Bright Lights (cartoon)
Encyclopedia
Bright Lights is a silent cartoon short created by Walt Disney featuring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
. It is among the early shorts made by Disney when he still worked in Universal Pictures. In 1927 which was the character's debut year, Oswald was stout, had an oval face, and his trousers had a strap that goes over one of his shoulders. By 1928, he had a circular face, larger eyes, and the strap on his trousers was removed (although his old appearance can still be seen in the title cards).
Oswald notices a stage entrance where performers and certain officials can come in, and admission was unnecessary. Because of this, Oswald came up with idea of impersonating a performer by bulging his chest (possibly pretending to be a stuntman). The guard by the door wasn't deceived and started preventing the penniless rabbit from coming in. After a bit of a struggle, Oswald tied the guard to a lamp post and proceeded toward the inside of the theater. However, he was forced back outside by the glaring performers.
While thinking of way to get back in, Oswald saw a man in a thick fur coat coming out of a taxi and heading towards the theater entrance. Oswald went on by hiding under the man's shadow. As the man with the coat was entering, the guard became suspicious upon noticing a lump on the shadow. Thinking he made it inside undetected, Oswald came out but doesn't notice the guard approaching him. When he learned that guard was right behind, Oswald quickly made his move.
Oswald prevailed in losing the guard by going inside a cage. However, he was met with more trouble when the cage contained a jaguar
. The jaguar chased the him into the stage where acrobats were doing a balancing act with a long pole. Oswald climbed up the pole and grabbed the ceiling for his safety. One of the acrobats also went up the pole also and clinged onto the rabbit's legs. Bothered by having someone hanging under him, Oswald grabs a mallet and strikes off the acrobat. Oswald also plunged by not holding on anything and dropped on the jaguar. The jaguar was angered more than ever and the frightened Oswald fled the stage.
Other vicious animals, such as the lions, broke out of their cages, forcing everyone else to leave the theater. Believing everyone disappeared from the scene, Oswald came out of a toilet booth, only to realize that the jaguar was still in the vicinity. The jaguar starts chasing him into the horizon.
). The other features calliope
music which is used throughout the entire film, as well as some footage played in reverse.
.
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is an anthropomorphic rabbit and animated cartoon character created by Ub Iwerks and Walt Disney for films distributed by Universal Pictures in the 1920s and 1930s...
. It is among the early shorts made by Disney when he still worked in Universal Pictures. In 1927 which was the character's debut year, Oswald was stout, had an oval face, and his trousers had a strap that goes over one of his shoulders. By 1928, he had a circular face, larger eyes, and the strap on his trousers was removed (although his old appearance can still be seen in the title cards).
Plot summary
A show composed of a concert, circus acts and broadway was taking place at a theater in the city. One of the stars of the show was a lady cat dancer whom Oswald suddenly had affection for upon seeing a poster. For admission, patrons had to pay 50 cents. Unfortunately for Oswald, his pockets are empty.Oswald notices a stage entrance where performers and certain officials can come in, and admission was unnecessary. Because of this, Oswald came up with idea of impersonating a performer by bulging his chest (possibly pretending to be a stuntman). The guard by the door wasn't deceived and started preventing the penniless rabbit from coming in. After a bit of a struggle, Oswald tied the guard to a lamp post and proceeded toward the inside of the theater. However, he was forced back outside by the glaring performers.
While thinking of way to get back in, Oswald saw a man in a thick fur coat coming out of a taxi and heading towards the theater entrance. Oswald went on by hiding under the man's shadow. As the man with the coat was entering, the guard became suspicious upon noticing a lump on the shadow. Thinking he made it inside undetected, Oswald came out but doesn't notice the guard approaching him. When he learned that guard was right behind, Oswald quickly made his move.
Oswald prevailed in losing the guard by going inside a cage. However, he was met with more trouble when the cage contained a jaguar
Jaguar
The jaguar is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range extends from Southern United States and Mexico...
. The jaguar chased the him into the stage where acrobats were doing a balancing act with a long pole. Oswald climbed up the pole and grabbed the ceiling for his safety. One of the acrobats also went up the pole also and clinged onto the rabbit's legs. Bothered by having someone hanging under him, Oswald grabs a mallet and strikes off the acrobat. Oswald also plunged by not holding on anything and dropped on the jaguar. The jaguar was angered more than ever and the frightened Oswald fled the stage.
Other vicious animals, such as the lions, broke out of their cages, forcing everyone else to leave the theater. Believing everyone disappeared from the scene, Oswald came out of a toilet booth, only to realize that the jaguar was still in the vicinity. The jaguar starts chasing him into the horizon.
Versions
The cartoon has two versions which mostly involves the soundtrack used. One of them features a couple of jazz tunes (the second of which is Tiger RagTiger Rag
"Tiger Rag" is a jazz standard, originally recorded and copyrighted by the Original Dixieland Jass Band in 1917. It is one of the most recorded jazz compositions of all time.-Origins:...
). The other features calliope
Calliope (music)
A calliope is a musical instrument that produces sound by sending a gas, originally steam or more recently compressed air, through large whistles, originally locomotive whistles....
music which is used throughout the entire film, as well as some footage played in reverse.
Home media
The short is available in a 2-disc DVD title as part of the Walt Disney Treasures: Wave SevenWalt Disney Treasures: Wave Seven
-The Chronological Donald, Volume Three:50,000 sets produced.-Disc one:1947* Straight Shooters, 18 April 1947* Sleepy Time Donald, 9 May 1947* Donald's Dilemma, 11 July 1947...
.