Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip
Encyclopedia
Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip is a 1940 American animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures
. The cartoon follows Mickey Mouse
and his dog Pluto
traveling by train, despite a rule forbidding dogs; Pete plays a menacing conductor
intent on enforcing the rule. The film was directed by Clyde Geronimi
and features original music by Ed Love
and Oliver Wallace
. The voice cast includes Walt Disney
as Mickey, Lee Millar as Pluto, and Billy Bletcher
as Pete.
(home of Walt Disney Productions headquarters
). They board a west-bound train, but are both immediately kicked off by the conductor, played by Pete, because dogs are not allowed.
Mickey instead decides to smuggle Pluto onboard by squeezing the dog inside his suitcase. Later, as Pete is coming through the train to collect tickets, he sees Mickey's suitcase containing Pluto in a seat and forcefully throws it into an overhead baggage net. This causes Pluto to bark, making Pete suspicious. He then recognizes Mickey, who is trying to hide behind a large newspaper. Understanding that Pluto has been stowed in the suitcase, Pete menacingly asks Mickey if he is alone. He then screams a loud "MEOW!" at the suitcase causing the dog to leap out. Mickey and Pluto run away and a chase ensues onboard the train.
Mickey and Pluto first hide in a sleeping car where Pete mistakenly intrudes on a female passenger and gets assaulted. The stowaways later masquerade as a conductor by hiding in Pete's own coat and hat which he had taken off. Finally Mickey disguises himself as an Indian chief with Pluto as his papoose
, but Pete eventually sees through their disguises.
While Mickey and Pluto are next to an open window, Pluto is caught on a passing mail hook
which whisks him outside the train. Mickey runs after him through the train, and is just barely able to grab Pluto as he exits the last car. Pete throws their luggage out after them and they fall to the ground from the mail hook. Mickey looks up at the station sign and is pleasantly surprised that they have already arrived at their destination – Pomona
.
session, which included Walt Disney and Billy Bletcher. According to film historian Leonard Maltin
, the footage was not known to exist and only discovered (as of 2004) "not too many years ago."
The black and white video, which is about ten minutes in length, is the only known footage of Disney performing as Mickey Mouse and was included on the 2004 DVD release "Walt Disney Treasures: Mickey Mouse in Living Color, Volume Two" as an easter egg
. Edited portions of the footage were also seen in earlier releases.
magazine. In this version Pete discovers Pluto by seeing his tale sticking out of the suitcase. Instead of being kicked off the train, Mickey and Pluto are confined to the baggage car. The story was told in verse
and was illustrated by Tom Wood.
In October 1940, a prose version of Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip was printed in the first edition of Walt Disney Comics and Stories. This five-page version is a closer retelling of the film, with the added detail that Mickey is heading to an "important meeting" in Pomona which he can't be late for. Pluto comes along only because he would get lonely if he stayed home alone.
In 2010, the film inspired the Italian comic story "Topolino, Pluto e la gita in montagna," or "Mickey, Pluto, and the Trip to the Mountain." The story, published in the May edition of Extralarge XL Disney, is 25 pages and written and illustrated by Enrico Faccini
RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures is an American film production and distribution company. As RKO Radio Pictures Inc., it was one of the Big Five studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum theater chains and Joseph P...
. The cartoon follows 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...
and his dog Pluto
Pluto (Disney)
Pluto, also called Pluto the Pup, is a cartoon character created in 1930 by Walt Disney Productions. He is a light brown , medium-sized, short-haired dog. Unlike Goofy, Pluto is not anthropomorphic beyond some characteristics such as facial expression...
traveling by train, despite a rule forbidding dogs; Pete plays a menacing conductor
Conductor (transportation)
A conductor is a member of a railway train's crew that is responsible for operational and safety duties that do not involve the actual operation of the train. The title of conductor is most associated with railway operations in North America, but the role of conductor is common to railways...
intent on enforcing the rule. The film was directed by Clyde Geronimi
Clyde Geronimi
Clyde "Gerry" Geronimi was an Italian-American animation director. He is best known for his work at Walt Disney Productions....
and features original music by Ed Love
Ed Love
Edward H. Love was an American animator who has worked at various studios during the golden age of animation. He is well known for his work at Disney , MGM , Walter Lantz , and his work on television shows such as Yogi Bear and The Flintstones.Love won a Golden Award at the 1984 Motion Pictures...
and 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, Lee Millar as Pluto, and Billy Bletcher
Billy Bletcher
William "Billy" Bletcher was an American actor, comedian, and voice artist, a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.-Career:...
as Pete.
Synopsis
Leaving for vacation, Mickey Mouse and Pluto arrive at a train station in Burbank, CaliforniaBurbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
(home of Walt Disney Productions headquarters
Walt Disney Studios (Burbank)
The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, United States, serve as the international headquarters for media conglomerate The Walt Disney Company. The Walt Disney Studio's house offices for each of the company's divisions along with creative spaces designed for movie production. The Walt Disney...
). They board a west-bound train, but are both immediately kicked off by the conductor, played by Pete, because dogs are not allowed.
Mickey instead decides to smuggle Pluto onboard by squeezing the dog inside his suitcase. Later, as Pete is coming through the train to collect tickets, he sees Mickey's suitcase containing Pluto in a seat and forcefully throws it into an overhead baggage net. This causes Pluto to bark, making Pete suspicious. He then recognizes Mickey, who is trying to hide behind a large newspaper. Understanding that Pluto has been stowed in the suitcase, Pete menacingly asks Mickey if he is alone. He then screams a loud "MEOW!" at the suitcase causing the dog to leap out. Mickey and Pluto run away and a chase ensues onboard the train.
Mickey and Pluto first hide in a sleeping car where Pete mistakenly intrudes on a female passenger and gets assaulted. The stowaways later masquerade as a conductor by hiding in Pete's own coat and hat which he had taken off. Finally Mickey disguises himself as an Indian chief with Pluto as his papoose
Papoose
A papoose is an American English loanword whose present meaning is "a Native American Indian child" or, even more generally, any child, usually used as a term of endearment, often in the context of the child's mother. The word came originally from the Narragansett tribe...
, but Pete eventually sees through their disguises.
While Mickey and Pluto are next to an open window, Pluto is caught on a passing mail hook
Mail hook
A mail hook is an installation at a railroad where a mail sack can be hung, to be picked up by a passing train without the train having to stop. See further discussion at Railway Post Office....
which whisks him outside the train. Mickey runs after him through the train, and is just barely able to grab Pluto as he exits the last car. Pete throws their luggage out after them and they fall to the ground from the mail hook. Mickey looks up at the station sign and is pleasantly surprised that they have already arrived at their destination – Pomona
Pomona, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Pomona had a population of 149,058, a slight decline from the 2000 census population. The population density was 6,491.2 people per square mile...
.
Voice-over footage
Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip is unique among the classic Disney shorts in that video footage exists of the voice-overVoice-over
Voice-over is a production technique where a voice which is not part of the narrative is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations...
session, which included Walt Disney and Billy Bletcher. According to film historian Leonard Maltin
Leonard Maltin
Leonard Maltin is an American film and animated film critic and historian, author of several mainstream books on cinema, focusing on nostalgic, celebratory narratives.-Personal life:...
, the footage was not known to exist and only discovered (as of 2004) "not too many years ago."
The black and white video, which is about ten minutes in length, is the only known footage of Disney performing as Mickey Mouse and was included on the 2004 DVD release "Walt Disney Treasures: Mickey Mouse in Living Color, Volume Two" as an easter egg
Easter egg (media)
Image:Carl Oswald Rostosky - Zwei Kaninchen und ein Igel 1861.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Example of Easter egg hidden within imagerect 467 383 539 434 desc none...
. Edited portions of the footage were also seen in earlier releases.
Adaptations
In September 1940, a one-page adaptation of Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip appeared in Good HousekeepingGood Housekeeping
Good Housekeeping is a women's magazine owned by the Hearst Corporation, featuring articles about women's interests, product testing by The Good Housekeeping Institute, recipes, diet, health as well as literary articles. It is well known for the "Good Housekeeping Seal," popularly known as the...
magazine. In this version Pete discovers Pluto by seeing his tale sticking out of the suitcase. Instead of being kicked off the train, Mickey and Pluto are confined to the baggage car. The story was told in verse
Verse (poetry)
A verse is formally a single line in a metrical composition, e.g. poetry. However, the word has come to represent any division or grouping of words in such a composition, which traditionally had been referred to as a stanza....
and was illustrated by Tom Wood.
In October 1940, a prose version of Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip was printed in the first edition of Walt Disney Comics and Stories. This five-page version is a closer retelling of the film, with the added detail that Mickey is heading to an "important meeting" in Pomona which he can't be late for. Pluto comes along only because he would get lonely if he stayed home alone.
In 2010, the film inspired the Italian comic story "Topolino, Pluto e la gita in montagna," or "Mickey, Pluto, and the Trip to the Mountain." The story, published in the May edition of Extralarge XL Disney, is 25 pages and written and illustrated by Enrico Faccini
Releases
- 1940 – Original theatrical release
- c. 1965 – Highlights included in "Mickey's Memorable Moments, Volume 2" (Super 8Super 8 mm filmSuper 8 mm film is a motion picture film format released in 1965 by Eastman Kodak as an improvement of the older "Double" or "Regular" 8 mm home movie format....
) - 1984 – "Cartoon Classics: Mickey" (VHS)
- 1987 – Edited into Down and Out with Donald Duck (TV)
- 1997 – "The Story Behind Walt Disney's Fun and Fancy FreeFun and Fancy FreeFun and Fancy Free is a 1947 animated feature produced by Walt Disney and released by RKO Radio Pictures on September 27, 1947. It was one of the "package films" that the studio produced in the 1940s...
" (VHS) - 1998 – "The Spirit of MickeyThe Spirit of MickeyThe Spirit of Mickey is an American 1998 animated direct-to-video anthology film, produced and released by Walt Disney Home Video on July 14, 1998...
" (VHS) - 1998 – Ink & Paint Club, episode # 1.43 "On Vacation" (TV)
- 2004 – "Walt Disney Treasures: Mickey Mouse in Living Color, Volume Two" (DVD)
- 2006 – "Walt Disney's Funny Factory: With Mickey" (DVD)
- 2009 – "Walt Disney Animation Collection: Classic Short Films Volume 1:Mickey and the Beanstalk" (DVD)
- 2010 – "Have a Laugh!Have a Laugh!Have a Laugh!, also known as Mickey Mouse - Have a Laugh, is an animated series produced by The Walt Disney Company. The program started in October 2009 and features many Mickey Mouse characters and shorts...
: Volume 2" (DVD)