Oh What a Knight

Walt Disney created the character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. He was the first cartoon character for Universal Studios and, as a way of saying thanks for creating this successful series, the studio generously offered to cut Disney's pay 20%! At this point, he refused and they gave his characters to other folks to complete instead. While this must have frustrated Walt to no end, it was a great thing as it gave him the push to once again try to start his own production company--and resulting in the birth of Mickey Mouse. So, in a way, Oswald is like Mickey's uncle...or something.

This installment of Oswald finds out hero out with his horse (or is it a mule?!). He hears the sound of a damsel in distress and Oswald comes to her rescue in a tower. However, he then has to fight the evil knight who has taken her captive. This is a very good Oswald cartoon--with a nice, crazy cartoony sense about it. I noticed that one reviewer thought it was his best cartoon of the series--I wouldn't agree, though it is quite good--especially for 1928. Well worth seeing.

Despite Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and his cartoons being popular and well received at the time, they have been vastly overshadowed over time by succeeding Disney characters (like Mickey, Donald and Goofy) and those from Looney Tunes. It is a shame as, while not cartoon masterpieces, they are fascinating for anybody wanting to see what very old animation looked like and what Disney animation was like before Mickey arrived on the scene.

'Oh What a Knight' is up there as among the best Oswald cartoons, whether THE best is debatable but up this point in the series it is a strong contender along with 'Bright Lights'. The only real faults are the slight and conventional story (done with more imagination and colour in 'Ye Olden Days' five years later, of which that cartoon is somewhat a remake of this) and an occasionally too hectic pace.

The animation is very good on the other hand, it's crisp and fluid enough with some nice detail especially with animation techniques still in early days. The music is lush and energetic, adding a lot rather than distracting and enhances the cartoon's quality even, the use of sound is never static and helps make the action understandable.

Luckily the gags are numerous and also creative, well-timed and never less than amusing. Oswald is a likable lead character, and while the rest of the characters are archetypes essentially they're good support.

In summary, good stuff and one of Oswald's best. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Oswald is a kind of minstrel who hears the cries of a young woman (cat) in a tower. He is immediately in love and attempts to rescue her. His old friend Pete is the knight that is keeping her hostage. This is a mismatch and it requires Oswald to figure ways to combat him. It's all pretty absurd but works pretty well.