Puss in Boots

Plot

In this early Disney animated short, a young commoner falls deeply in love with a beautiful princess, while his clever cat develops an affection for the princess's feline companion. When the princess's father, the king, discovers their romance, he violently rejects the match and banishes the young man from the kingdom. Inspired after watching a Rudolph Valentino film at the local cinema, the cat devises a plan to win the king's approval by having his master pose as a skilled bullfighter. The cat uses his hypnotic powers to control the bull, making the bullfight appear effortless and impressive, though his sudden demand for new boots remains a puzzling mystery throughout their adventure.

Historical Background

The year 1922 was a pivotal time in American animation history, marking the transition from simple novelty films to more sophisticated storytelling. The animation industry was still in its infancy, with pioneers like Walt Disney, Max Fleischer, and Paul Terry experimenting with new techniques and formats. The post-World War I economic boom created a growing market for entertainment, including animated shorts that were often shown before feature films. During this period, Kansas City was becoming an unlikely hub for animation innovation, with several studios operating there. The film industry was also seeing the rise of movie stars like Rudolph Valentino, whose influence extended into animated parodies and references. This era preceded the advent of sound in cinema, so all films were silent with musical accompaniment provided live in theaters. The cultural fascination with European exoticism, particularly Spanish themes like bullfighting, reflected America's growing international awareness and the influence of Hollywood's romanticized portrayals of foreign cultures.

Making Of

The production of 'Puss in Boots' took place during a critical period in Walt Disney's career when he was struggling to establish his animation studio in Kansas City. Disney and his small team of animators worked long hours in their modest studio space, often sleeping there to save money. The film was part of Disney's attempt to create a series of fairy tale adaptations that would appeal to modern audiences by incorporating contemporary references and humor. The production faced numerous challenges including limited funding, primitive equipment, and the constant pressure to deliver films quickly to generate revenue. Despite these obstacles, Disney experimented with innovative animation techniques and storytelling methods that would later become hallmarks of his work. The studio's financial difficulties during this period meant that many of these early films were produced on shoestring budgets, with Disney often having to sell his possessions to keep the operation running.

Visual Style

As an animated short from 1922, 'Puss in Boots' would have utilized the standard animation techniques of the period. The film was likely created using cel animation, where characters were drawn on transparent celluloid sheets and photographed over background paintings. The cinematography would have been basic by modern standards, with static camera positions and simple movements. However, Disney was known to be experimenting with more dynamic camera movements and perspective shots even in these early films. The animation style would have featured the characteristic rubber hose animation of the era, with characters having fluid, boneless movements. The black and white photography would have been standard for the period, with no color tinting or special effects. The film would have been shot on 35mm film at the standard silent film frame rate of 16-18 frames per second. Despite these technical limitations, Disney's early work showed attention to visual storytelling and composition that would become more sophisticated in his later films.

Innovations

While 'Puss in Boots' itself cannot be examined due to its lost status, Disney's work from this period showed several technical innovations for the time. Disney was experimenting with more sophisticated character animation, including more realistic movements and expressions. His use of multiple layers of cels to create depth was relatively advanced for 1922. The film likely featured more complex backgrounds than many contemporary animations, showing Disney's attention to visual detail. Disney was also developing techniques for smoother animation cycles and more consistent character design across scenes. The incorporation of contemporary cultural references like Rudolph Valentino demonstrated an understanding of the importance of relevance in entertainment. While these techniques may seem primitive by modern standards, they represented significant steps forward in the development of animation as an art form. Disney's work during this period helped establish many of the technical and artistic principles that would become standard in the animation industry.

Music

As a silent film from 1922, 'Puss in Boots' would have had no synchronized soundtrack. However, it would have been accompanied by live musical performance in theaters, typically piano or organ music. The musical accompaniment would have been chosen to match the mood and action of the film, with different themes for romantic scenes, comic moments, and dramatic sequences. The music may have included popular songs of the period as well as classical pieces adapted for film accompaniment. Some theaters may have used compiled cue sheets specifically prepared for the film, while others would have relied on the musicians' improvisation skills. The bullfighting scenes would likely have been accompanied by Spanish-style music to enhance the exotic atmosphere. The reference to Rudolph Valentino films suggests that the soundtrack may have included music reminiscent of Valentino's popular romantic dramas. The lack of synchronized sound meant that all storytelling had to be visual, with title cards used for dialogue and narrative exposition.

Memorable Scenes

• The cat watching a Rudolph Valentino film and getting inspired
• The bullfighting sequence where the cat hypnotizes the bull
• The scene where the cat demands new boots
• The initial confrontation with the king who rejects the commoner suitor

What Critics Said

Contemporary critical reception of 'Puss in Boots' is difficult to determine due to the film's lost status and limited documentation from the period. However, reviews of Disney's Laugh-O-Gram films from local Kansas City newspapers were generally positive, noting their humor and technical quality compared to other animated shorts of the time. Critics often praised Disney's ability to modernize classic fairy tales while maintaining their essential charm. The animation was described as more fluid and sophisticated than many competitors' work. Modern film historians and animation scholars consider these early Disney works as important stepping stones in the development of animation as an art form, though they acknowledge that the films were relatively primitive compared to Disney's later achievements. The lost status of the film means that contemporary reassessment is impossible, making it a subject of fascination and frustration among animation historians and preservationists.

What Audiences Thought

Audience reception of 'Puss in Boots' during its original theatrical run appears to have been positive, based on the continued demand for Disney's Laugh-O-Gram productions in local theaters. The fairy tale adaptations were popular with family audiences, and Disney's modern approach to classic stories resonated with viewers of all ages. The humor and contemporary references likely made the films particularly appealing to adult audiences, while the animation and simple stories entertained children. The success of these shorts in Kansas City and surrounding areas helped convince Disney that there was a market for his style of animation, encouraging him to continue despite financial difficulties. However, the limited distribution network available to independent animators at the time meant that the film's audience was relatively small compared to later Disney productions. The film's reception was likely enhanced by the novelty of animation itself, which was still a relatively new and exciting medium for moviegoers in the early 1920s.

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