Boat Builders (1938)

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

An Exercise In Nonsense

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Hey, even a child could do it, but Mickey, Goofy and Donald still have a hard time building the 'Queen Minnie' from a model kit. This shouldn't be surprising, or why would one even dream up the concept? Walt Disney himself provides the voice of the iconic Mickey Mouse in this 1938 cartoon, as Donald Duck plays paddle ball with the ship's rudder and Goofy attempts to romance a wooden figurehead of a woman. I wouldn't have any idea how much reproduction went into upgrading this flick for the current generation, but the clip shown on Turner Classics a few nights ago was exceptionally colorful and vibrant. Movie goers of the era must have been thrilled with the original presentation. Topping off the successful completion of the ship, Minnie Mouse herself christens her namesake, only to have the comic trio return to pandemonium once again. A lot of fun here, so check this one out when it comes your way.

This is a classic Disney cartoon featuring all of Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Minnie. The former three buys a boat kit and attempts to build a gigantic ship out of the it - it's like buying the parts and building a miniature model. But here, in funny cartoon style, the three characters decide to christen the ship after completion of the assembling and take it out to sea.While assembling the ship, Mickey, Donald and Goofy meet all sorts of weird mishaps, from a rolled-up plank deck that won't cooperate to Goofy taking the boat's statue for a real woman who adores him. It really sends some good laughs your way and it's definitely very entertaining. You're in for huge laughs when the ending of the cartoon comes and Minnie gives the green light for the ship to sail! Grade A

*****Some Spoilers******When I saw Meet The Robinsons I saw this little fun short with it. I actually quite enjoyed this, but to be frank, I like Steamboat Willie .0001% better. Still, this is fun and a prime example of how simple things could and would be back in the twenties and thirties.Here is the basis. Mickey Mouse, Daffy Duck, and Goofy are back again for another task. This time they are building a huge Titanic-like ship. The only problem is that they are not the best boat builders in the world, especially Goofy. Mayhem occurs throughout their attempt to make a good ship. Here is the real question though. Can they possibly pull it off?Overall, this is a good short. It is actually one of the best shorts before a Pixar film that I have ever seen. It is enjoyable, and trust me, you will get a kick out of it. Anyway, this is good, clean fun.9/10Recommended Shorts: Steamboat Willie.

If Mickey, Donald and Goofy build themselves a boat ('so easy even a child can do it') do you REALLY think that by the end of the cartoon it is still going to be standing? Obviously not.Their usual lack of skill and ignorance for each other's well-being cause enough problems during the actual building of said boat but it is when Minnie christens the boat 'Queen Minnie' that all their hard work slaps them in the face.And who would have known that Goofy was dumb enough to think a figurehead is a real lady and fall in love with her.Mildy amusing.