Die Hundeausstellung (Short 1939)
63KDie Hundeausstellung: Directed by Bill Roberts. With Billy Bletcher, John McLeish, Walt Disney, Lee Millar. Rather out of place at a swanky dog show, Pluto flirts with Fifi, a dainty Pekingese. The judge orders Mickey and Pluto to leave, but when a fire breaks out Pluto rescues Fifi and is proclaimed a hero.
“Okay, so the basic story here is predictable as heck, but who on Earth cares? u0026#39;Society Dog Showu0026#39; is a beautiful Disney short which takes the familiar underdog formula and structures it into one of the most joyous and heart-warming products this studio has ever put together. Itu0026#39;s one of the select Disney shorts which I saw way back, and which has really stayed with me over the years. And, every so often, Iu0026#39;ll feel compelled to go hunt out my old videotape with it on just to relive those precious moments. What can I say – Iu0026#39;ve been a fan of these classic Walt Disney shorts since as long as I can remember watching TV, and I love the Pluto ones in particular to death; heu0026#39;s one seriously endearing cartoon dog, and u0026#39;Society Dog Showu0026#39; contains what may well have been his finest hour (or at least 6 minutes at that).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMickey Mouse, ever the eternal optimist (in the days when he still had those creepy, all-black eyes), has summoned the confidence to enter Pluto in a high class dog show. Naturally the poor funny-looking orange mutt doesnu0026#39;t stand a chance against all those highly-pampered, heavily-groomed pedigrees but he instantly wins the heart of Fifi, a female King Charles spaniel entering in the u0026#39;trick dogsu0026#39; competition, which leads to well, I would hate to reveal any more than I have to. Like I said, the basic story is formulaic, but itu0026#39;s just plain pleasurable to watch this chain of events unfolding, right up to the very last few moments, which have my impressionable heart fluttering every time.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis cartoon also provides one of the most quirky contrasts between Disneyu0026#39;s line of u0026#39;regular dogsu0026#39; and separate line of u0026#39;humanoid dogsu0026#39; which really tends to throw so many of their viewers (a la the u0026quot;Plutou0026#39;s a dog, so what the hell is Goofy?u0026quot; discussion in u0026#39;Stand by Meu0026#39;). Other than Mickey, every character in this short is a canine of sorts – entries, owners and judges alike! Itu0026#39;s that kind of offbeat little in-joke that always lures me to the Disney province. There are also some great sight gags, in particular when Pluto is undergoing his examination with the disgruntled judge. Not to mention that the classic animation style is just gorgeous, and that Fifi is a real cutie.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eItu0026#39;s a winner, no doubt about it. Iu0026#39;ve been in love with this one all my life.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eGrade: A+”
