Plane Crazy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Plane Crazy (first released on May 15, 1928) animated cartoon featuring Mickey Mouse, as well as Minnie Mouse. A soundtrack by Carl W. Stalling was added to the cartoon on December 29, 1928. Plane Crazy was followed by The Gallopin' Gaucho and Steamboat Willie.
The short was co-directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. Iwerks was also the main animator for this short and reportedly spent six weeks working on it. Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising were credited for assisting him; these two had already signed their contracts with Charles Mintz, but he was still in the process of forming his new studio and so for the time being they were still employed by Disney. This short would be the last they animated under this somewhat awkward situation.
The short was originally released under the name "Mickey Mouse In Plane Crazy" but when Walt Disney had a sound version copyrighted in 1930, he also shortened the name to "Plane Crazy".
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
Mickey was apparently trying to fly an airplane to imitate Charles Lindbergh. After building his own airplane, he asks Minnie to join him for its first flight after she presents him with a horseshoe for good luck. They take an out-of-control flight with exaggerated, impossible situations. An un-anthropomorphic cow briefly "rides" the aircraft. Some believe this to be Clarabelle Cow making her first appearance, though the cow is actually an early, more "cowlike" predecessor of Clarabelle named Carolyn. Once Mickey regains control of the plane, he repeatedly tries to kiss Minnie. When she refuses, he uses force: he breaks her concentration and terrifies her by throwing her out of the airplane, catching her with the airplane, and he uses this to kiss her. Minnie then parachutes out of the plane using her bloomers. While distracted by her, Mickey loses control of the plane and eventually crashes into a tree. Minnie then lands, and Mickey laughs at her. Minnie then storms off, rebuffing him. Mickey throws the good luck horseshoe given to him by Minnie and it boomerangs around a tree, hitting him and ringing around his neck.[1]
[edit] Notes
Mickey as portrayed in Plane Crazy was mischievous, amorous, and has often been described as a rogue. Modern audiences have occasionally commented on this version of Mickey as being somewhat more complex and consequently more interesting than his later self. At the time of its first release, however, Plane Crazy apparently failed to impress audiences, unlike the later "Steamboat Willie". Though understandably disappointed, Disney went on to produce more Mickey cartoons.
This was the first animated film to use a camera move. The POV shot from the plane made it appear as if the camera was tracking into the ground. In fact, when they shot this scene, they piled books under the spinning background to move the artwork closer to the camera.
[edit] DVD release
Plane Crazy has been released as part of the Walt Disney Treasures DVD collections twice:
- Disc One of Mickey Mouse in Black and White.
- Disc Two of The Adventures of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, as part of a tribute to animator Ub Iwerks.
Steamboat Willie was also included on both DVD sets.
[edit] Trivia
 |
Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (December 2007) |
- Mickey MouseWorks featured a short with a very similar premise titled "Mickey's Airplane Kit", in which Mickey purchases and builds a plane to impress Minnie, but does not bother to read the instructions. It is later revealed that this plane is in fact a model and not meant to be flown.
- Plane Crazy was also the name of a stage show based on The Disney Afternoon that was performed at Disneyland during the summer of 1991.
- The ToonPlane in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is the same plane as in this cartoon short.
- Felix the Cat is seen in this short. When the plane crashes into several animals, it shows Felix driving a car and he is hit.
- Although Mickey is credited to have first appeared in the Disney short Steamboat Willie, his first performance is actually in Plane Crazy, but Steamboat Willie is often considered his first notable performance, as he was characterized very differently in Plane Crazy.
[edit] External links
- Plane Crazy at Mickey Mouse Follies: Black and White
- Plane Crazy at the Internet Movie Database
- Plane Crazy at The Encyclopedia of Disney Animated Shorts
