Mickey's Amateurs
Encyclopedia
Mickey's Amateurs is an animated
short film produced in Technicolor
by Walt Disney Productions
and released to theaters on April 17, 1937 by United Artists
. Originally entitled Mickey's Amateur Concert during production, the film depicts a live radio show hosted by Mickey Mouse
. The format of the show is an amateur
talent show in which acts can be terminated at any time by Mickey.
Mickey's Amateurs was directed by Pinto Colvig
, Erdman Penner, and Walt Pfeiffer, and features original and adapted music by Oliver Wallace
. The voice cast includes Walt Disney
as Mickey, Clarence Nash
as Donald Duck
, Florence Gill
as Clara Cluck, and Pinto Colvig
as Pete and Goofy
.
," but Mickey rings a gong
signaling the end of the performance. Despite Pete's determination to finish the song, a pair of robotic hands remove him forcefully.
Mickey then introduces the next act, Donald Duck
. Donald first presents an apple to Mickey in an attempt to win him over prematurely. But Donald's act, a recitation of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
", ends badly as he forgets the words. Mickey rings the gong and Donald is removed from stage. Just as Mickey is announcing the next act, a disgruntled Donald returns to take back the apple.
The next act, as introduced by Mickey, are "the two Claras: Cluck and Belle
." Clara Cluck sings a clucking version of the "Il Bacio" waltz by Luigi Arditi
accompanied by Clarabelle Cow on piano. Although Clara struggles with the swinging microphone, the performance is the first to avoid being "gonged."
After this Donald Duck returns to stage with a submachine gun
and, holding Mickey and the audience at gunpoint, determines to complete "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" again. But he again forgets the words, and when the audience laughs at him, he opens fire. The robotic hands grab Donald and takes him off stage in a hurry.
Mickey emerges from behind the podium and introduces the final act: Goofy
and his "50-piece band" which turns out to be a multi-instrumental contraption/vehicle from which he can play many instruments at once. Goofy begins by playing "In the Good Old Summer Time
," and then "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight
." (His cue is "Okay fellers, let's get hot!") But the tempo and intensity of the song is too much for the machine which eventually self-desctructs. Goofy emerges from the wreckage and humorously admits "It busted!" But just then Donald Duck breaks out of Goofy's bandmaster hat and very quickly recites a word perfect recitation of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." As Donald finishes, the "iris out" effect which ends the cartoon closes on his neck. He struggles to force it open but it finally closes. This is a rare instance of a Disney cartoon breaking the fourth wall
.
in which the host, Edward Bowes
, was known to strike a gong to stop an amateur performance. Mickey Mouse's repeating of the words "Okay, okay" in the film was recognized by audiences at the time as a parody of Bowes.
published a review of Mickey's Amateurs on June 19, 1937 saying in part "The subject must be seen to be appreciated and enjoyed. The fun it offers defies description."
Animated cartoon
An animated cartoon is a short, hand-drawn film for the cinema, television or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot...
short film produced in Technicolor
Technicolor
Technicolor is a color motion picture process invented in 1916 and improved over several decades.It was the second major process, after Britain's Kinemacolor, and the most widely used color process in Hollywood from 1922 to 1952...
by Walt Disney Productions
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
and released to theaters on April 17, 1937 by United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
. Originally entitled Mickey's Amateur Concert during production, the film depicts a live radio show hosted by Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at The Walt Disney Studio. Mickey is an anthropomorphic black mouse and typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves...
. The format of the show is an amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
talent show in which acts can be terminated at any time by Mickey.
Mickey's Amateurs was directed by Pinto Colvig
Pinto Colvig
Vance DeBar "Pinto" Colvig was an American vaudeville actor, radio actor, newspaper cartoonist, prolific movie voice actor, and circus performer whose schtick was playing clarinet off-key while mugging....
, Erdman Penner, and Walt Pfeiffer, and features original and adapted music by Oliver Wallace
Oliver Wallace
Oliver George Wallace was a British composer and conductor. He was especially known for his film music compositions, which were written for many animation, documentary, and feature films from Walt Disney Studios....
. The voice cast includes Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
as Mickey, Clarence Nash
Clarence Nash
Clarence Charles "Ducky" Nash was an American voice actor, best known for providing the voice of Donald Duck for the Walt Disney Studios...
as Donald Duck
Donald Duck
Donald Fauntleroy Duck is a cartoon character created in 1934 at Walt Disney Productions and licensed by The Walt Disney Company. Donald is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a sailor suit with a cap and a black or red bow tie. Donald is most...
, Florence Gill
Florence Gill
Florence Gill was an English voice actress. She provided the voices of Walt Disney's Clara Cluck and The Wise Little Hen. Her interment was located at Chapel of the Pines Crematory in Los Angeles, California....
as Clara Cluck, and Pinto Colvig
Pinto Colvig
Vance DeBar "Pinto" Colvig was an American vaudeville actor, radio actor, newspaper cartoonist, prolific movie voice actor, and circus performer whose schtick was playing clarinet off-key while mugging....
as Pete and Goofy
Goofy
Goofy is a cartoon character created in 1932 at Walt Disney Productions. Goofy is a tall, anthropomorphic dog, and typically wears a turtle neck and vest, with pants, shoes, white gloves, and a tall hat originally designed as a rumpled fedora. Goofy is a close friend of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck...
.
Synopsis
Mickey Mouse is hosting a radio talent show in front of a live audience. The film opens with Pete singing an ungraceful version of "Asleep in the DeepAsleep in the Deep (song)
"Asleep in the Deep" is a song written by Arthur J. Lamb and composed by Henry W. Petrie in 1897. It is titled for a refrain found in its chorus:* * -External links:**...
," but Mickey rings a gong
Gong
A gong is an East and South East Asian musical percussion instrument that takes the form of a flat metal disc which is hit with a mallet....
signaling the end of the performance. Despite Pete's determination to finish the song, a pair of robotic hands remove him forcefully.
Mickey then introduces the next act, Donald Duck
Donald Duck
Donald Fauntleroy Duck is a cartoon character created in 1934 at Walt Disney Productions and licensed by The Walt Disney Company. Donald is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a sailor suit with a cap and a black or red bow tie. Donald is most...
. Donald first presents an apple to Mickey in an attempt to win him over prematurely. But Donald's act, a recitation of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" is a popular English nursery rhyme. The lyrics are from an early nineteenth-century English poem, "The Star" by Jane Taylor. The poem, which is in couplet form, was first published in 1806 in Rhymes for the Nursery, a collection of poems by Taylor and her sister Ann...
", ends badly as he forgets the words. Mickey rings the gong and Donald is removed from stage. Just as Mickey is announcing the next act, a disgruntled Donald returns to take back the apple.
The next act, as introduced by Mickey, are "the two Claras: Cluck and Belle
Clarabelle Cow
Clarabelle Cow is a Disney fictional character within the Mickey Mouse universe of characters. Clarabelle Cow was created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks in 1928. Clarabelle is one of Minnie Mouse's best friends and is usually depicted as the girlfriend of Horace Horsecollar, although she has also...
." Clara Cluck sings a clucking version of the "Il Bacio" waltz by Luigi Arditi
Luigi Arditi
Luigi Arditi was an Italian violinist, composer and conductor.Arditi was born in Crescentino, Piemonte . He began his musical career as a violinist, and studied music at the Conservatory of Milan. He made his debut in 1843 as a director at Vercelli, and it was there that he was made an honorary...
accompanied by Clarabelle Cow on piano. Although Clara struggles with the swinging microphone, the performance is the first to avoid being "gonged."
After this Donald Duck returns to stage with a submachine gun
Submachine gun
A submachine gun is an automatic carbine, designed to fire pistol cartridges. It combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol. The submachine gun was invented during World War I , but the apex of its use was during World War II when millions of the weapon type were...
and, holding Mickey and the audience at gunpoint, determines to complete "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" again. But he again forgets the words, and when the audience laughs at him, he opens fire. The robotic hands grab Donald and takes him off stage in a hurry.
Mickey emerges from behind the podium and introduces the final act: Goofy
Goofy
Goofy is a cartoon character created in 1932 at Walt Disney Productions. Goofy is a tall, anthropomorphic dog, and typically wears a turtle neck and vest, with pants, shoes, white gloves, and a tall hat originally designed as a rumpled fedora. Goofy is a close friend of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck...
and his "50-piece band" which turns out to be a multi-instrumental contraption/vehicle from which he can play many instruments at once. Goofy begins by playing "In the Good Old Summer Time
In the Good Old Summer Time
"In the Good Old Summer Time" is an American Tin Pan Alley song first published in 1902 with music by George Evans and lyrics by Ren Shields.Shields and Evans were at first unsuccessfully trying to sell the song to one of New York's big sheet music publishers. The publishers thought the topic of...
," and then "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight
There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight
"A Hot Time in the Old Town" is an American ragtime song, composed in 1896 by Theodore August Metz with lyrics by Joe Hayden. Metz was the band leader of the McIntyre and Heath Minstrels....
." (His cue is "Okay fellers, let's get hot!") But the tempo and intensity of the song is too much for the machine which eventually self-desctructs. Goofy emerges from the wreckage and humorously admits "It busted!" But just then Donald Duck breaks out of Goofy's bandmaster hat and very quickly recites a word perfect recitation of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." As Donald finishes, the "iris out" effect which ends the cartoon closes on his neck. He struggles to force it open but it finally closes. This is a rare instance of a Disney cartoon breaking the fourth wall
Fourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
.
History
Mickey's Amateurs pokes fun at "amateur hour" radio shows which were popular entertainment in the 1930s and '40s. Perhaps the most famous example is the Major Bowes Amateur HourMajor Bowes Amateur Hour
Major Bowes Amateur Hour, American radio's best-known talent show, was one of the most popular programs broadcast in the United States in the 1930s and 1940s...
in which the host, Edward Bowes
Edward Bowes
Edward Bowes was an American radio personality of the 1930s and 40s whose Major Bowes' Amateur Hour was the best-known amateur talent show in radio during its eighteen-year run on NBC Radio and CBS Radio.-Early life and radio career:Bowes made his first business success in real estate, until the...
, was known to strike a gong to stop an amateur performance. Mickey Mouse's repeating of the words "Okay, okay" in the film was recognized by audiences at the time as a parody of Bowes.
Reception
The Motion Picture HeraldMotion Picture Herald
The Motion Picture Herald was an American film industry trade paper published from 1931 to December 1972. It was replaced by the QP Herald, which only lasted until May 1973.In 1915, Martin Quigley founded the Exhibitors Herald...
published a review of Mickey's Amateurs on June 19, 1937 saying in part "The subject must be seen to be appreciated and enjoyed. The fun it offers defies description."