Overview
Mickey's Revue is a 1932 American animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by United Artists. It is the twenty‑fourth entry in the Mickey Mouse theatrical series and marks one of the early appearances of Donald Duck in a Mickey Mouse short.
Production
- Director: Wilfred Jackson
- Producer: Walt Disney
- Story: Walt Disney (story credited)
- Animators: Included Bill Justice, Les Clark, and others from Disney’s animation staff.
- Music: Composed by Frank Churchill, with the short featuring several musical numbers typical of the “revue” format.
- Release date: July 16 1932 (United States)
- Runtime: Approximately 7 minutes
The short was created in black and white, as color production for Disney cartoons did not become standard until later in the decade.
Plot summary
The film is structured as a stage variety show hosted by Mickey Mouse. Mickey serves as the master of ceremonies, introducing a series of performances by his friends:
- Minnie Mouse sings a brief musical number.
- Donald Duck attempts to perform a comedic singing act, resulting in his characteristic temperamental outbursts.
- Clarabelle Cow appears as a dancer.
- A prototype of Goofy, then known as “Dippy Dawg,” makes a brief cameo.
The sketches are intercut with gags and slap‑stick humor, culminating in a collective finale where all the characters join together for a concluding musical piece.
Release and reception
Upon its theatrical release, Mickey's Revue was shown as a supporting short accompanying feature films. Contemporary trade publications noted the short for its lively musical numbers and the continued popularity of the Mickey Mouse series. While detailed box‑office figures for individual shorts of the era are scarce, the film contributed to the sustained commercial success of Disney’s cartoon output during the early 1930s.
Historical significance
- The short is notable for being among the first Disney cartoons to feature Donald Duck in a supporting role, predating his own starring series.
- It illustrates Disney’s experimentation with the revue‑style format, allowing multiple characters to showcase distinct personalities within a single short.
- The appearance of “Dippy Dawg” represents an early iteration of the character who would later evolve into Goofy.
Home media and preservation
Mickey's Revue has been released on several home‑video collections, including the “Walt Disney Treasures: Mickey Mouse in Black and White, Volume Two: 1928‑1935” DVD set. The short is preserved in the Disney archives and is available for streaming through Disney’s official platforms in regions where classic Disney content is offered.
References
- Disney, Walt (producer). Mickey's Revue (1932). United Artists.
- “Mickey’s Revue.” The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons, edited by Jeff Lenburg, Checkmark Books, 2006.
- Barrier, Michael. Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in Its Golden Age. Oxford University Press, 1999.
