DVD: Buy Walt Disney Treasures - Mickey Mouse in Black and White Online

Average Rating:

Here is a complete list of the B&W selections on this collection (year-by-year) straight from the Disney press release:

1928--"Steamboat Willie", "The Gallopin' Gaucho", "Plane Crazy" (actually the first official Mickey Mouse short--originally silent with sound added later and re-released following the success of "SW").

1929--"The Karnival Kid", "Mickey's Follies"

1930--"The Fire Fighters", "The Chain Gang", "The Gorilla Mystery", "The Pioneer Days"

1931--"The Birthday Party", "Mickey Steps Out", "Blue Rhythm", "Mickey Cuts Up", "Mickey's Orphans"

1932--"The Duck Hunt", "Mickey's Revue", "Mickey's Nightmare", "The Whoopee Party", "Touchdown Mickey", "The Klondike Kid"

1933--"Building a Building", "The Mad Doctor", "Ye Olden Days", "The Mail Pilot", "Mickey's Gala Premiere", "Puppy Love", "The Pet Store", "Giantland"

1934--"Camping Out", "Gulliver Mickey", "Orphan's Benefit", "The Dognapper", "Two-Gun Mickey"

1935--"Mickey's Service Station" (Curiously, "Mickey's Kangaroo" is not included here. This was really the last B&W Mickey cartoon done shortly after he premiered in color in "The Band Concert").

The press release has stated that, in addition to all the features mentioned above, there will also be rare footage of the only MM B&W pencil test known to exist. This pencil test was done for "The Mail Pilot." Also, new interviews were apparently done with the legendary animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston for the documentary. Much-needed audio commentary (presumably by Leonard Maltin) has also been added to the poster gallery on disc 2 that was absent from last year's "Mickey Mouse in Living Color."

For those not acquainted with last year's "Mickey Mouse in Living Color": that collection collects Mickey's first three years in color between 1935-1938. Next year's rumored Vol. 2 will probably complete the color Mickey, going up to his last short under Walt Disney--"The Simple Gifts" (1953).

More rumors for next year's DT series: "Wartime Cartoons" (originally intended for this year) and "The Chronological Donald" (obviously the first phase of the many Donald Duck cartoons produced through the 1930's-1960's).

"Steamboat Willie" has Mickey turning animals into musical instruments by beating on them, squishing them, stepping on them, throwing them by their tails, etc. If that wasn't enough "Plane Crazy" has Mickey torturing poor Minnie in a small airplane: when she refuses to kiss him, he rolls the plane, dives and barnstorms. When the plane is again level, Minnie is trembling with fear. Mickey just smiles and asks once again for a kiss. This clearly isn't the Mickey Mouse I know, and I was beginning to suspect why these black and white cartoons were so hard to find. Years ago, there was an edition put out on laser disc (remember those?!?!) but that's the only other definitive collection I've ever seen until now. Perhaps Disney didn't want to soil Mickey's reputation, as Leonard Maltin says in one of the DVDs commentaries.

If you can swallow a little cruelty and early twentieth century sterotypes (there are numerous "Mammy" references as well, and Native Americans are treated rather badly in one toon where they're depicted as scalping, hooting bloodthirsty wolves) these cartoons are a blast. I didn't expect to laugh so much, particularly at the early toons by Ub Iwerks(one of the greatest names of all time). They have a style and personality that the late Mickey lacks to this day.

The DVD set also shows Mickey becoming more and more "proper" as the years go on. By disk two the hilarity starts to calm, and I found myself laughing less and less until disk two's finale: "Mickey's Service Station" which has Mickey, Donald and Goofy in their familar roles. It's a good way to end the disk.

The supplementary material is also helpful, but Leonard Maltin's commentary could have been compacted into one presentation rather than spread throughout the DVDs. I became annoyed with seeing Maltin every third or fourth time I pressed "Play" when I expected to see a cartoon. His commentary and interviews do give good background information, but I would rather not have them shoved in my face.

In short, a great collection that explains Mickey Mouse's popularity for those of us unfamiliar with his early wild days, and a host of culturally significant debuts: Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Pluto. Buy it and get to know all sides of the mouse that once roared very loudly and naughtily.