Ozzie of the Mounted
"He's a Mountie who always gets his man!"
Plot
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit serves as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in the snowy Appalachian Mountains. After being ordered by his commander to capture the notorious outlaw Peg-Leg Pete, Oswald sets off on a high-speed chase across the frozen wilderness riding a temperamental mechanical horse. The pursuit leads to a series of slapstick encounters involving a massive sleeping bear and a derailed sled, culminating in a chaotic showdown. Ultimately, Oswald uses his wits to trick Pete into a jail cell with the ferocious bear, securing the arrest and his own safety.
Director
About the Production
Produced during the final year of Walt Disney's involvement with the Oswald character before the rights dispute with Charles Mintz. The animation was primarily handled by Ub Iwerks, who was known for his incredible speed, sometimes producing over 600 drawings a day. The film features a mechanical horse, a recurring motif in early Disney animation that allowed for creative mechanical gags. Sketches found in archives suggest several deleted scenes, including one where Oswald's neck stretches like a spring and a formal commendation ceremony at the end.
Historical Background
In 1928, the animation industry was on the cusp of a revolution. 'Ozzie of the Mounted' was released just months before 'Steamboat Willie' changed cinema forever with synchronized sound. At this time, Oswald was the most popular cartoon character in America, rivaling Felix the Cat. The film reflects the 1920s fascination with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, a popular trope in adventure fiction of the era. This short also represents the final peak of Disney's silent era before the devastating loss of his character rights to Universal.
Why This Film Matters
The film is a vital link in the evolution of the 'funny animal' genre. It established the character dynamics between a small, plucky hero and a large, overbearing villain (Pete) that would define the Disney formula for decades. The loss of the Oswald character shortly after this film's release directly led to the creation of Mickey Mouse, making 'Ozzie of the Mounted' a significant part of the 'pre-Mickey' Disney canon. It also showcases the early technical brilliance of Ub Iwerks, whose style defined the look of 1920s animation.
Making Of
The production of 'Ozzie of the Mounted' took place during a period of high tension at the Disney studio. Walt Disney was unaware that his distributor, Charles Mintz, was secretly poaching his animators to start a new studio. Despite this, the creative output remained high, with Ub Iwerks pushing the boundaries of 'rubber hose' animation. The mechanical horse was a specific solution to animate complex movement without the need for realistic equine anatomy, allowing for more surreal and fluid physical comedy. The film's snowy setting provided a stark white background that simplified the ink-and-paint process while allowing the black-and-white characters to pop visually.
Visual Style
As a silent animated short, the 'cinematography' is defined by its framing and the use of 'squash and stretch' techniques. The film utilizes forced perspective to create a sense of scale in the mountain chase scenes. The use of a 'mechanical' mount allowed for rhythmic, repetitive motion that was visually hypnotic for audiences of the time.
Innovations
The film is notable for its early use of 'cycle animation' for the mechanical horse, which allowed for fluid movement with fewer drawings. It also demonstrates an advanced understanding of physical weight and momentum in the scenes where Oswald and Pete collide or fall through the snow.
Music
Originally released as a silent film with live theater accompaniment. The 2007 'Walt Disney Treasures' restoration features a synchronized orchestral score by Robert Israel, designed to mimic the style of 1920s cinema organs and pit orchestras.
Famous Quotes
Get Your Man! (Title card instruction from the Chief)
Memorable Scenes
- The sequence where Oswald struggles to start his mechanical horse, which eventually kicks him.
- The scene where three dogs crash into a tree and their bodies momentarily fuse into one bizarre creature.
- The final confrontation where Oswald tricks Pete into a jail cell with a sleeping bear.
Did You Know?
- This is the 18th Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short produced by the Walt Disney Studio.
- The character Peg-Leg Pete appears here as a bear; he would later be redesigned as a cat to become Mickey Mouse's arch-nemesis.
- The 'mechanical horse' used by Oswald was a precursor to similar contraptions seen in later Disney and Iwerks cartoons.
- The film was considered lost for many years before being rediscovered and restored for the 'Walt Disney Treasures' DVD collection in 2007.
- The concept of a Mountie chasing an outlaw was later recycled by other studios, most notably in the Looney Tunes short 'Big Man from the North' (1930).
- In the 2007 restoration, a new musical score was composed by Robert Israel.
- A missing 'title card' where the chief says 'Get Your Man!' was omitted from the official Disney restoration but exists in other public domain prints.
- The animators included future legends of the industry like Hugh Harman and Les Clark.
What Critics Said
At the time of its release, the film was praised for its fast-paced action and inventive gags. Modern critics and animation historians view it as one of the more polished Oswald shorts, noting that the animation quality is superior to many contemporary works. It is often cited as a prime example of the 'Disney-Iwerks' synergy, where Walt's storytelling and Ub's technical execution were perfectly aligned.
What Audiences Thought
Oswald cartoons were massive hits with 1920s audiences, often receiving higher billing than the live-action features they accompanied. 'Ozzie of the Mounted' was particularly well-received for its slapstick humor and the relatable 'underdog' nature of Oswald. Today, it remains a favorite among animation enthusiasts for its historical value and surviving visual clarity.
Awards & Recognition
- National Film Registry (Oswald series recognition)
Film Connections
Influenced By
- The Royal Canadian Mounted Police adventure stories
- Buster Keaton's mechanical gags
- Felix the Cat
This Film Influenced
- Steamboat Willie (1928)
- Big Man from the North (1930)
- The Lone Chipmunk (1954)
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Film Restoration
Preserved and Restored. After being considered lost for decades, a print was found and restored by Disney in 2007. It entered the Public Domain in the United States on January 1, 2024.