The Nifty Nineties

The Nifty Nineties
Directed by	Riley Thomson
Produced by	Walt Disney
Studio(s)	Walt Disney Productions
Distributor	RKO Radio Pictures
Released	June 20, 1941
Running time	7:33
Language	English
Preceded by	Canine Caddy
Followed by	Orphan's Benefit

The Nifty Nineties is a Technicolor Mickey Mouse cartoon released in 1941. The short was directed by Riley Thomson and animated by Ward Kimball, Walt Kelly, Fred Moore, Claude Smith, David Swift, and Les Clark with effects animation by Art Fitzpatrick. The film stars Mickey and Minnie Mouse and romanticizes the decade of the 1890s.

The film features original and adapted music by Charles Wolcott. The voice cast includes Walt Disney as Mickey and Thelma Boardman as Minnie.

Plot

Set in the springtime, sometime in the 1890s, Mickey and Minnie Mouse happen to meet each other in a public park one day. Minnie attracts Mickey by intentionally dropping her handkerchief so Mickey will return it to her.

They attend a vaudeville show where they first see a slideshow presentation called "Father, Dear, Father", which features the song "Come Home, Father" by Henry Clay Work. In the show, a daughter attempts to get her father to leave a local tavern because he hadn't come right home from work as promised and got drunk at the tavern. In the fourth picture in the slideshow, we see the clock tower, which reads 1:00 am. With mother home watching since tea and her son very sick in her arms, there can only be hope that the father comes home. The slideshow causes Minnie to cry, but Mickey tries to comfort her by telling her "Don't take it so hard. It's only a show".

The next act is "Fred & Ward, Two Clever Boys From Illinois" which features two song and dance men. Fred and Ward are caricatures of Disney animators Fred Moore and Ward Kimball who also voiced the characters.

After the show is over, Mickey and Minnie cruise the roads of the countryside in a Brass Era car. Goofy rides by on a penny-farthing bicycle, and Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Huey, Dewey, and Louie ride on a bicycle built for five. At last, in a scene reminiscent of Plane Crazy, the car crashes with a cow. Mickey and Minnie emerge from the wreckage unhurt, but when they try to kiss each other, the cow pops her head up between them.

Characters

• Mickey Mouse
• Minnie Mouse
• Goofy (cameo)
• Donald Duck (cameo)
• Daisy Duck (cameo)
• Huey, Dewey, and Louie (cameo)
• Caroline Cow
• Fred and Ward

Songs

With the exception of one song, "The Gay Nineties" (the opening song), this short featured mostly authentic songs from the 1890s, most of which were performed by the vocal quartet The Sportsmen, which featured Thurl Ravenscroft in one of his earliest projects for Disney.

The songs include:

• "The Fountain in the Park"
• "Come Home, Father"
• "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight"
• "Old Folks at Home"
• "In the Good Old Summertime"

Trivia

• The two comedians Fred and Ward are animated caricatures of Disney animators Fred Moore and Ward Kimball.
• This is the only classic Mickey Mouse short in which Daisy, Huey, Dewey, and Louie appear.
• The "Father, Dear Father" sequence was edited out of the short when it aired on Toon Disney, due to its depiction of alcoholism.
• The advertisements on the curtain at the theater contain numerous references to members of the Disney staff, including:
  • Walter D's Hats that please-Walt Disney
  • Clark's Confectionery-animator Leslie J. Clark
  • Wilfred Jaxon Feed and Fuel-animation director Wilfred Jackson
  • Riley's Livery Stable-director of the short Riley Thomson
  • T. Hee's Shoes-writer T. Hee
  • Professor Churchill, Pianos Tuned-composer Frank Churchill
  • Sharpsteen Dentist-animator Ben Sharpsteen
  • M. Nelson, Fancy Goods-background artist Myron F. Nelson
  • Palms Read, C. Payzant-artist Charles Payzant
  • Breezy Allan's Haberdashery-animator Paul Allan
  • C.E. Phillipi, Fishing Equipment-layout artist Charles Phillipi
  • Happy Herb, Undertaker-animator Herb Ryman
  • R.B. Martch Guns-animator Robert "Bob" Martch
  • M. Flanagin, Coffee-proprietor of the studio coffee shop Mary Flanagin

Voice Characterizations

• Walt Disney - Mickey Mouse
• Thelma Boardman - Minnie Mouse
• Fred Moore - Fred
• Ward Kimball - Ward

Releases

Television

• Disneyland, episode #4.24: "Four Tales on a Mouse"
• Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, episode #15.11: "The Mickey Mouse Anniversary Show"
• Good Morning, Mickey, episode #31
• Good Morning, Mickey, episode #78
• From Disney With Love
• The Ink and Paint Club, episode #1.22: "Classic Mickey"
• The Ink and Paint Club, episode #1.39: "Minnie Mouse"

Home video

VHS

• Walt Disney Cartoon Classics: Limited Gold Editions - Minnie
• Sweetheart Stories
• Bonus on Pollyanna (Vault Disney)

DVD

• Bonus on Pollyanna (Vault Disney)
• Walt Disney Treasures: Mickey Mouse in Living Color, Volume Two
• Mickey and Minnie's Sweetheart Stories
• Walt Disney's Classic Cartoon Favorites: Best Pals - Mickey and Minnie

Gallery

v - e - d

1920s Plane Crazy • The Gallopin' Gaucho • Steamboat Willie • The Barn Dance • The Opry House • When the Cat's Away • The Barnyard Battle • The Plowboy • The Karnival Kid • Mickey's Follies • Mickey's Choo-Choo • The Jazz Fool • Jungle Rhythm • The Haunted House • Wild Waves 1930s Fiddling Around • The Barnyard Concert • The Cactus Kid • The Fire Fighters • The Shindig • The Chain Gang • The Gorilla Mystery • The Picnic • Pioneer Days • The Birthday Party • Traffic Troubles • The Castaway • The Moose Hunt • The Delivery Boy • Mickey Steps Out • Blue Rhythm • Fishin' Around • The Barnyard Broadcast • The Beach Party • Mickey Cuts Up • Mickey's Orphans • The Duck Hunt • The Grocery Boy • The Mad Dog • Barnyard Olympics • Mickey's Revue • Musical Farmer • Mickey in Arabia • Mickey's Nightmare • Trader Mickey • The Whoopee Party • Touchdown Mickey • The Wayward Canary • Parade of the Award Nominees • The Klondike Kid • Mickey's Good Deed • Building a Building • The Mad Doctor • Mickey's Pal Pluto • Mickey's Mellerdrammer • Ye Olden Days • The Mail Pilot • Mickey's Mechanical Man • Mickey's Gala Premier • Puppy Love • The Steeple-Chase • The Pet Store • Giantland • Shanghaied • Camping Out • Playful Pluto • Gulliver Mickey • Mickey's Steam-Roller • Orphan's Benefit • Mickey Plays Papa • The Dognapper • Two-Gun Mickey • Mickey's Man Friday • The Band Concert • Mickey's Service Station • Mickey's Kangaroo • Mickey's Garden • Mickey's Fire Brigade • Pluto's Judgement Day • On Ice • Mickey's Polo Team • Orphans' Picnic • Mickey's Grand Opera • Thru the Mirror • Mickey's Rival • Moving Day • Alpine Climbers • Mickey's Circus • Mickey's Elephant • The Worm Turns • Magician Mickey • Moose Hunters • Mickey's Amateurs • Hawaiian Holiday • Clock Cleaners • Lonesome Ghosts • Boat Builders • Mickey's Trailer • The Whalers • Mickey's Parrot • Brave Little Tailor • Society Dog Show • Mickey's Surprise Party • The Pointer • The Standard Parade 1940s Tugboat Mickey • Pluto's Dream House • Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip • The Sorcerer's Apprentice • The Little Whirlwind • The Nifty Nineties • Orphan's Benefit • A Gentleman's Gentleman • Canine Caddy • Lend a Paw • All Together • Mickey's Birthday Party • Symphony Hour • Pluto and the Armadillo • Squatter's Rights • Mickey and the Beanstalk • Mickey's Delayed Date • Mickey Down Under • Mickey and the Seal 1950s R'Coon Dawg • Pluto's Party • Pluto's Christmas Tree • The Simple Things 1980s-Present Mickey's Christmas Carol • The Prince and the Pauper • Runaway Brain • Get a Horse! • Mickey in a Minute • Once Upon a Studio See Also The Mickey Mouse Club • The Mouse Factory • Good Morning, Mickey • Mickey's Mouse Tracks • Mickey Mouse and Friends (TV Series) • Disney's The Twelve Days of Christmas • Mickey's Fun Songs • Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas • House of Mouse • Mickey Mouse Works • Mickey's Magical Christmas • Mickey's House of Villains • Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas • Mickey Mouse Clubhouse • Mickey Mousekersize • Mickey Mouse (TV series) • Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures • Mickey's 90th Spectacular • The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse

v - e - d

1920s Plane Crazy • The Gallopin' Gaucho • Steamboat Willie • The Barn Dance • When the Cat's Away • The Plowboy • The Karnival Kid • Mickey's Follies • Mickey's Choo-Choo • Wild Waves 1930s The Cactus Kid • The Fire Fighters • The Shindig • The Gorilla Mystery • The Picnic • Pioneer Days • The Birthday Party • Traffic Troubles • The Delivery Boy • Mickey Steps Out • Blue Rhythm • The Barnyard Broadcast • The Beach Party • Mickey Cuts Up • Mickey's Orphans • The Grocery Boy • Barnyard Olympics • Mickey's Revue • Musical Farmer • Mickey in Arabia • Mickey's Nightmare • The Whoopee Party • Touchdown Mickey • The Wayward Canary • The Klondike Kid • Building a Building • Mickey's Pal Pluto • Mickey's Mellerdrammer • Ye Olden Days • The Mail Plot • Mickey's Mechanical Man • Mickey's Gala Premier • Puppy Love • The Pet Store • The Steeple-Chase • Shanghaied • Camping Out • Mickey's Steam-Roller • Two-Gun Mickey • On Ice • Mickey's Rival • Hawaiian Holiday • Brave Little Tailor • Mickey's Surprise Party 1940s The Little Whirlwind • The Nifty Nineties • Mickey's Birthday Party • Out of the Frying Pan Into the Firing Line • First Aiders • Bath Day • Figaro and Frankie • Mickey's Delayed Date • Pluto's Sweater 1950s-present Pluto and the Gopher • Mickey's Christmas Carol • Runaway Brain • Mickey and the Goat Man • Electric Holiday • Get a Horse! • Once Upon a Studio Songs While Strolling Through the Park • Minnie Mouse • Don't Go Breaking My Heart • Our Miss Minnie • Minnie's Bow-tique Attractions Totally Minnie • Minnie's Tiara of Dreams • Minnie Oh! Minnie! • Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks • It’s Very Minnie! • Minnie's Style Studio • Minnie's Besties Bash • Minnie, We Love You! • Minnie @ Funderland See Also Totally Minnie • Minnie's Bow-Toons • Mickey's 90th Spectacular • Lofi Minnie: Focus • Lofi Minnie: Chill

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia page The Nifty Nineties. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. Text from Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.