Steamboat Willie

Steamboat Willie Background information Director: Walt Disney Ub Iwerks Writer: Walt Disney Ub Iwerks Song writer: Carl Stalling Animator(s): Ub Iwerks Les Clark Johnny Cannon Wilfred Jackson Dick Lundy Release date(s): November 18, 1928 Running time: 7:45 Budget: Gross revenue: Country:

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Steamboat Willie is a Mickey Mouse short cartoon.

Plot

Mickey Mouse pilots a river steamboat, suggesting that he himself is the captain. He cheerfully whistles "Steamboat Bill" and sounds the boat's three whistles. Soon the real captain appears (Pete) and angrily orders Mickey off the bridge. Mickey blows a raspberry at Pete, and then Pete attempts to kick him but Mickey rushes away in time and Pete kicks himself in the rear accidentally. Mickey rushes down the stairs, slips on a bar of soap on the boat's deck and lands in a bucket of water. A parrot makes fun of him, and Mickey throws the bucket over the bird.

Pete, who has been watching the whole thing, pilots the steamboat himself. He bites off some chewing tobacco and spits into the wind. The spit flies backward and rings the boat's bell. Amused by this Pete spits again, but it hits him in the face, making him fuss.

The steamboat makes a stop at "Podunk Landing" to pick up a cargo of various livestock. Just as they set off again, Minnie Mouse appears, running to catch the boat before it leaves. Mickey does not see her in time, but she runs after the boat along the shore and Mickey takes her on board using the cargo crane.

Landing on deck, Minnie accidentally drops a guitar and some sheet music for the song "Turkey in the Straw" which are eaten by a goat. The two mice use the goat's body as a phonograph which they play by turning the animal's tail like a crank. Mickey uses various objects on the boat as percussion accompaniment and "plays" the animals like musical instruments. This ends with them using a cow's teeth to play the song as a xylophone.

Finally an angry Captain Pete appears and puts Mickey to work peeling potatoes. In the potato bin, the same parrot from before appears in the port hole and mocks Mickey again. The mouse throws a partially peeled potato at him, knocking him into the river below. The film ends with Mickey laughing at the sound of the bird struggling in the water.

Cast

• Walt Disney - Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pete, extras

Gallery

Trivia

• Some scenes of what might be considered gratuitous animal violence have been cut including Mickey playing a nursing sow's nipples like an accordion keyboard, pulling a cat's tail and swinging it around his head, and using a goose as a bagpipe. Some of these cuts have since been reinstated.
• Under United States copyright law, Steamboat Willie, along with other works created in 1928, entered the public domain on January 1, 2024.

See Also

• Cartoon
• Trick or Treat

Short Films

Trolley Troubles, Oh Teacher, All Wet, Steamboat Willie, The Gallopin' Gaucho, Plane Crazy, The Karnival Kid, Mickey's Follies, Mickey's Choo-Choo, The Haunted House, The Chain Gang, The Birthday Party, The Hunter, Mickey's Orphans, Mickey's Revue, Just Dogs, Mickey's Good Deed, The Mad Doctor, Ye Olden Days, The Mail Pilot, The Wise Little Hen, Mickey's Steamroller, Orphan's Benefit, The Band Concert, Mickey's Service Station, Mickey's Fire Brigade, Pluto's Judgment Day, On Ice, Orphan's Picnic, Mickey's Grand Opera, Thru the Mirror, Mickey's Rival, Donald and Pluto, Mother Pluto, The Worm Turns, Don Donald, Magician Mickey, Moose Hunters, Hawaiian Holiday, Clock Cleaners, Pluto's Quin-Puplets, Lonesome Ghosts, Donald's Nephews, Good Scouts, The Whalers, Brave Little Tailor, Donald's Golf Game, Society Dog Show, Goofy and Wilbur, The Hockey Champ, Donald's Cousin Gus, The Pointer, The Autograph Hound, The Riveter, Tugboat Mickey, Mr. Duck Steps Out, Bone Trouble, Put-Put Troubles, Pluto's Dream House, Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip, The Little Whirlwind, A Good Time for a Dime, How to Ride a Horse, Canine Caddy, The Nifty Nineties, The Art of Skiing, The Art of Self Defense, The Sleepwalker, How to Play Baseball, The Olympic Champ, How to Swim, Pluto at the Zoo, How to Fish, Donald's Tire Trouble, The Flying Jalopy, Private Pluto, How to Play Golf, How to Play Football, First Aiders, Tiger Trouble, The Clock Watcher, Duck Pimples, The Legend of Coyote Rock, Cured Duck, Pluto's Kid Brother, In Dutch, Donald's Double Trouble, Dumbell of the Yukon, Lighthouse Keeping, Bath Day, Double Dribble, Sleepy Time Donald, Figaro and Frankie, Donald's Dilemma, Mickey's Delayed Date, Foul Hunting, Chip an' Dale, Pluto's Blue Note, Drip Dippy Donald, Donald's Dream Voice, Pluto's Fledgling, Soup's On, Three for Breakfast, Mickey and the Seal, Donald's Happy Birthday, Winter Storage, Pluto's Sweater, Bubble Bee, Goofy Gymnastics, Toy Tinkers, Pluto's Heart Throb, Pluto and the Gopher, Crazy Over Daisy, Motor Mania, Hook, Lion and Sinker, Camp Dog, Chicken in the Rough, Dude Duck, Lucky Number, Fathers Are People, Father's Lion, Donald Applecore, Two Chips and a Miss, Two Gun Goofy, Trick or Treat, Two Weeks Vacation, Pluto's Christmas Tree, The Simple Things, Don's Fountain of Youth, Father's Week-End, The New Neighbor, Rugged Bear, Canvas Back Duck, Donald's Diary, The Lone Chipmunks, Dragon Around, Beezy Bear, Up a Tree, Chips Ahoy, Hooked Bear, In the Bag, Donald in Mathmagic Land, Aquamania, Scrooge McDuck and Money, Mickey's Christmas Carol, Sport Goofy in Soccermania, The Prince and the Pauper, Runaway Brain, How to Hook Up Your Home Theater, Get a Horse!