Plane Crazy

Plot

Inspired by Charles Lindbergh's historic transatlantic flight, Mickey Mouse constructs his own airplane in an attempt to impress Minnie Mouse and take her on a romantic joyride. The flight begins with Mickey showing off his piloting skills, but quickly descends into chaos as the plane proves difficult to control, leading to a series of comedic mishaps including Mickey temporarily losing his pants and using a cow's tail as a replacement. After the plane eventually crashes in a tree, a furious Minnie initially rejects Mickey's advances, but he wins her back with his persistence and charm. The cartoon ends with Mickey successfully winning a kiss from Minnie, suggesting that despite the disastrous flight, his romantic efforts were not entirely in vain.

Historical Background

The late 1920s was a period of tremendous technological and cultural transformation in America. Charles Lindbergh's 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic had made aviation the most exciting and romantic subject in popular culture, inspiring countless books, songs, and films. Simultaneously, the film industry was undergoing its own revolution with the introduction of sound in motion pictures. The Jazz Singer (1927) had proven that 'talkies' were the future, and silent films were rapidly becoming obsolete. Walt Disney, having just lost his successful Oswald character to a distributor dispute, was at a career crossroads. The animation industry was dominated by established studios like Fleischer and Van Beuren, and independent animators struggled to compete. 'Plane Crazy' was created at this precarious moment, representing both Disney's attempt to capitalize on the aviation craze and his effort to establish a new character in an industry transitioning from silent to sound.

Making Of

The creation of 'Plane Crazy' was born from desperation after Walt Disney lost the rights to his successful Oswald the Lucky Rabbit character to Universal Studios. Disney, along with his key animator Ub Iwerks, worked in secret to create a new character - Mickey Mouse - in their small garage studio. Iwerks was the primary animator on the project, using a new animation technique that allowed for smoother, more fluid movement than previous cartoons. The production was incredibly rushed, with Iwerks sometimes working 18-hour days to complete the animation. The initial test screening at the Fox Dome Theater in Hollywood received a lukewarm response, and distributors weren't interested in a silent cartoon in an era when sound was taking over. Disney shelved the film and instead focused on creating 'Steamboat Willie' with synchronized sound, which became Mickey's official debut. After Mickey's explosive success, Disney returned to 'Plane Crazy' and added a soundtrack, re-releasing it to capitalize on the character's popularity.

Visual Style

As an animated short, 'Plane Crazy' utilized the standard animation techniques of the late 1920s but with notable innovations in fluidity and character expression. The cartoon employed traditional cel animation on paper, with Ub Iwerks pioneering a more streamlined approach to character movement that allowed for smoother transitions between poses. The camera work was relatively static, typical of the era, but featured dynamic compositions that emphasized the aerial sequences. The use of perspective shots during the flying scenes was particularly impressive for its time, creating a sense of height and movement. The black and white animation made strong use of contrast and silhouettes, especially in the crash sequence. When sound was added in 1929, the visual timing was adjusted to match the musical beats and sound effects, creating a more cohesive audiovisual experience that set new standards for animated synchronization.

Innovations

'Plane Crazy' pioneered several technical innovations that would influence animation for decades. Ub Iwerks developed a faster animation technique that allowed for more frames per second than typical cartoons of the era, resulting in smoother character movement. The cartoon featured some of the first examples of complex aerial perspective in animation, with innovative techniques to show height and distance. The sound synchronization added in 1929 was particularly groundbreaking, featuring perfectly timed musical cues and sound effects that enhanced rather than distracted from the visual comedy. The character animation demonstrated more sophisticated emotional expression than earlier cartoons, with Mickey showing a wider range of feelings from excitement to frustration to romance. The cartoon also experimented with more complex gags that required precise timing between visual elements, a technique that would become a hallmark of Disney animation. The production process itself was innovative, with Disney and Iwerks developing more efficient workflows that allowed for higher quality animation on a tight budget.

Music

The original 1928 version was completely silent, relying on live musical accompaniment in theaters. When re-released with sound on March 17, 1929, Disney added a synchronized soundtrack featuring musical arrangements by Carl Stalling, who would become Disney's first musical director. The soundtrack included popular songs of the era adapted for the cartoon's mood, along with original musical cues that matched the on-screen action. Sound effects were carefully synchronized to enhance the comedy - the sputtering engine, the whoosh of wind, the crash sounds, and even Mickey's few spoken words. The music used a jazz-influenced style typical of late 1920s animation, with bouncy, energetic melodies that complemented the cartoon's playful tone. The sound version also included Mickey's first spoken words, though his dialogue was minimal, primarily consisting of excited exclamations during the flying sequence.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening sequence where Mickey enthusiastically builds his airplane, using various objects including a bathtub and a car engine
• The takeoff scene where Mickey struggles to get the plane airborne, eventually succeeding with Minnie aboard
• The infamous scene where Mickey's pants fly off during the chaotic flight, forcing him to use a cow's tail as a substitute
• The romantic moment where Mickey attempts to kiss Minnie while flying, leading to near-disaster
• The spectacular crash sequence where the plane spirals down and lands in a tree, with both characters emerging comically unharmed
• The final scene where Mickey finally wins Minnie's affection with his persistence, ending with a triumphant kiss

What Critics Said

Upon its initial silent screening in 1928, 'Plane Crazy' received mixed reviews from distributors and theater owners, who were unimpressed with yet another silent animal cartoon in an increasingly sound-dominated market. The New York Times noted it as 'an amusing diversion' but nothing revolutionary. However, when re-released with sound in 1929 following the success of 'Steamboat Willie', critical reception improved dramatically. Variety praised the synchronized sound effects and music, calling it 'a delightful little cartoon that shows why Mickey Mouse has become so popular'. Modern critics and animation historians view 'Plane Crazy' as a historically significant work, with Leonard Maltin noting it as 'the humble beginning of an entertainment empire'. Animation scholar Jerry Beck has highlighted Iwerks' animation work as 'remarkably fluid and expressive for its time', demonstrating the technical innovation that would become a Disney hallmark.

What Audiences Thought

Initial audience reaction to the silent version of 'Plane Crazy' was lukewarm at best, contributing to Disney's difficulty in finding a distributor. The test screening at the Fox Dome Theater reportedly drew only polite applause, with audiences more interested in the new sound films being shown. However, after Mickey Mouse became a sensation following 'Steamboat Willie', audiences enthusiastically received the sound-enhanced version of 'Plane Crazy' in 1929. Theater reports from the era indicate that the cartoon drew laughter and applause, particularly for the scene where Mickey loses his pants. Children especially responded to Mickey's charm and the cartoon's physical comedy. The short became a popular feature in theater programs alongside other Mickey Mouse adventures, helping to cement Mickey's status as a beloved character. Contemporary audiences viewing the cartoon today often express surprise at Mickey's more mischievous and slightly edgier personality compared to his later, more sanitized image.

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