animal abuse, drinking, smoking and racial/cultural stereotypes. These cartoons are so much better and livelier than the stale, dull “Silly Symphonies,” which are important historically but bland as tapioca. Maltin provides on-screen mea culpas for the blackface gags and outhouse humor, but defends every American’s right to see these pieces of our cultural history, and to view them with hindsight and intelligence. That said, these 34 cartoons are corkers. It will surprise some to see how zany and surrealistic these early Mickeys are. They are almost as daffy as the pre-Code Betty Boop cartoons of the Fleischer brothers. My favorite is the anarchic “The Karnival Kid,” a 1928 cartoon that made me laugh non-stop. Transfers are decent, considering the age and condition of these films. Some obviously suffered vault neglect, and given the volatility of nitrate film stock, I suppose we’re lucky to have them at all. There is little to no tampering that I could see, tho’ the 1930-32 cartoons have something weird going on with the title cards. You’ll see what I mean when you view them. I wonder why they re-did the cartoon titles, and why they’re so jerky and wobbly. The extras are quite thoughtful, and more substantial than on the “Silly Symphonies” set. This is essential viewing for anyone who loves the rough and tumble days of pioneer animation.

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