Mickey Mouse in "Canine Caddy" (1941)

In the late 1920's and early 1930's Mickey Mouse cartoons had stories that completely revolved around the main character. However as the years went on this would change. Much of this was due to the fact that many were now looking at Mickey as a role model for kids, and parents were complaining about his mischievous antics saying they set a bad example. With this the Disney studio got rid of his more rebellious actions. The result of this was that Mickey was still a great character and was still very likable, but he was no longer funny in and of himself. By 1941, when today's cartoon was released he became the studio's straight man, playing off of the bigger laugh getters such as Donald Duck, Goofy and of course Pluto. Mickey proved to be prefect for this role and many great cartoons were made in this vein. One of these is the cartoon we will look at today, Canine Caddy. In this film though credited as a Mickey Mouse cartoon, nearly all of the laughs come from Pluto instead, while Mickey just tries to enjoy a game of golf.

This cartoon was directed by Disney legend Clyde Geronimi. Geronimi would go on to become a major director of animated Disney feature films. He would co-direct Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp and 101 Dalmatians. He would also serve as the supervising director Sleeping Beauty. Don Duckwall would serve as assistant director on this film and Bruce Bushman would do the layouts.

The following is a short article from Showman's Trade Review (Dated May 3, 1941).


"Walt Disney's latest Technicolor cartoon, 'Canine Caddy', is scheduled to be released nationally by RKO Radio on May 30th when the golf season will be at its peak. The short subject stars Mickey Mouse as a 'scratch' golfer with Pluto as his caddy.

"In view of its timely release date, theatremen should plan to reach local golfers by posting bulletins at golf clubs and arranging tieups with sporting goods dealers. A special screening should be held for newspaper sports editors to the end that valuable publicity will be garnered in that section."

As stated in an issue of Motion Picture Herald on January 3, 1942, this film played with the feature Hellzapoppin' at the Rivoli, to see the page this is stated on click here.

The following is an exhibitor's review for the Motion Picture Herald (dated June 7, 1941)

"Canine Caddy: Walt Disney Cartoons- Disney introduces a new character a mole I think that causes Pluto all sorts of trouble underground. Very good - of course. Running Time 8 Minutes - W. Varick Nevins III, Alfred Co-op theater, Alfred, N.Y. Small Town Patronage."


The following was a review in Showman's Trade Review (Dated June 7, 1941)


"All of Disney's flair for making entertaining cartoons which have made him preeminent in his field are apparent in this subject. Laughs abound when Mickey goes golfing with Pluto, his faithful pup, acting as his caddy. Pluto's set to with a gopher adds to the gaiety and it ends with Mickey telling Pluto he's only a mutt after all. This is Disney at his best and your audience will eat it up."

This cartoon would be reissued to theaters in May, 1962.  
Animation

Ken Muse (Pan of golf course - Mickey Making practice swing - says "What a swell day for a game of golf!" Turns to right and says "Caddy."; Mickey prepares to swing at ball - pulls up pants - addresses ball - o.s. sniffling causes hat to fall down; Pluto sniffing flag on green - o.s. "shh" - Pluto takes - looks in Mickey's direction; Mickey mad yells "QUIET!" Starts to hit ball again - o.s. thumping causes hat to fall down again; Pluto nonchalantly scratching himself with hind paw; Mickey still jittering - yells Pluto; Pluto stops scratching - looks towards Mickey very sheepishly - Mickey says "Cut it out!"; Mickey takes terrific swing at ball - winds up - unwinds - lands on ground with club bent; Pluto takes at Mickey to left - goes into laugh; Mickey flips club up with foot - drives ball off; Mickey lines up putt - clips path with hair clippers; Mickey hits ball - pan ball around cup - Pluto snorts ball in - Pluto snorts ball in - goes into innocent expression; Mickey on tee yells "Fore!" - gets ready to drive ball; Mickey in back swing, anticipates drive; Mickey takes at Pluto excited - says "Wait - Hold It!"; Pluto stops shaking, takes at ball on fanny - Mickey in - says - "Don't move hold still"; Mickey takes another swing at ball on Pluto's fanny - misses; Mickey lining up ball on Pluto's fanny - Pluto trembling - trembling gets Mickey - he shakes it off; Mickey swings at ball on Mickey's fanny. Pluto drops fanny with Mickey hitting ball in mid-air. Says "Oh Boy What a Sock!")
Morey Reden (Pluto places ball on mound - gives it a couple of pats - looks towards Mickey - then backs off to right; Pluto looks at pulsating hand - sees gopher to right on pan - anticipates leaping; Gopher in from left - Pluto after him - Gopher zips behind hill to left - Pluto skids on turn. Stakes up grass like carpet; Gopher leaps in hole - Pluto after him - short underground pan; Pluto dives into scene - chases gopher underground - Gopher takes out to right)  

Emery Hawkins (Pluto ducks as ball wizzes by - runs after it; Ball hits tree - rebounds to other trees - Pluto in pursuit; Ball rolls into scene - Pluto in - goes in to point - Mickey enters says "good boy Pluto!" Pats Pluto; Pluto comes into scene - takes flag out of cup; Mickey lines up putt - clips path with hair clippers; Pluto moves head back and forth paralleling action of Mickey's club; Pluto swings head like Mickey's club - falls on face - runs out to right after ball; Golfball lands in sc. - Pluto in goes into point - ball rolls under him turning over on back while still in point - ball rolls into sand trap - Pluto takes)  
Charles Nichols (Pluto I crouched position with hand over eyes - sand settles - ball on Pluto's fanny; Pluto in Sphinx tableau with head covered with sand - opens eyes slowly - blinks -takes at himself; Pluto starts to shake sand off - ball bouncing on fanny; Pluto sees divot cut in fanny - makes scared take - gulps - covers eyes with paws; Pluto's paws over eyes trembling - peeks up thru fingers; Pluto trembling and sweating - prays. O.S. Mickey's voice: "Hold Still!" Pluto flattens out; Pan of ball bouncing into sc. from left - rolls and bounces into gopher hole - Pluto skids in - goes into point - half-eaten ball shoots out in front of Pluto; Gopher chewing - spits out bits of golf ball - double takes at Pluto - snorts at Pluto - Ducks into hole - does fast action in and out hole - then disappears; Gopher razzes Pluto - Pluto dives at gopher - digs up can - can lands o.s.; Pluto's head pops up as he hears o.s. sound - looks to right - goes into surprised take; Pluto in wolf attitude - sneaks up on can - pounces on it with front paws - Pluto tries to catch gopher with paws.)

George Nicholas (Pluto takes at golf ball core - hears off stage crunching - big take; Pluto dives at hole - starts digging furiously - digs gopher out - follow gopher on pan - Gopher recovers starts out at right; Pluto digging in ground - Gopher walks up mad - grabs Pluto's tail & gives it several quick bites putting a crimp in it; Gopher running inside can - bumps against tree - lands straight up)

Norm Tate (Gopher laughing; Mickey about to make putt - ground starts to tremble - Mickey looks around in surprise; Mound full of holes like swiss cheese. Hill shakes like quake - Mickey looking around gopher zips in and out; Mickey on top of mound still excited - Gopher pops up in front of Mickey - Mickey takes - pan down - Pluto pops out of ground - looks around wildly - o.s. Gopher razz - Pluto takes; Gopher under Mickey's legs razzing Pluto; Pluto mad - leaps up at gopher - hill caves in leaving big hole; Mickey and Pluto pop out of hole - dirt holes around heads and necks - Mickey laughs at Pluto - Says "Ha-Ha-Ha--Ah! You're just a mutt!" Pluto nods 'yes' - wags tail spinning sod with gopher on it)

Volus Jones (Gopher sees Pluto coming - bluestreaks out to right; Gopher in from upper left corner - detours faucet - Pluto in - bongs into faucet - vibration effect; Pluto coming out of vibration - eyes continues to vibrate - o.s. Gopher laughing; Pluto shakes off effects of hit - takes to right - big growl - bluestreaks out to left)

Eric Gunrey (Pluto chasing gopher; Pluto chases gopher underground - Gopher over Pluto - Pluto takes - out to right)


Chic Otterstrom (Mickey on green ready to make putt - truck back to longer shot - gopher in from left - Pluto right behind - both start boring hill)


Story: Mickey is getting ready for a big golf game. He calls over his caddy Pluto, who very carefully puts the ball in place for Mickey. Mickey takes big preparations to hit the ball. However before he does he is distracting by Pluto sniffing the flagpole in the hole. Mickey tells him to be quiet. Pluto isn't quiet so Mickey messes up his swing cause him to get angry at Pluto. Mickey finally hits the ball and it winds up close to the hole. Mickey gets a birdie. On the next hole the trouble begins. Mickeys gets the ball in a sand trap then on Pluto's fanny. Pluto is scared and Mickey has trouble hitting it. When Mickey finally hits it, he hits it in a gopher hole. The gopher eats the ball. This causes an angry Pluto to give chase. Much slapstick ensues with Pluto getting the worst of everything. The two end up destroying the hole golf course. Mickey however can't stay mad at Pluto and forgives him.

This cartoon received a shortened "Have A Laugh" version for TV. You can view that below.





-Michael J. Ruhland

  

Who is the King of the Cowboys?

As many of my fellow fans of old movies know there are two names that come up when the idea of a singing cowboy is brought up. These are of course Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. They were the kings of a certain type of movie that combined corny "B" western stories with fantastic country music. With this it seems like "Who is the king of the cowboys?" is a natural question. This question was put to the test by creating a double feature of two of the cowboys' films, Billy the Kid Returns (1938 with Roy Rogers) and Boots and Saddles (1937 with Gene Autry). The following was written in an issue of the Showman's Trade Review.


"Reproduced herewith is a newspaper layout used by Richard Peffley, city manager of Northio Theater in Fremont, Ohio to advertise a "Double-Western Jamboree" at the Strand Theatre. Peffley used the provocative question, "Who is the King of the Cowboys?" to draw attention to the program which featured Republic's Gene Autry and Roy Rogers in "Boots and Saddles" and "Billy the Kid Returns." The features were second run, but by doubling them and selling them as noted, past records were broken."


To see the page that this was written on, including the newspaper layout mentioned, click here.

The following was an exhibitors review for Billy the Kid Returns written for the Motion Picture Herald (dated November 5, 1938).

"Billy the Kid Returns: Roy Rodgers, Mary Hart, Smiley Burnette - Pretty good picture which played average business. Roy Rodgers will in time develop into a real draw. Played October 14-15 - E.M. Freiburger, Paramount theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small Town Patronage."

In with the old out with the new, an exhibitors review written directly below this on the same page for the Gene Autry movie Gold Mine in the Sky (written by S. Hanson from the Fox Theatre) stated, "Autry doesn't bring them in like he used to. Acting very poor. Singing only salvation."


The following was an exhibitors review of Boots and Saddles (dated May 7, 1938) for the Motion Picture Herald.


"Boots and Saddles: Gene Autry, Judith Allen, Ra Hould - not quite as much business on this one, but still way over the average. As do all the Autry pictures, this packs loads of entertainment. - C. E. Fismer, Lyric Theater, Hamilton, Ohio. General Patronage."

-Michael J. Ruhland          

The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze (1963) and Three Stooges Movie Party

The following is an article from Boxoffice magazine dated November 11, 1963.

"How's this for getting a crowd downtown and in a theatre?

"The line up pictured above shows part of the 2,500 persons who came to the Circle Theater in Indianapolis to see 'Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze.' No they didn't pay admission to the Saturday morning affair. It would have been perfect if they had, but the big party did result in many cash customers at the Circle boxoffice.

"It was a Three Stooges Movie Party sponsored by WFBM television station, arranged by B. J. Blankenship, Circle manager, assisted by E.J. Clumb, Greater Indianapolis Amusement Co. general manager an Don Mott, publicist, who worked with Hal Fryer, who conducts a Saturday morning Three Stooges telecast.

"WFBM started the buildup for its Three Stooges Movie Party four weeks ahead of the opening when the station made spot innovations to Three Stooges fans to write in for their complimentary tickets to a special showing of 'The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze' at the circle theater.


"The response was overwhelming according to WFBM officials. They placed a limit of four tickets to a family but the supply was exhausted by the second Saturday. But the hoopla for the big Three Stooges Movie Party was continued with plug promos used throughout the day. The free time thus devoted to the film figured at over $2,000.

"WFBM-TV cameras were on hand to take pictures of activities at the Three Stooges Movie Party. This film was shown on weekend newscasts and later on The Three Stooges program.

"The WFBM Sound of the City radio mikes were also on scene to record exciting moments of The Three Stooges Movie Party.

"Before the showing, there was a stage presentation of by WFBM personalities Harlow Hickenlooper, the Three Stooges Program host; Captain Star and Curley. And showman Matt got into the act when he wound up the stage affair by throwing a pie in the face of Happy Harlow. This is the way the Saturday morning telecast always ends. Mott comments his stage life was short but Happy."

The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze is one of the team's best feature length outings and maybe the best of their post-Shemp films. This film not only serves as a Stooges movie, but it is also a sequel to the classic story of Around the World in Eighty Days. Interestingly it successeds just as well being this as it does as a Stooge movie. In this film a con man (Peter Foster) makes a bet with Phillis Fog III (Jay Sheffield) that he can't repeat the famous trip his great grandfather made without the aid of money. Fog takes him up on this bet, and goes on the trip along with his three servants (guess who). This is actually a quite good story and is very well told.


This film does feature some skits repeated from previous Three Stooges films. However these are perfectly woven into the plot and still work like a charm here. These borrowed skits include the "Ma-Ha" "Ah-Ha" sketch originally from the feature film, Time Out For Rhythm (1941), a running gag involving Curly Joe, becoming literally fighting mad whenever he hears the song Pop Goes the Weasel like Curly did in Punch Drunks (1934), and a lights on and lights off fight scene like in Out West (1947). There are also some great new bits here, including the boy's making Fog's breakfast aboard a moving train and the boys sneaking around in baggage containers. While the wrestling match closely resembles Punch Drunks it does have a new and very funny ending. There is also a great inside joke during the scene in China. Some Chinese men try to brainwash the Stooges, however they end up becoming like the Stooges. These Chinese Stooges give their superiors the typical Three Stooges business. When one of the Chinese Stooges pokes his superiors in the eyes, Moe stops him saying "we don't do that anymore." At this time due to the Stooges becoming a regular part of various kiddie shows, the trio decided to take eye-pokes out of their repertoire so that kids would not imamate such.

This film was directed and produced by Norman Maurer, who was Moe's son in law as well as the writer of many Three Stooges comic books. Maurer would also after the Moe and Larry passed away create an animated TV show for Hanna-Barbera called The Robotic Stooges (1978). The film was cowritten by Maurer and Elwood Ullman (who wrote many of the classic Stooge short subjects for Columbia). This movie had many working titles including The Three Stooges Go Around the World on Eighty Cents, The Three Stooges Go 'Round the Globe on Eighty Cents, The Three Stooges Circle the World on Eighty Cents, Around the World on Eighty Cents, Around the World on Eighty Cents, The Three Stooges Go Around the World on Ninety-Nine Cents, The Three Stooges Go Around the World on $1.98, The Three Stooges Meet Phileas Fog and Merry Go Round the World. The reason for these working titles was that Untied Artists which had released the 1956 movie version of the classic tale were not happy with the original titles for this film.

A review in the Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin stated "A somewhat more complex plot than usual doesn't inhibit the trio's zany knock-down, drag-out antics." The following is an exhibitors review from Boxoffice Magazine (dated Nov. 11, 1963), "A very laugh provoking show. The kids loved every minute of it. Would have been better in color. Played Thursday, Friday, Saturday -C.D. Simmons, Grace Theater, Grace, Ida."

-Michael J. Ruhland    


 

The Need For Color Film, Broken Heart Contests and More.

This page from in issue of The Film Daily posted below gives fascinating insights into color films of the 1930's, and over the top ways that classic films from 1935 were advertised. Enjoy.

-Michael J. Ruhland