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The Gallopin' Gaucho is a 1928 Mickey Mouse short. It was co-directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, with the latter serving as the sole animator.

Summary[]

In the Pampas of Argentina, Mickey rides along on a rhea. He soon encounters "Cantina Argentina," apparently serving as the local bar and restaurant, as well as his destination. Mickey proceeds to enter the establishment and takes a seat at a window. He apparently just wants to relax with some beer drinking and tobacco smoking. Also present at the establishment are Black Pete (later renamed Peg Leg Pete, or just Pete), a wanted outlaw and fellow customer for the time being, and Minnie Mouse, the barmaid and dancer of the establishment, at the time performing a tango. Both customers soon begin to flirt with Minnie and to rival one another. At some point, Pete proceeds in kidnapping Minnie (and causing her to lose her shoes) and Mickey realized this and tried to fight Pete but he spits at him. He then attempts to escape on his horse, in which it didn’t go well as he accidentally landed on his horse when it jumped over a rock. Mickey gives chase on his weak rhea, in which he quits riding it after thinking put starch on a rhea is a bad idea. He soon catches up to his rival at his house and they proceed to fight with swords. Mickey emerges the victor of this joust after hitting Pete in the head with a white caldron that he found under a bed. The finale of the short has Mickey releasing Minnie from the chains and he and his new lover riding the rhea as well as kissing for the very first time into the distance.

Notes[]

In later interviews, Iwerks would comment that Mickey as featured in The Gallopin' Gaucho was intended to be a swashbuckler, an adventurer modeled after Douglas Fairbanks, whose film The Gaucho served as the primary inspiration of the short. This short marks the first encounter between Mickey and Black Pete, a character already established as an antagonist in both the Alice Comedies and the Oswald series. Based on Mickey and Minnie acting as strangers to each other before the finale, it was presumably intended to feature their original acquaintance to each other as well. Modern audiences have commented that all three characters seem to be coming out of rough, lower-class backgrounds that little resemble their later versions. Consequently the short is arguably of some historical significance.

However the feature characters of the short were obscure at best. Mickey was at first thought to be much too similar to Oswald, resulting in the apparent lack of interest in him. Disney would soon start to contemplate ways to distinguish the Mickey Mouse series from his previous work and that of his rivals. Minnie's role as performer and damsel in distress is solidified in this. It is also the first time she wears her distinctive oversized high heeled pumps, although they fall off almost offscreen when she is kidnapped and she spends the rest of the cartoon shoeless. Mickey is also seen wearing shoes for the first time, adding more anthropomorphic traits to the characters which would progressively become more apparent as the years went on.

At the time of its original production though, Walt again failed to find a distributor. It would be first released on December 30, 1928, following the release of another Mickey short. Reportedly Mickey was at first thought to be much too similar to Oswald and this resulted in the apparent lack of interest in him. Walt would soon start to contemplate ways to distinguish the Mickey Mouse series from his previous work and that of his rivals. The result of his contemplations would be the second Mickey short to be produced, the first to be released and the first to really draw the attention of the audiences: Steamboat Willie.

Characters[]

Releases[]

Television[]

Home video[]

  • Mickey Mouse: The Black and White Years - Volume One (laserdisc)
  • Walt Disney Treasures: Mickey Mouse in Black and White (DVD)

Censorship[]

When the colorized version aired on Donald's Quack Attack, a scene involving Mickey lighting a cigarette was cut from the airing.

Trivia[]

  • The film's copyright was renewed on December 16, 1957.[1]
    • On January 1, 2024, the short lapsed in the public domain in the United States, due to works no longer being eligible for copyright in the 96th year following publication or release. While the short is in the public domain, Mickey Mouse, including his original version, still holds a trademark from Disney. Trademarks never expire as long as the owner (Disney) continues to use them.
    • However, while the short lapsed into the public domain in 2024, the audio has a copyright of 1929, meaning the soundtrack will lapse into the public domain in the United States in 2025. This is also the case with Plane Crazy, due to both being originally released without a soundtrack.
  • Mickey transitions from a troublemaker to hero.
  • Most of the gags in this cartoon were reused from "Harem Scarem" an Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short that is currently lost.
  • Minnie transitions from foil and free-spirited to damsel in distress.
  • This marked the debut of Pete in a Mickey short.
    • However, he is considered to be "Black Pete" in this short.
    • Pete also transitioned from a bear to a cat, as classified with a more cat-like face and whiskers.
  • This is the third Mickey short to be released.
    • However, this is actually the second produced short, as Walt Disney failed to find a distributor, just like in Plane Crazy, the first produced but fourth released short.
  • This strangely marked the first and only time Mickey and Minnie evolved halfway through the short, as their eyes changed from big eyeballs with black pupils to smaller black ovals which would later be used in Steamboat Willie the same year.
  • Minnie's shoes seem to be slightly bigger, as this is the short where her heels slipped out of her shoes the most prior to becoming shoeless.

Gallery[]

References[]


v - e - d
Mickey Mouse Short logo 3
1920s
Plane CrazyThe Gallopin' GauchoSteamboat WillieThe Barn DanceThe Opry HouseWhen the Cat's AwayThe Barnyard BattleThe PlowboyThe Karnival KidMickey's FolliesMickey's Choo-ChooThe Jazz FoolJungle RhythmThe Haunted HouseWild Waves
1930s
Fiddling AroundThe Barnyard ConcertThe Cactus KidThe Fire FightersThe ShindigThe Chain GangThe Gorilla MysteryThe PicnicPioneer DaysThe Birthday PartyTraffic TroublesThe CastawayThe Moose HuntThe Delivery BoyMickey Steps OutBlue RhythmFishin' AroundThe Barnyard BroadcastThe Beach PartyMickey Cuts UpMickey's OrphansThe Duck HuntThe Grocery BoyThe Mad DogBarnyard OlympicsMickey's RevueMusical FarmerMickey in ArabiaMickey's NightmareTrader MickeyThe Whoopee PartyTouchdown MickeyThe Wayward CanaryParade of the Award NomineesThe Klondike KidMickey's Good DeedBuilding a BuildingThe Mad DoctorMickey's Pal PlutoMickey's MellerdrammerYe Olden DaysThe Mail PilotMickey's Mechanical ManMickey's Gala PremierPuppy LoveThe Steeple-ChaseThe Pet StoreGiantlandShanghaiedCamping OutPlayful PlutoGulliver MickeyMickey's Steam-RollerOrphan's BenefitMickey Plays PapaThe DognapperTwo-Gun MickeyMickey's Man FridayThe Band ConcertMickey's Service StationMickey's KangarooMickey's GardenMickey's Fire BrigadePluto's Judgement DayOn IceMickey's Polo TeamOrphans' PicnicMickey's Grand OperaThru the MirrorMickey's RivalMoving DayAlpine ClimbersMickey's CircusMickey's ElephantThe Worm TurnsMagician MickeyMoose HuntersMickey's AmateursHawaiian HolidayClock CleanersLonesome GhostsBoat BuildersMickey's TrailerThe WhalersMickey's ParrotBrave Little TailorSociety Dog ShowMickey's Surprise PartyThe PointerThe Standard Parade
1940s
Tugboat MickeyPluto's Dream HouseMr. Mouse Takes a TripThe Sorcerer's ApprenticeThe Little WhirlwindThe Nifty NinetiesOrphan's BenefitA Gentleman's GentlemanCanine CaddyLend a PawAll TogetherMickey's Birthday PartySymphony HourPluto and the ArmadilloSquatter's RightsMickey and the BeanstalkMickey's Delayed DateMickey Down UnderMickey and the Seal
1950s
R'Coon DawgPluto's PartyPluto's Christmas TreeThe Simple Things
1980s-Present
Mickey's Christmas CarolThe Prince and the PauperRunaway BrainGet a Horse!Mickey in a MinuteOnce Upon a Studio
See Also
The Mickey Mouse ClubThe Mouse FactoryGood Morning, MickeyMickey's Mouse TracksMickey Mouse and Friends (TV Series)Disney's The Twelve Days of ChristmasMickey's Fun SongsMickey's Once Upon a ChristmasHouse of MouseMickey Mouse WorksMickey's Magical ChristmasMickey's House of VillainsMickey's Twice Upon a ChristmasMickey Mouse ClubhouseMickey MousekersizeMickey Mouse (TV series)Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up AdventuresMickey's 90th SpectacularThe Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse


v - e - d
Minnie Mouse short logo
1920s
Plane CrazyThe Gallopin' GauchoSteamboat WillieThe Barn DanceWhen the Cat's AwayThe PlowboyThe Karnival KidMickey's FolliesMickey's Choo-ChooWild Waves
1930s
The Cactus KidThe Fire FightersThe ShindigThe Gorilla MysteryThe PicnicPioneer DaysThe Birthday PartyTraffic TroublesThe Delivery BoyMickey Steps OutBlue RhythmThe Barnyard BroadcastThe Beach PartyMickey Cuts UpMickey's OrphansThe Grocery BoyBarnyard OlympicsMickey's RevueMusical FarmerMickey in ArabiaMickey's NightmareThe Whoopee PartyTouchdown MickeyThe Wayward CanaryThe Klondike KidBuilding a BuildingMickey's Pal PlutoMickey's MellerdrammerYe Olden DaysThe Mail PlotMickey's Mechanical ManMickey's Gala PremierPuppy LoveThe Pet StoreThe Steeple-ChaseShanghaiedCamping OutMickey's Steam-RollerTwo-Gun MickeyOn IceMickey's RivalHawaiian HolidayBrave Little TailorMickey's Surprise Party
1940s
The Little WhirlwindThe Nifty NinetiesMickey's Birthday PartyOut of the Frying Pan Into the Firing LineFirst AidersBath DayFigaro and FrankieMickey's Delayed DatePluto's Sweater
1950s-present
Pluto and the GopherMickey's Christmas CarolRunaway BrainMickey and the Goat ManElectric HolidayGet a Horse!Once Upon a Studio
Songs
While Strolling Through the ParkMinnie MouseDon't Go Breaking My HeartOur Miss MinnieMinnie's Bow-tique
Attractions
Totally MinnieMinnie's Tiara of DreamsMinnie Oh! Minnie! Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime FireworksIt’s Very Minnie!Minnie's Style StudioMinnie's Besties BashMinnie, We Love You!Minnie @ Funderland
See Also
Totally MinnieMinnie's Bow-ToonsMickey's 90th SpectacularLofi Minnie: FocusLofi Minnie: Chill
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