Mickey Mouse in "The Picnic" (1930)

While Pluto had first appeared in The Chain Gang, it is very obvious that appearing in that film is a very different character from who the famous dog would become. In The Chain Gang Mickey is in prison and Pluto was a bloodhound chasing him as he tried to escape. With this considered The Picnic is a huge step forward in the development of this character. The dog is much more friendly here and displays a bit of the curiosity that would later help define him. Still this is not fully the Pluto we know. This is made obvious by the fact that he is called Rover, here and is Minnie's dog instead of Mickey's.

A review (dated August 29, 1930) in Motion Picture News says

                        "The Picnic                      
                          (Columbia)
                         Diverting
 MICKEY MOUSE gets himself nicely messed up in a picnic. What the birds ants and whatnot do to the food is just too bad for Mickey, but perfectly swell insofar as the audience and its inclination to laugh is concerned. Produced in his usual inimitable style by Walt Disney. Running time 7 minutes."

Breakdown of the AnimationDave Hand (Mickey in car, stops at house- honks cuckoo, Picnic lunch- squirrels, birds, bees, flies, etc., Clouds- lighting- cork screw gag- rain, Picnic spread- Mickey grabs table cloth- birds, squirrels)
Jack King (Doorway of house. Minnie appears. "Yoo hoo to car on pan. "Hello", etc., Minnie whistles for dog. "Can I bring Rover," etc.)
Charlie Byrne (Dog house- Rover comes out- runs on pan, Hole in F.G. Rabbit goes in - dog follows - bump car.)
Norm Ferguson (Mickey, Minnie & car - dog comes in, barks, licks Mickey, etc., Dog bites flea, spits it out -flea runs off, Dog sniffs tree - sniffs auto - exhaust gag)
Dick Lundy (Mickey ties dog- hops in car -starts car- move on pan, Dog running- barks, Mickey & Minnie - whistle - Mickey punches Minnie's nose, etc., Minnie & dog in car - Mickey hops in)
Robert Cannon (Rabbits dancing - horn gags, etc., Dog running along behind car - sees rabbit, Rabbits give dog razz - run on pan to left, Ants steal olives, pickles, sugar, Rain falling - Minnie runs for car - Mickey runs off scene opposite)
Ben Sharpsteen (Picnic spread - babbling brook, birds, squirrels, Mickey starts phonograph, Mickey pulls Minnie up - she pulls skirt down - they waltz - gags)
Les Clark (Two holes - Rabbit and dog leap thru- pull in hole, etc., Squirrel hangs by tail on branch- steals food)
Tom Palmer (Tree- birds dance on limb- fly down and steal food, Bees in honey jar - swell up, etc., Mickey & Minnie in car - Windshield wiper gag - finish)
Wilfred Jackson (Mickey & Minnie clog dance on log, kiss, etc., Mickey & Minnie sing and dance - finish music)
Jack Cutting (Flies dance on cake - fly off with slice)
Frenchy de Tremaudan (Ants steal sandwich- stick fork in cheese)

Story: Mickey and Minnie go on a picnic. Minnie asks if she can bring her dog Rover along. Mickey agrees and they all head out. As Mickey and Minnie are singing and dancing in nature, Rover chases rabbits with little luck. While all this is happening the animals steal the food behind our friends' backs. The picnic is finished quickly when it starts to rain. Our heroes head home happily as Rover acts as Mickey's windshield wiper.


-Michael J. Ruhland