Today's cartoon selection begins with a classic Mickey Mouse film, Mickey's Rival (1936). The titular character is a mouse named Mortimer. Those of you who know your Disney history will know, that Mortimer was a name that was considered for Mickey. This was Mortimer's first appearance though he bared more than a little resemblance to Mr. Slicker a character that appeared in the Micky Mouse comic strip. Though Mickey's Rival was his only appearance in a theatrically released short film, it was not his only appearance in animation. He became a reoccurring character in the television shows, Mickey Mouse Works (1999-2000) and House of Mouse (2001-2003). He also has a role in the direct to video movie, Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999) and has appeared briefly in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (2006-2016) and Mickey and the Roadster Races (2017-present). Outside of animation he has been used very often in the Disney comic strips and began to appear in them around the same time he made his debut in movie theaters. Mortimer's design is said to be based off of Walt Disney and those who have seen pictures of a young Walt, will find this easy to believe. The ending to Mickey's Rival has Mickey and Minnie simply shaking hands. However it was originally planned for Mickey to have a buzzer on his hand to play a Mortimer type prank on Minnie. Though this would have been out of character for Mickey at this time it would have fit perfectly in with the Mickey Mouse of the late 1920's. A review in The Motion Picture Herald stated "The subject is less complex than many of the recent Disney fabrications but wholly entertaining." The following is an exhibitor's review from The Motion Picture Herald, "Mickey's Rival: Mickey Mouse - We find that the bad characters often frighten our small children and they go out into the foyer until it is passed over. - Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ontario, Canada, General Patronage." The following is another exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald, "Mickey's Rival: Mickey Mouse—Played this the second time as it is one of the best of the Mickeys.— C. L. Niles, Niles Theatre, Anamosa, Iowa. General patronage." A review in The Motion Picture Daily stated, "Clever animation and fast-moving, but there have been better Mickey's. For instance 'Alpine Climbers.'" The following is from a 1936 issue of The Film Daily, "United Artists' latest Walt Disney release, 'Mickey's Rival', introducing Mortimer Mouse, will open at the Radio City Music Hall with 'Swing Time' on Thursday, and at the Rivoii Theater with 'The Last oi the Mohicans.'"
The following is from a 1930 issue of Close Up.
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Up next is another classic Disney cartoon from 1936, this one being a Silly Symphony, Three Little Wolves (1936). When talking about Disney sequels many quote Walt as saying "You can't top pigs with pigs." This quote refers to the sequels that the Disney studio made to Three Little Pigs (1933). Yet for sheer entertainment value, I personally love these sequels and my favorite of the bunch is Three Little Wolves. Humor-wise this is probably the best of the cartoons staring the three pigs and their wolf nemesis. The working titles of this movie were Wolf in Sheep's Clothing and The Boy Who Cried Wolf. The latter of those working titles should give you an idea of the basic story here. Like how The Big Bad Wolf (1934) put the characters into the story of Little Red Riding Hood (Little Red Riding Hood was a working title for that film), Three Little Wolves places them in the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. This cartoon was very popular upon its release. It was the first Disney film to be held over for multiple showings at the Radio City Music Hall in New York. It first played with The King Steps Out (1936) from May 28 - June 10th, 1936. Then it played with Private Number (1936) from June 11-17, 1936. Its world premiere was at the Majestic in Dallas Texas with Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times (1936) (how much I would have loved to see these two great films together in a theatre) from April 18-24, 1936. It was also held over there and played again with Captain January (1936) from April 25- May 1. A review in the Motion Picture Herald stated, "The subject is a sheer triumph for Disney, who must have known the hazard involved in returning the Three Little Pigs in a manner to circumvent the almost inevitable anti-climax expectable in view of their original success. 'The Three Little Wolves' is the eminently qualified result. It is immensely satisfying, manifestly advertisable, altogether excellent." A review in The Film Daily stated "In anticipation of the natural and provocative question: 'Is it as good as The Three Little Pigs?' - the answer is emphatically 'Yes!' Although 'Pigs' has the edge because it is the original, for all commercial purposes the sequel should be better. Benefitting from the well publicized reception given its predecessor, 'Wolves' is the only cartoon subject that can command as much fan interest as the return appearance of a feature production star." Some of Frank Churchill's music for this cartoon was reused in the wartime training film, Stop That Tank (1942).
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| Motion Picture Herald, 1936 |
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| The Film Daily, 1936 |
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| The Film Daily, 1936 |
Today's selection continues with a later Popeye from Famous Studios, Insect to Injury (1956). Though Famous Studios at this time most stuck to the formula of Popeye fighting Bluto over Olive, this was an exception. It is also one of the best Popeye's of this late era.
Today's cartoon selection ends with a delightfully strange Columbia Krazy Kat cartoon, Cinder Alley (1934).
Thank you for joining me, come back next week for more animated treasures. Until then peace, love and cartoons.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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