Cheap Walt Disney Treasures - Mickey Mouse in Black and White (DVD) (Ub Iwerks) Price

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Customer Reviews of Walt Disney Treasures - Mickey Mouse in Black and White

Risque' Mickey!
That's right, Mickey's somewhat of an animal abuser, politically incorrect and sexist! IT'S GREAT! Disney has impressed me this time around, by making this collection FOR ADULTS. Thank you! In the uncensored "Steamboat Willie", Mickey plays a female hog's teats like a xylophone! Wait'll you see the script for this scene! He kicks animals out of the way, forces his affections on Minnie in a couple of cartoons...man! Mickey kicks some serious butt in these old 'toons that begin in 1928 and run thru 1935. Let's face it, not many young kids will get a kick out of these...they won't care for the antique animation, the black and white, the lack of special effects or even the plotlines. But we who appreciate these early 'toons for their POLITICAL INCORRECTNESS, nostalgia and artwork need this in our collections. Included is an Easter egg of the FIRST "Mickey Mouse Club", a club that was held in movie theaters in the 30's. You will definitely get a kick out of these...you can view them in chronological or alphabetical order as well. Thanks again, Disney...looks like you're getting on the right track for those who were the first to grow up with you.

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Mickey Mouse in B&W...
Despite this being a seminal moment in DVD history having the black and white Mickey Mouse cartoons available in the best possible digital format, this Disney Treasures collection is not a complete set. As mentioned, this set will contain 34 black and white MM shorts, but they are only selections out of about 75 made between 1928-1935. Last year's "Silly Symphonies" collection was put together in a similar way with a little more than half of the 73 or so made. Rumors are that next year's DT series will include a "Mickey Mouse in Living Color Vol. 2", which means that host/compiler Leonard Maltin possibly intends to include second volumes of past and future collections in this series that don't contain everything in one set due to large amounts originally produced. When these MM black and white shorts were available on laserdisc years ago, they were also released in two volumes.

Here is a complete list of the B&W selections on this collection (year-by-year) straight from the Disney press release:

1928--"Steamboat Willie", "The Gallopin' Gaucho", "Plane Crazy" (actually the first official Mickey Mouse short--originally silent with sound added later and re-released following the success of "SW").

1929--"The Karnival Kid", "Mickey's Follies"

1930--"The Fire Fighters", "The Chain Gang", "The Gorilla Mystery", "The Pioneer Days"

1931--"The Birthday Party", "Mickey Steps Out", "Blue Rhythm", "Mickey Cuts Up", "Mickey's Orphans"

1932--"The Duck Hunt", "Mickey's Revue", "Mickey's Nightmare", "The Whoopee Party", "Touchdown Mickey", "The Klondike Kid"

1933--"Building a Building", "The Mad Doctor", "Ye Olden Days", "The Mail Pilot", "Mickey's Gala Premiere", "Puppy Love", "The Pet Store", "Giantland"

1934--"Camping Out", "Gulliver Mickey", "Orphan's Benefit", "The Dognapper", "Two-Gun Mickey"

1935--"Mickey's Service Station" (Curiously, "Mickey's Kangaroo" is not included here. This was really the last B&W Mickey cartoon done shortly after he premiered in color in "The Band Concert").

The press release has stated that, in addition to all the features mentioned above, there will also be rare footage of the only MM B&W pencil test known to exist. This pencil test was done for "The Mail Pilot." Also, new interviews were apparently done with the legendary animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston for the documentary. Much-needed audio commentary (presumably by Leonard Maltin) has also been added to the poster gallery on disc 2 that was absent from last year's "Mickey Mouse in Living Color."

For those not acquainted with last year's "Mickey Mouse in Living Color": that collection collects Mickey's first three years in color between 1935-1938. Next year's rumored Vol. 2 will probably complete the color Mickey, going up to his last short under Walt Disney--"The Simple Gifts" (1953).

More rumors for next year's DT series: "Wartime Cartoons" (originally intended for this year) and "The Chronological Donald" (obviously the first phase of the many Donald Duck cartoons produced through the 1930's-1960's).

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Earliest and Best!
I eagerly awaited this DVD set of Mickey Mouse's earliest cartoons, and was thrilled. While not the entire run of the black and white cartoons (it is assumed there will be a Part. 2)
it does include every Mickey Mouse cartoon from Steamboat Willie to the mid 30s.

These cartoons show how Mickey evolved in the earliest cartoons to a rattish looking mouse, into the more classic Mickey we know. Cartoons are violent in some cases (Mickey torturing a cat!!! Say it aint so!!) to downright adorable. The DVD extras, including a look at Mickey memorabilia and introductions by Leonard Maltin, as well as a promotional Mickey Mouse cartoon made for Nabisco, make this DVD well worth it.