Mickey's Kangaroo was Mickey's last theatrical cartoon short in black and white. Earlier the same year this cartoon was released Mickey's first color cartoon, The Band Concert had already been released and had been a smash hit with audiences and critics. From this, there was no doubt that Mickey was going to stay in color. This is one of the only two black and white Mickey's to be released after The Band Concert with the other being the excellent, Mickey's Service Station. This was not only the last black and white Mickey, but the last black and white theatrical cartoon from the Disney studio.
By this time, Mickey was no longer the star of his own cartoons, the way he was the previous year (1934 still featured cartoons like Two Gun Mickey, Shanghaied and Mickey Plays Papa, where the mouse was clearly the star). Instead Mickey Mouse cartoons found the mouse playing straight man to characters that were once his supporting cast. This film is an example of that. Though credited as a Mickey Mouse cartoon, Pluto is the real star of this film getting most of the laughs. Speaking of Pluto this cartoon marks one of the only two cartoons where Pluto is actually given a voice (The other being The Moose Hunt (1931). True in other cartoons an angel and a devil would appear on Pluto's shoulders and we would hear them speak, but in this film it is the mutt himself that gets dialogue. Truth be told it is hard to say he speaks. As the dog's mouth never moves, what we are hearing is his inner thoughts. This is not true of The Moose Hunt where Pluto actually does speak to Mickey. Still in both cartoons it is obvious why the studio never did this again. The reason is it doesn't work. The animation is more than good enough for us to tell what Pluto is thinking without hearing his thoughts, making the device pointless. Still that is not to take away from this cartoon, which is fast paced fun entertainment. There is some good slapstick and the animation is fantastic.
This cartoon is oddly enough inspired by a true event in Disney history. An Australian wine maker named Leo Buring set Walt Disney two wallabies as a present in 1934. If Walt could receive these as a present why couldn't Mickey receive a kangaroo as a present. The following appears in an issue of The Film Daily (dated Friday 12, 1935).
"Inspired by the gift of three wallabies from an Australian admirer, Walt Disney has added a kangaroo to his gallery of animated cartoon characters. It appears in 'Mickey's Kangaroo,' being released by Untied Artists."
This cartoon was directed by David Hand, who would later be the supervising director for two of the studio's best animated features, Snow White And the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Bambi (1942).
The following is a very brief article in The Film Daily (dated April 10, 1935).
"'Mickey's Kangaroo' Walt Disney subject released by U. A. will have its premiere at Radio City Music Hall on April 18."
The following is an exhibitors review in Motion Picture Herald (dated June 12, 1937).
"Mickey's Kangaroo: Mickey Mouse - Oh boy! This is a corking good cartoon. Mickey Mouse sure has a time of it with a kangaroo by giving him a working out with a pair of boxing gloves. Running time- one reel - Rudolf Dubs, Royal Theater, Kimball, S. D. Small Town Patronage."
The following is a review in the Motion Picture Daily (Dated Friday May 3, 1935).
"It was Pluto the dog, that had a local theatre audience howling at his antics in this, the latest of the Mickey Mouse series. Mickey is his usual comedic self, but this short is all Pluto and the two new characters, the Kangaroos.
Mickey gets a present of a mother and a baby kangaroo from a friend in Australia. On discovering the animals box, Mickey puts on the gloves with the mother. He takes a terrific beating and winds up in a hay bailing machine. In the meantime Pluto has been chased all over the place by the baby. The four wind up pals however.
Highly recommended. Production Code Seal No. 715. Running Time, 8 1/2 mins. 'G'"
The following is an exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald (Dated January 25, 1936).
"Mickey's Kangaroo: Mickey Mouse - Laugh from start to finish. Running time 8 minutes. - W. M. Allison, Princess Theatre, Tucumcari, N. M. Small town and rural patronage."
On the same page directly proceeding that exhibitor's review was this exhibitors review.
"Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphonies: These are by far the cream of the cartoon release. Adults get a great kick out of them. - Frank E. Sabin, Majestic Theatre, Eureka, Mont. Small town patronage."
The following is a review from The Philadelphia Exhibitor.
"Mickey's Kangaroo. Untied Artist - Disney. 8 min. Up to the standard of the series with Mickey getting some kangaroos as a gift. After Mickey boxes with a big one and Pluto takes over the little ones, they have enough. It all ends pleasantly with the usual okay Disney gags and ideas. Okay."
The following is an article from Variety (dated Wednesday, September 18, 1935).
"Roxy, N.Y.
It would be unfair to call the current week's stage show 'typical.' Its pretty bad and the Roxy's average is usually pretty good.
"Another cause of complaint this week is the Roxy's inclusion of a cartoon short, 'Mickey's Kangaroo,' which was exhibited around town about a year ago. That is putting a penalty on the regular going theatre-goer that is hard to justify. New short entry entry is the first of Columbia's 'Voice of Experience' series.
"Against the jumbled, lame and lethargic stage layout and the repeat of short product the house has a bang-up feature in Gaumont-British's '39 Steps' so business will probably be spiffy. But that stage show!
"One of the Gae Foster production numbers starts with the 'Old Spinning Wheel' sung from the tormenter by Norman Neilson and then romped into two-four time for hoofing. Three sections of girls all attired differently, seem to be adlibbing with their feet. There is a lack of unity, harmony, and sense that is bewildering.
"One of the headliners is Cecil Mack. He played the house a year ago and seemed funnier. With the assistance of stooges he entices some giggles but the act is meandering. Several vulgarisms by Mack should be eliminated. The both- thumbs - to - nose gesture directed at the audience is unpardonable and many hells and damns don't belong.
"Other headliner is Billy Hill, the songwriter working with Mrs. Hill. Audience goes big for his western and hillbilly ballads. He wrote 'The Last Round Up,' 'Spinning Wheel,' etc. Finale has Johnny Boyle, holdovers daughter and son tap dancing to Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' with the stage and chorus dressed in motif. That's okay."
Though the idea of a stage show being part of the movie going experience seems odd today, it was not uncommon during this era. For those unaware, The 39 Steps was directed by Alfred Hitchcock and I agree with this reviewer that it is an excellent film. If you have not seen it I could not recommend it more.
Animation
Les Clark (Mickey painting Pluto's sign - Truck back - Pluto happy - Jumps around; Pluto knocks Mickey down - licks face - Mickey kisses - O.S. postman's whistle; Postman delivers box - exits - Mickey and Pluto in; C.U. of delivery tag; Mickey starts to open box - Mickey falls on face. Pluto follows box out of scene; Box hopping - Pluto following - box on note - box chases Pluto; Mickey says 'Hot Dog' etc. exit towards kangaroo; Mickey shakes kangaroo's hand - says "Hi ya pal" "Wait 'till I get my gloves. Then exits; Door shot - Mickey says "be right out" Falls - enters doorway; Kangaroo hops out of the scene, Pluto out from under porch... barks; Kangaroo hopping - turns - honks at Pluto; Pluto dives under porch, comes out through step. Surprised expression)
Fred Moore (Kangaroo ripping into doghouse scene, happy - dive in - tail bursts out - head points out - kangaroo honks; Pluto by rooftop- "Busting up my house"; Kangaroo licks Pluto off dog house; Pluto- "Last Straw." "I'll run him off the place".... exits; Dog house scene - fist out through entrance - knocks out of scene; Pluto lands in basket- shakes pins off - exits towards kangaroo; Mother eating leaves - baby pops out of pooch - smacks Pluto - Pluto pouch - baby up - wallops him out of scene; exterior of house - Mickey runs out - holding up gloves - jumps over rail toward kangaroo; Kangaroo and baby - Mickey in - lifts out of pouch - "Hey Pluto look"; Mickey and baby - baby socks him - they spar; Pluto enters - "Take care of the little one" etc. Mickey exits with mother; Mickey and mother on pan - gym in barn; C.U. Pluto - "Now's my chance - get the little guy first."; Pluto starts after baby - circle action another pan; Pluto diving after baby - kangaroo clunks Pluto - baby-out - Pluto follows)
Dick Lundy (Mickey sparring with mother - dialogue Lupino Lane action - Mickey socks kangaroo. Dialogue. Kangaroo socks Mickey out of scene; Mickey into ropes - spins around - dialogue and spins back again (unspins) back towards kangaroo; Mickey circles kangaroo - swings at him - misses - kangaroo pounds Mickey - poses of kangaroo boxing Mickey - knocks him out of scene; Mickey lands against wall - in bucket - kangaroo in - punching bag action; Kangaroo mauling Mickey; Kangaroo bouncing Mickey from punching to wall; Kangaroo and Mickey repeat action - punching bag breaks - Mickey exits; Bale of hay bumps to stop - Mickey pops out - dialogue "let's mix it up")
Gerry Geronimi (Pan - Pluto hopping after baby - Pump pan in - water gag - Pluto follows baby out; Wheel barrow - Baby hops over - Pluto lands on handle - somersaults - rides wheelbarrow down hill - hits rock; Pluto lands in dump heap - up through derbies; top of dump - baby hops in Happy "heep beeps."; Pluto sore - hops out after baby - springs on feet; Baby scoots as Pluto lands - business of Pluto bouncing up and down; Hopping onto baby - both hop - Pluto snaps at tail - finally bumps head; Clothes line - Pluto lands in corset - bounces on vertical angle pan - ropes snap - loosen - Pluto exits; Exterior of house - Pluto crashes thru; Interior - Pluto dazed - coming to - Baby looks in door "Beep-beep" hops; Closer view - baby kisses Pluto - Pluto dialogue - off stage crashes)
Hardie Gramatki (Exterior of barn - biffs and bangs - pigeons and chickens scatter; Exterior window - Pluto and baby hop in - look in window; Interior of doorway - Pluto and baby follow - bouncing action; Bailing machine - Mickey lands in machine - machinery goes into action; All three take it big - dive out windows and doors; Bailing machine - bale of hay pops out - machine collapses; Fireside scene - Mother kangaroo - baby up out of pouch - Pluto up - kissing, etc. Mickey looks in window)
Story: Our film starts with Mickey painting Pluto's name on the dog's new dog house. Pluto likes it very much and licks Mickey. Mickey gets a present from Australia. It turns out to be a mother kangaroo and her baby. The excited mother kangaroo jumps around and ends up breaking Pluto's new house. Pluto is mad. Pluto heads after the big kangaroo, receives punches to the face. This gives Mickey an idea. The mouse gets out his boxing gloves and decides to do some sparing with the mother. He asks Pluto to take care of the son. Pluto gives the baby chase only to receive punches from the little guy. Meanwhile the mother kangaroo is absolutely beating up Mickey. Meanwhile the baby gives Pluto a big kisses. This melts Pluto's heart and the two become friends. The two go to watch Mickey and the mother fight. The mother knocks Mickey into the hay bailer, and Mickey comes out in the middle of a bail of hay, still as happy as ever. Pluto joins his new friend in the mother kangaroo's pouch for a sweet happy ending.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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