Mickey Mouse in "Mickey Steps Out" (1931)

By 1931 Mickey Mouse cartoons had reached the top of their popularity and artistic craft. Even what could have easily been a run of the mill entry like Mickey Steps Out manages to be an excellent film in its own right. The story itself was nothing new in the series even as early as 1931. This story was already a bit cliché and what many would think of as a typical Mickey Mouse cartoon. However the film never feels like a retread of previous cartoons because it is handled so well. This cartoon features great character animation, clever gags, fast paced action, a very jazzy rendition of Sweet Georgia Brown and a nice unpretentious easy going charm. All of this makes the film irresistible to cartoon and Disney fans.

Though this is a Mickey Mouse cartoon and Mickey's name is in the title, Pluto is the real star. This is interesting considering Pluto was still a very new character by this time. The dog had made his first appearance a year before in The Chain Gang (1930). Though Pluto had played a good sized role in his previous cartoon appearance, The Moose Hunt (1931), Mickey Steps Out marks the character's first real starring role. This was also a departure for this time as in 1931 Mickey was still clearly the starring character in his series of cartoons. This would change in a few years as Mickey's leading roles would diminish and the starring characters of Mickey Mouse cartoons would become the likes of Pluto or Donald Duck. With this in mind this film can be viewed as a sign of things to come.

Norm Ferguson doesn't animate much of this cartoon, but it is worth noting that the two scenes he animated heavily involve Pluto. Fergy would later become one of the defining animators for that character.    

Luckily for us Disney history freaks, a storyboard for the cartoon has appeared on YouTube. It moves a little fast but you can always stop the video to take a closer look. 

The film ends with a blackface gag including an imitation of Al Jolson. This has been taken out of many later versions of the cartoon.

The following is a review of the film from The Motion Picture Herald (dated October 3, 1931).

"Mickey, the animated mouse, goes jazz with a vengeance while Minnie supplies the music and inspiration. Gained a good number of laughs in New York, and good synchronization does its part."

It is strange to think of anything in a Mickey Mouse cartoon seeming vulgar with all the extremely raunchy comedies coming out today. However 1931 was a completely different world as evidenced by a review from the Los Angles branch of the American Association of University Women which stated, "Moderately entertaining misadventures ensue when Mickey calls on Minnie and his dog chases her cat. A few vulgarities might be dispensed with."

The Motion Picture Herald told each week what short subjects were played at which houses when. This cartoon played September 18, 1931 at the Cameo theatre along with an RKO live action comedy short starring James Gleason and Harry Gribbon called Slow Poison (1931). On the week of April 1, 1933 the short played at the Roxy along with the feature length documentary Matto Grosso (1933).


Director: Burt Gillett.
Premiere Date: 7/7/1931

AnimationJack King (Bathroom scene - Mickey shaving - kisses Minnie's Picture - sings "Ding Dong Daddy" = Plays on seat - off-stage. Soap goes in bowl. He puts out light)

Johnny Cannon (Reception hall - door opens - Mickey comes out - hat and cane gag - shoots kisses at Minnie's picture - walks toward left)

Norm Ferguson (Pan porch - Mickey hops down steps - as he walks along dog knocks him down from behind - Mickey scolds him - pushes him out of scene - dog house scene - Mickey pushes Pluto - hooks chain to collar - exits whistling - Pluto whines; Pan Mickey crawling out of puddle - dog knock him down again - as Mickey starts to scold music is heard off-stage - Mickey listens 

David Hand (Pan Mickey doing xylophone walk on broad walk - falls in puddle; C.U. canary bird cage - canary solo (this animation is used twice in the cartoon); Semi-C.U. window and canary bird cage - Mickey raises sash and coaxes bird with whistling (this animation is used twice in the cartoon); C.U. seed cup in cage - 3 little birds look out and chirp last notes with mother canary; Outside shot of window - Mickey leaning in on window standing on dog's rear end (this animation is used three times in the cartoon); Fence corner - cat appears around corner and rubs against fence purring; Dog sees cat whines; Cat sees dog - haughty attitude - makes razzberry; Dog takes razz big - runs out of scene - Mickey catches self on window sill - sash drops on neck; Back yard scene - Dog chasing cat around pole (spilt with Hardy Gramatky) (this animation is used twice in the cartoon); Cat jumps in window - dog follows (spilt with Hardy Gramatky))

Harry Reeves (Pan dog coming in on a run - as he moves into scene he is disclosed dragging dog house; Library scene. Dog and cat trip Mickey up - he falls on loose board which upsets globe - it falls on his head and revolves)

Ben Sharpsteen (Minnie playing piano and singing (this animation is used twice in the cartoon); cat closes door as dog dives - crash starts stovepipes falling - soot gag - dialogue ending)

Tom Palmer (Pan Room scene - Mickey's head caught in window - dialogue with Minnie - she raises sash - he falls out - she calls; Pan Mickey looking indoor - says "here I am" - slides into pose; Pan Mickey and Minnie calling whistling - cat and dog run under and carry them - animals go under carpet - Mickey and Minnie on top of carpet)

Frenchy de Tr'emaudan (Minnie playing chord - she hops on stool - starts playing "Sweet Georgia Brown" (this animation is used twice in the cartoon))

Dick Lundy (Pan Mickey dances - hat and cane stuff - throws hat at wall - spears it with cane; Mickey sweeping to rhythm - he balances broom on nose; Mickey juggling fishbowl on top of broom; Mickey juggling fishbowl, lamp, dishes, etc. - do and cat trip him up - fishbowl goes over head; C.U. Fishbowl over Mickey's head - fish swimming in front of face)

Hardy Gramatky (Back yard scene - Dog chasing cat around pole (spilt with David Hand) (this animation is used twice in the cartoon); Cat jumps in window - dog follows (spilt with David Hand); Double doorway scene - dog dragging cat around on end of piano roll - door closes bothe bang into door - right run out to right)

Rudy Zamora (Pan dog and cat trip Mickey up - he lands on piano roll - rolls back - hits wall - cuckoo clock falls over head)

Charles Bryne (Bedroom - cat runs under bed - dog slides under - hits something - bounces back - looks under - broken china - cat out of bed both exit)

Les Clark (L.S. room - Mickey and Minnie riding around on lumps under carpet - bump - cat comes out of patch - exits to right - dog looks out)

Marvin Woodward (Stove scene. Cat runs in - dives in open stove door - sticks head out - gives dog razz)

Jack Cutting (Pan C.U. of dog looking out of carpet - he takes razz - tears his way out of carpet - runs on pan)

Story: As the film starts Mickey is getting himself all spruced up for a big date. He then heads out with Pluto following him. He ties Pluto to his dog house and tells him to stay. This does not stop Pluto from following him. This turns out to be disastrous as Pluto starts chasing Minnie's cat and Mickey and Minnie bear the slapstick brunt of this. All of this leaves to Minnie's stove getting destroyed and the group being covered in soot for a blackface gag.

 

-Michael J. Ruhland