Mickey Mouse in "Mickey in Arabia" (1932)

Mickey in Arabia marked the last Disney cartoon for Columbia, thus fulfilling the contract to that studio. By this time Walt had already signed with Untied Artists for U.A. to distribute the Disney cartoon shorts. They had already been signed with Untied Artists for around a year and a half by the time this film was completed.

This cartoon also marked a shift in the content of Mickey Mouse cartoons. The early Mickey Mouse cartoons were mostly a series of unrelated gags connected by a loose story. From this cartoon on the Mickey cartoons would take on a more adventurous spirit. Many cartoon would now be a mini-adventure. Though there were still many gags, each gag played a part in telling the story. Like what was already being done in the Mickey Mouse comic strip (at this time done by Floyd Gottfredson) the cartoons often would take Mickey to an exotic or fantasy-based place, where he would face some sort of danger and save the day. However despite this film signaling a change in pace for the cartoons the basic story resembles that of the earlier Mickey cartoon, The Gallopin' Gaucho (1928).

This cartoon was directed by Wilfred Jackson, one of the studio's best directors of this era. He directed such classic Disney shorts as The Whoopee Party (1932), Mickey's Mellerdramer (1933), Santa's Workshop (1932), Puppy Love (1933) and The Grasshopper and the Ants (1934).

The following is an exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald (dated December 13, 1933).

"Mickey in Arabia: Mickey Mouse - Up to previous standard. Good for a lot of laughs. Appealing to both old and young alike. Running Time seven minutes. - William A. Crute, Victoria Theatre, Vancouver, B.C. Neighborhood patronage."

The following is another exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald (dated April 7, 1934).

"Mickey in Arabia: Mickey Mouse - About like the usual run of Mickey Mouses. Running time seven minutes. - A.B. Jefferis. New Piedmont Theatre, Piedmont, Mo. Rural and small town patronage."

The following is another exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald (dated February 18, 1933).

"Mickey In Arabia: Mickey Mouse - Not quite as good as some of the others in this series but Mickey is always popular. Running Time, 7 minutes - M.R. Harrington, State Theatre, Portland Oregon."

The following is a review in The Film Daily (dated November 22, 1932).

"Another choice bit of cartoon comicalities from the Disney shops. This time Mickey and Minnie are tourists in the Arab country. Riding into town on their dilapidated camel, Minnie is spotted by a sheik, who carries her off to his castle. Mickey follows on his trick camel and effects her rescue to the tune of plenty laughs."

According to an issue of Motion Picture Herald (dated August 6, 1932), this cartoon had been "unanimously recommended for the family by previewing groups that have seen" it. To read where this is stated click here.

In 1937 this cartoon was released for home viewing on 16MM sound film. Below is an advertisement for that.






Animation
Johnny Cannon (Mickey and Minnie on camel; Mickey and Minnie; Outside city gate - camel starts in; M.L.S. Inside - camel in - follow on pan - stop in front of saloon; Snake charmer)

Dick Lundy (Dancers and orchestra)


Kevin Donnelly (Woman with several vases on head - kids in them; Kids skipping rope with old man's beard; Woman with vase on head - man in it smoking cigar)

Clyde Geronimi (Mickey and Minnie get off camel - out of scene camel starts to drink beer; Mickey and Minnie take picture of girl with eye shade; Juggler; Mickey whistles at juggler; juggler poses; Minnie takes picture; Juggler continues to juggle)

Les Clark (Minnie taking picture of Mickey posing with kids; sheik looks over wall; Minnie looks in camera - backs up; Sheik ducks - looks out small door in gate - Minnie backs on - hands grab her; Mickey hears scream - drops kids - runs out; Mickey pounds on gate - hops over wall - sheik out with Minnie - Mickey after him)

Tom Palmer (Mickey gets drunken camel started)

Ben Sharpsteen (Sheik and camel out city gate - follow drunken camel on pan; Sheik riding donkey with Minnie; Sheik's castle - sheik rides in; Repeat drunken camel - camel on humps; Sheik chasing Minnie around bedroom; Mickey on camel humps - stumbles - Mickey runs out of scene; Mickey pounds on door - runs up wall to window; Window from inside - Mickey looks in; Sheik trying to kiss Minnie; Mickey leaps to chandelier - swings down out of scene; Repeat sheik trying to kiss Minnie - Mickey shoots into scene - kicks sheik out; Sheik hits gong; Slaves jump out and surround Mickey and Min.; Sheik starts shoots; Slaves duck for cover; Slaves hide in jars; Slave into snake basket - snakes gallop away; Two slaves try to hide in the same vase; Slave with false teeth; Mickey hides Minnie in flower vase - tries to open door; Sheik stops shooting sees Mickey; Sheik throws sword at Mickey; Sword sticks in door - runs towards Mickey; Mickey trips sheik; Minnie sees sheik slide thru scene; Sheik sliding on belly; Sheik sticks vase with sword - slave jumps out through ceiling - falls back - hangs by other slaves beard)

Jack King (Sheik throwing knives; Mickey running and dodging knives; Knife breaks vase as Mickey jumps for it - another knife pins Mickey to screen; Repeat sheik throwing knives; Mickey uses screen to shoot knives back at sheik; knives takes sheiks clothes off; Knives stick pillows - slaves jump up and run out; Sheik grabs sword runs to R; Mickey blows water out of pipe into sheik's face - runs upstairs - sheik after)

David Hand (Sheik chases Mickey and Minnie up minaret; Mickey running along edge of roof with Minnie in vase - stumbles - vase rolls; Minnie off roof - Mickey grabs at her - stone comes loose - both fall; Mickey and Minnie land in awning; Sheik jumps up at Mickey and Minnie; Mickey fold awning - sheik falls thru scene; Sheik lands in sand hand first - stuck - feet kicking; Mickey and Minnie in awning - look up; Slaves on edge of roof throw spears; Repeat Mickey folding awning - spears thru scene; Spears stick sheik in fanny - he runs over hill - camel watches; Mickey and Minnie jump off awning)

Frenchy de Tremmaudan (Mickey and Minnie land on camel ride away)

Story: Mickey and Minnie ride into an Arabian town on their camel. When they arrive there they are typical tourists taking pictures of everything and asking many residents to pose for them. This all goes well into a sheik (who looks a lot like Pete) sees Minnie. In a sweep of lust he swoops Minnie up and carries her off to his castle. Mickey runs after to save his girlfriend. When he reaches the castle Mickey must fight off both the sheik and many slaves all of who have many swords they hurl at our hero. Unarmed Mickey has to defend himself with just his wits. Luckily that proves to be more than enough.

-Michael J. Ruhland