The Mad Doctor

There is non-stop action in this Mickey/Pluto cartoon. Skeletons seem to be the fear monger of choice, and poor Pluto is at the center of everything. I was involved all the way...too bad the ending had to be so cheapened. Still, the animation in the 1930's really clicked.

Disney's cartoons were known for their light-hearted optimism that enthralled his mostly young audiences. But in January 1933's "The Mad Doctor," he threw a curve ball by releasing a rather dark Mickey Mouse cartoon. A mad scientist who lives in a castle above Mousetown captures Mickey's pet dog, Pluto. The nut case wants to use the dog to conduct an experiment where he thinks if he cuts off Pluto's head and attaches it to a chicken it may lay eggs with puppies inside. Mickey Mouse's 52nd cartoon was deemed so scary some theaters refused to show it. The United Kingdom banned it, and even Nazi Germany prohibited the cartoon nationwide.

"The Mad Doctor" does have its fans, however. The Film Daily called it "one of the liveliest animated cartoons to come along, and plenty comical." Cracked Magazine included it for its 'Top 8 Most horrifying Moments from Kids' cartoons.' Billy Bletcher, specializing in scary voices, provided his vocals for both the mad doctor as well as the big, bad wolf in the later "Three Little Pigs."

This cartoon has some pretty weird, spooky stuff - a dark side you would never see in later Mickey Mouse cartoons. Unless your four-year-old can handle a mad doctor threatening to cut Mickey's head off, steer him clear of this one. For adults, though, it's quite original.

Pluto has been dognapped by Dr XXX for his mad science experiment. Mickey Mouse risks his life to save his beloved friend. This is a fun Disney cartoon with a dark Halloween theme. The spooky scary adventure is pretty inventive and great fun. I especially love the one sequence where Mickey walks down a stone corridor with a falling block. This is great although the ending is the ending. It's probably the easiest way to wrap it all up.

I can recall only seeing this once on tv some 30 years ago & was a rarity amongst Disney's early output/ This is no Silly Symphony and has a particular interest in that it was given a very limited release in the UK for one good reason - it has the rare distinction in the history of animation of having the then censor's new "H" for horror clapped on it (noone under 16 years admitted irrespective of the programmes). Disney's best children's later attractions as Snow White,Dumbo, Pinnochio & Fantasia had their darker moments of terror which gave the then censor some problems(unlike today!).Hence,like the later Wizard of Oz Snow White was initially given the "A" certificate before going on General Release when it was then changed to the Universal cert unlike Wizard which was never changed. Ever since The Skeleton Dance, ol'Uncle Walt like Hitchcock took secret glee in the anxiety element. Perhaps that there Big Bad Wolf in the 3 Little Pigs was not so far from The Wolf Man! Boo!