The Ol' Swimmin' Hole

Plot

The film follows Oswald the Lucky Rabbit as he leads a group of animal friends to a local watering hole for a day of summer recreation. The plot centers on the playful antics of the group as they engage in various swimming stunts, diving competitions, and slapstick humor involving the water. Oswald attempts to impress a female rabbit with his aquatic prowess, but his efforts are frequently thwarted by a mischievous goat and other woodland creatures. The story culminates in a series of surreal visual gags where the characters' bodies are distorted by the water, leading to a frantic and comedic chase sequence before the sun sets on their pastoral outing.

Historical Background

In 1928, the film industry was in the midst of the 'talkie' revolution following the success of 'The Jazz Singer' (1927), yet most cartoons remained silent. This film represents the pinnacle of silent era animation, where storytelling relied entirely on visual pantomime and title cards. Historically, it sits at the edge of a major corporate fallout; Walt Disney would soon travel to New York to discover that his distributor had poached his animators and legally seized the Oswald character, leading directly to the birth of Mickey Mouse.

Making Of

The making of 'The Ol' Swimmin' Hole' occurred during a pivotal transition in animation history. Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks were experimenting with ways to make characters feel more weighted and three-dimensional within a 2D space. The animation team worked in a small studio on Hyperion Avenue, often working late nights to meet the rigorous delivery schedule demanded by Universal. The 'water' effects were particularly challenging to animate by hand, requiring hundreds of individual drawings of ripples and splashes to create a sense of fluid motion.

Visual Style

As an animated short, the 'cinematography' involves the layout and staging of the hand-drawn cells. The film uses a 'flat' perspective typical of the era but introduces depth through the use of foreground elements like reeds and trees. There are notable 'camera' pans where the background moves behind the characters to simulate a tracking shot as Oswald runs toward the water.

Innovations

The film is noted for its sophisticated use of 'cycles'—repeated animation sequences—that were hidden so well they didn't detract from the narrative. It also showcased advanced liquid animation, which was notoriously difficult to render convincingly in black-and-white line art.

Music

Originally released as a silent film with a synchronized musical score provided by theater organists or small orchestras. Modern restorations often feature a new jaunty ragtime score to match the 1920s aesthetic.

Memorable Scenes

• The scene where Oswald uses his own ears as a flotation device while paddling across the pond.
• The sequence where a goat eats Oswald's clothes while he is swimming, forcing him to find a creative way to cover himself.
• The finale where the characters create a 'water ladder' by jumping on splashes to reach a high diving board.

What Critics Said

At the time of release, Trade publications like 'The Moving Picture World' praised the Oswald series for its 'cleverness and originality.' Modern critics and film historians view it as a masterclass in silent comedic timing. It is often cited by scholars as evidence of Disney's growing sophistication in character-driven storytelling compared to the more abstract 'Alice' shorts.

What Audiences Thought

Audiences in 1928 received the film with great enthusiasm, as Oswald was a major box-office draw. The slapstick elements and the relatable theme of a summer swimming trip made it a hit in both urban and rural theaters. Today, it is cherished by animation enthusiasts as a rare glimpse into the pre-Mickey era of Disney's creativity.

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