"A Special Cartoon"

Synopsis

A short short made especially for the 1932 Academy Awards show; it features a small parade of the nominees for best actor and actress. In order they were Wallace Beery for "The Champ" (with Jackie Cooper trailing along behind), Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne for "The Guardsman", Helen Hayes for "The Sins of Madelon Claudet", Fredric March for "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", and Marie Dressler for "Emma."

Characters

Mickey Mouse

Minnie Mouse

Clarabelle Cow

Pluto

Milestones

Although "The Band Concert" was Mickey's first complete short in color, this was actually his first color appearance, as short as it might have been.

Laserdiscs

United States

Mickey Mouse : the Black and White Years : Volume 1

Japan

Mickey Mouse : the Black and White Years : Volume 1

DVD

Disney Treasures : Mickey Mouse in Living Color

Region 1 : United States

Region 2 : France

Region 2 : Germany

Region 2 : Italy

Region 2 : Sweden

Region 2 : United Kingdom

Technical Specifications

Color Type : Technicolor

Animation type : Standard

Sound mix : Mono

Aspect ratio : 1.33 : 1

Negative format : 35mm

Print format : 35mm

Cinematographic process : Spherical

Original language : English

Click here to submit a comment of your own.

From Jerry Edwards : I especially enjoyed the section of Fredric March changing from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde. One item you don't have in your info on this is that the background and several of the characters is recycled animation from the 1931 Silly Symphony "Mother Goose Melodies."

From Ryan : This short was never viewed by the public. It was simply made for the Academy Awards. Here we see Mickey leading the parade and Pluto is walking in the back of the line with a banner that reads: THE END. In fact, Pluto is gray in this short rather than yellow.

From Jan Rola Rozycki : After 'Mickey's Good Deed', this is my favourite Disney short, being, in the words of Leonard Maltin, 'A real treat for Disney fans and old movie aficionados alike'. The strong points are the music and fairytale background, as well as the buzz you are likely to get seeing Mickey, Minnie, Clarabelle and Pluto in glowing Technicolor for the first time. Short and sweet, and the boxer had me in stitches.

From Bryan Hensley : This marks Mickey's first appearance in Technicolor, as well as Minnie, Clarabelle Cow and Pluto. (who's unusually gray in it!) Mickey's first whole short in color was "The Band Concert" in 1935! The music played in this shortie was re-used in a 1939 shortie called "The Standard Parade" for the Standard Oil company (That one had the 7 dwarves and other newer characters in it, as well as Mickey and Minnie's new look!) In case you're wondering how classic shorts like "The Gallopin' Gaucho" or "Mickey's Good Deed" or "Mickey's Orphans" ended up in color on TV (or home video); they've been restored and colorized with the current technology of the 80's or 90's! But I digress, Parade of the Award Nominees is entirely done in 3-strip Technicolor, despite being only 2 1/2 minutes long. For all you movie buffs out there who recognize the stars in the parade, or anyone who wants to see a previously-unseen part of Mickey's history, I hope you enjoy this shortie which doesn't involve any real words being spoken! By the way, Mickey looks better in red shorts and Pluto looks better in yellow!

Referenced Comments

Mother Goose Melodies (1931)