Truly 'Stock' Company Vaudeville
FOLLOWING THE COURSE set early on in the history of Walt Disney Studios, this MICKEY MOUSE starring vehicle has a distinctively rural, rustic and small town flavor to it. The setting is basically a barn and both the participants as well as the patrons.
DURING THIS SAME period, Mickey was much more the little con man and smart Alec. The character was consciously putting us on and did the same to the paying guests of his billed Vaudeville Show. Most of the "acts" presented were done by him; while he posed as being a Snake Charmer, a Concert Pianist and whatever else. He was even theatre manager, stage hand and ballyhoo man.
THE STYLE OF the day was still that of a newspaper/magazine cartoon's coming to life. Although the gags are both charming and amusing, they are much more akin to the silent film format. Being that sound was still a newly established format, the similarity is both natural and a plus for the studio. This reliance on sight gags allowed the small movie houses, which had not the wear with all to purchase sound systems and projectors, to be able to exhibit films like this without benefit of soundtrack.
LISTED AS THE Director is Ub Iwerks, long time Disney ally whose tenure with Walt dating back to the Kansas City days. Mr. Iwerks was a very talented artist, animator and innovative gag man. He would leave the Disney shop and set up his own cartoon studio the following year. He also returned to the fold and remained so for the rest of his career.
IN CONCLUSION, WE must say that THE OPRY HOUSE may well be both an example of Mickey as a work in progress; as well as being a futuristic example of what was to come.
DURING THIS SAME period, Mickey was much more the little con man and smart Alec. The character was consciously putting us on and did the same to the paying guests of his billed Vaudeville Show. Most of the "acts" presented were done by him; while he posed as being a Snake Charmer, a Concert Pianist and whatever else. He was even theatre manager, stage hand and ballyhoo man.
THE STYLE OF the day was still that of a newspaper/magazine cartoon's coming to life. Although the gags are both charming and amusing, they are much more akin to the silent film format. Being that sound was still a newly established format, the similarity is both natural and a plus for the studio. This reliance on sight gags allowed the small movie houses, which had not the wear with all to purchase sound systems and projectors, to be able to exhibit films like this without benefit of soundtrack.
LISTED AS THE Director is Ub Iwerks, long time Disney ally whose tenure with Walt dating back to the Kansas City days. Mr. Iwerks was a very talented artist, animator and innovative gag man. He would leave the Disney shop and set up his own cartoon studio the following year. He also returned to the fold and remained so for the rest of his career.
IN CONCLUSION, WE must say that THE OPRY HOUSE may well be both an example of Mickey as a work in progress; as well as being a futuristic example of what was to come.
- redryan64
- Aug 24, 2014