When the Cat's Away

Plot

In this early Mickey Mouse cartoon, Tom Cat leaves his house to go hunting, leaving his feline home unattended. Seizing the opportunity, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and their mouse friends break into the cat's house for an impromptu musical party. The mice transform household objects into musical instruments, with Mickey and Minnie taking center stage at the piano while other mice create percussion using pots, pans, and various items found around the house. The performance grows increasingly elaborate as more mice join in, creating a symphony of household sounds. Just as the musical celebration reaches its peak, the unsuspecting Tom Cat begins his journey home, creating tension about whether the mice will be discovered in their musical revelry.

Historical Background

1929 was a year of tremendous cultural and technological transition in America. The stock market crash in October marked the beginning of the Great Depression, yet the entertainment industry, particularly cinema, continued to thrive as people sought affordable escapism. The transition from silent films to 'talkies' was in full swing, with sound technology revolutionizing the film industry. Disney Studios was at the forefront of this revolution in animation, having pioneered synchronized sound with 'Steamboat Willie' just months earlier. The jazz age was in full swing, and musical entertainment dominated popular culture. This cartoon reflected the era's fascination with music, dance, and technological innovation. The late 1920s also saw the rise of consumer culture and the modern home, which is reflected in the domestic setting and household objects featured in the film.

Making Of

The production of 'When the Cat's Away' occurred during a pivotal period in Disney's history, following the breakthrough success of 'Steamboat Willie' which had introduced synchronized sound to animation. Walt Disney and his team were working feverishly to capitalize on Mickey's popularity, producing new cartoons at an unprecedented rate. The studio was still operating out of a small facility on Hyperion Avenue in Hollywood, with a team of about 20 animators and assistants. Ub Iwerks, Disney's longtime collaborator and chief animator, was the primary creative force behind the animation, working up to 18 hours a day to meet production demands. The sound recording process was particularly challenging, as the team had to carefully synchronize the musical performances with the animation frame by frame. The mice playing household objects as instruments was inspired by real musical groups of the era that used unconventional instruments, a popular novelty in late 1920s entertainment.

Visual Style

The cinematography of 'When the Cat's Away' utilized the standard animation techniques of the late 1920s, with hand-drawn cells photographed on a rostrum camera. The visual style featured the characteristic black and white aesthetic of early Disney cartoons, with strong contrast and clear linework. The animation employed limited depth of field, focusing attention on the characters and their musical performances. The camera work included dynamic shots that followed the musical action, with close-ups on character faces during expressive moments and wider shots to showcase the ensemble performances. The visual rhythm of the animation was carefully synchronized with the musical beats, creating a cohesive audiovisual experience. The use of perspective and scale was particularly effective in establishing the mice's small size relative to the human-sized environment of the cat's house.

Innovations

This cartoon represented several technical achievements for Disney Studios in 1929. The synchronization of animation with sound was particularly sophisticated for its time, with musical performances matched precisely to character movements. The animation of multiple characters performing in coordination demonstrated advances in character animation techniques. The use of household objects as musical instruments required innovative sound design and visual storytelling techniques. The cartoon also showcased improvements in character animation, with more fluid movement and expressive character designs compared to earlier Disney shorts. The production process involved careful planning of musical sequences before animation began, a technique that would become standard in animated musical productions. The film's success demonstrated the commercial viability of synchronized sound animation, encouraging further investment in sound technology at Disney Studios.

Music

The soundtrack of 'When the Cat's Away' was groundbreaking for its time, featuring synchronized music and sound effects. The musical score was composed by Carl Stalling, who would later become famous for his work on Warner Bros. cartoons. The music incorporated popular tunes of the era, adapted for the cartoon's musical sequences. The piano performances by Mickey and Minnie were carefully synchronized with the animation, creating the illusion that the characters were actually playing. The sound effects, including the mice playing household objects as instruments, were created using innovative foley techniques for the time. The soundtrack was recorded using the RCA Photophone system, which provided better sound quality than many competing systems of the era. The musical arrangements emphasized the novelty of animals playing human instruments, a concept that delighted audiences of the period.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening sequence where Tom Cat leaves his house, setting up the premise. The mice's stealthy entry into the cat's home. Mickey and Minnie discovering and sitting at the piano. The transformation of household objects into musical instruments. The full musical ensemble performance with all mice playing together. The climactic musical number with increasingly complex arrangements. The tense moment when the mice hear Tom Cat returning in the distance. The final scramble as mice try to clean up before the cat arrives.

What Critics Said

Contemporary critics praised the cartoon for its inventive use of synchronized sound and charming character animation. Variety magazine noted the film's 'delightful musical sequences' and 'clever synchronization' of animation with sound. Motion Picture News highlighted the cartoon's 'originality and humor' in its review, particularly praising the sequence where mice transform household objects into instruments. The Film Daily called it 'another winner in the Mickey Mouse series' and noted its appeal to both children and adults. Modern film historians view the cartoon as an important example of early sound animation, with animation historian Leonard Maltin noting it as 'a charming example of Disney's early musical experimentation.' The cartoon is often cited in scholarly works about the development of synchronized sound in animation and the evolution of the Mickey Mouse character.

What Audiences Thought

The cartoon was enthusiastically received by audiences in 1929, contributing to the rapidly growing popularity of Mickey Mouse. Theater owners reported that the short drew strong crowds and was frequently requested for repeat bookings. Children particularly enjoyed the musical sequences and the visual gags involving the mice and household objects. The film's success helped solidify Mickey Mouse's status as a cultural phenomenon, with merchandise featuring the character becoming increasingly popular. Audience letters to Disney Studios frequently mentioned this cartoon as a favorite, with many viewers writing about how much they enjoyed the musical performances. The positive reception encouraged Disney to continue producing musical-themed cartoons, which became a hallmark of the early Mickey Mouse series.

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