Plane Crazy (1929)

Best movie of this year hands down!

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

In this early Disney film, we have Mickey Mouse attempting to build a plane. All the hard work goes for naught as it crashes into a hundred pieces. But he soon discovers an old jalopy. He adds wings and a propeller to it and off he goes. But before takeoff, who should appear but Minnie. She is invited to fly with him, but he has only one thing on his mind. She holds her own and things play out in an amusing way.

ORIGINALLY PLANNED AND executed as a silent, PLANE CRAZY is the true first appearance of MICKEY MOUSE. It was held back and not released along with its following installment, THE GALLOPIN' GAUCHO until the release of the revolutionary and game changing STEAMBOAT WILLIE. The latter cartoon was of course the first sound cartoon short.BEING THAT TODAY'S honored movie, PLANE CRAZY does come across as a little movie that it is torn between two worlds. In this case, it has all of the signs of the strictly visual silent; but the addition of the sound effects and dialogue (such as it is) may well be in effect an overkill of screen storytelling.THIS MAY WELL not have been as readily apparent at the time of release; owing to the fascination that was generated with all of the publicity of Mickey Mouse just talking. Furthermore, all of the animation that was made from the various studios suffered from the same malady. It would take several years of film technique evolution to "modernize" the overall look of the characters, backgrounds and rendering of the sight gags depicted in a typical outing.THE GENISES AND indeed the very reason for doing the cartoon with aviation as the subject as in PLANE CRAZY was the popularity of Charles Lindbergh's solo crossing of the Atlantic in the previous year of 1927. This is no subtle or subliminal message, as Mickey does actually display a photo of "Lucky Lindy" at the very beginning. Mickey even attempts to style his hair to look like Lindbergh's tonsorial work of art.AS FOR THE cartoon's storyline, Mick builds a plane, it crashes and immediately destructs into an impossibility of a salvation project. Undaunted, Mickey immediately converts an old, broken down jalopy into a new plane. Enter the female of the species. Minnie Mouse, making what is her real and true first appearance, presents the young aviator with a good-luck horse shoe and gets a ride in the airship as a reward.FOLLOWING MANY INFLIGHT type gags Mickey's amorous intentions are revealed and he is rejected with a slap. Minnie bails out, using her unmentionables as a makeshift parachute. Meanwhile Mickey safely crash-lands. The twosome parts the scene in less than happy and lovey-dovey relationship. Mickey pitches the horseshoe away, but it promptly returns to catch him around the neck in a boomerang fashion.ONCE AGAIN, THIS short does not seem like much when viewed now; but, once again, back in the day.................. '

"Plane Crazy" isn't quite as cute or as innovative as the brilliant "Steamboat Willie", but like "Steamboat Willie" it is a timeless gem and a cartoon milestone in its own right. It is very funny, and is still cute. The black and white animation may be a tad crude by today's standards, but in general it is not too bad. The backgrounds are detailed enough. The music as always is delightful, the story is engaging enough for kids and adults and Mickey once again gives a stellar performance, aided by the equally stellar voice work from Walt Disney.Overall, is it the absolute best Disney cartoon? Maybe not, but timeless? You bet it is. 10/10 Bethany Cox

This short is the first one done and this is not the "gosh, aw shucks" mouse Disney so carefully protects today. Mickey early on was a bit of a cad and a rogue. Quite the smart aleck. Interesting glimpse at Mickey. This short holds up well after 70+ years and is well worth watching. Recommended.