Circus Capers (1930) User Reviews

More information about the mouse characters

[ShiraDotnet · 5/10 · 6 May 2010]

Another reviewer has provided an excellent description of the plot, so I'll focus on providing a little more information about the two mouse characters.

As others noted in their reviews, the two lead characters in this cartoon look a lot like Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, but they're not. Their names are actually Milton and Rita Mouse. They appeared in a number of Van Beuren cartoons. The resemblance, however, is so strong that Walt Disney sued Van Beuren Studios, and in a 1932 court settlement Van Beuren agreed to discontinue using Milton and Rita as characters.

Animal circus antics

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 10 January 2018]

Van Beuren cartoons are extremely variable, especially in the number of gags and whether the absurdist humour shines through enough (sometimes it does, other times it doesn't), but are strangely interesting. Although they are often poorly animated with barely existent stories and less than compelling lead characters, they are also often outstandingly scored, there can be some fun support characters and some are well-timed and amusing.

'Circus Capers' is one of the best Aesop's Fables cartoons and also to me one of Van Beuren's best overall. It may not be a masterpiece or a cartoon classic, but it is so much more entertaining than most Aesop's Fables/Van Beuren cartoons. There are a few of the usual flaws but a lot is done right as well.

Its weak point is the animation, which is not great with erratically sloppy character designs in particular while the simplistic background detail and lack of fluidity and crispness are just as difficult to ignore.

Occasionally the pace drags, especially in the first third which is basically slight set up, and the ending is something of a strange one. However, two thirds of 'Circus Capers' goes at a snappy pace and contain some well-timed and amusing, if never hilarious, gags that are many and has a likeable strangeness.

The circus antics and animals (which are cute, fun and easy to remember) are fun to watch, and the excitement and danger of the setting is done well. While still somewhat random, 'Circus Capers' makes more sense than most Aesops Fables cartoons and the story is generally enjoyable thanks to the characters and their antics.

Generally the pacing is lively once things get going and some of the synchronisation is not too sloppy, at least not at odds with everything else.

Best of all is the music score, it is typically peppy and great fun to listen to. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.

Overall, enjoyable if not mind-blowing. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Absolutely Fascinating look at Bizarro World Mickey and Minnie!

[VioletGirl37 · 7/10 · 12 April 2023]

A new Ultra High Definition scan (1440p) of a 16 mm print of this was suggested to me on YouTube this afternoon (on the "Farmer Alfalfa" channel), which I was curious about since it's a 1930 Æsop's Sound Fable, which is the time period I've been watching lately, and while somewhat uneven, wow; it really was a strange and pleasant surprise!

Two mice star, who look extraordinarily similar to Mickey and Minnie mouse, but are apparently called Milton and Rita! Disney made them cease and desist. Honestly still has the brilliance of the silents, even if the work is of less consistent quality, more pure cartoon brilliance shines through than in any Disney cartoon of its time, more similar to the Fleischers' work, though honestly similar levels of brilliance! Amazing extreme perspective shots on the level of the work of Ub Iwerks! Some clever and well-executed gags as well, in particular the one with the leopard spots! The broken heart was beautifully done in a way I've never seen before! The singing at the end seemed pretty bizarre at first since it sounds like an older woman's voice, but it's extremely pleasant and an got used to it quickly! Sound synchronization is often quite sloppily done compared to a Disney cartoon though. This really is a lot more like a silent film plus sound added as a bonus. Despite being like a silent, the irreverence and animation style really do remind me of much newer stuff. Maybe sounds silly to say, but it really does seem both ahead of its time and behind its time at once! Really impressive stuff overall though! Sound is recorded by the RCA Photophone system, so it's simply high fidelity! A totally different league than Disney cartoons with Pat Powers' Cinephone system! This might be an 8 for me if not for the slow start and sloppy production! Definitely recommend, especially if you want to see a bizarro world Mickey and Minnie and see some wonderul animation and hear some beautiful music!

Circus Acts & A Broken Heart

[ccthemovieman-1 · 10 July 2007]

This is a very early cartoon - 1930 - and a little longer than normal, even today's standards, at nine minutes.

It begins with a parade and we see trombone players with elongated slides, dancing elephants, dancing giraffes, etc. That's nothing much, but as soon as they get to the circus, you start seeing the wild things, some of which you would only see in a cartoon before 1935. For instance, the first "side show" we see 300 to 400-pound woman in brief underwear doing some dance. That seems to excite the crowd and they pour into the tent in back of her! They yell, "yah," "oh, boy!" and "whoopee!"

Once inside, we the normal circus ring but the acts are anything but normal. Most of them have a surprise element to them, such as the horse diving from a high platform but then floating the last couple of yards and landing on his feat, instead of diving into a big bucket of water. Most of the acts were okay to watch but not really funny. The print was so-so, too, but that's understandable considering this was made in the first couple of years of "talking pictures."

What was really different was that this story suddenly became dramatic when one of the mice (call her "Minnie") two-times her supposed boyfriend (say, "Mickey") and breaks the latter's heart. He then sings this sad lament which was a song, I believe, called, "Laugh, Clown, Laugh."

When the two-timer comes back to him at the end, his response is very satisfying.

You probably won't mistake this for Disney!

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 22 April 2021]

Shortly after Mickey and Minnie Mouse burst onto the scene and made a big splash, tiny Van Buren Studio essentially ripped off the films by introducing Milton and Rita...two mice who were awfully similar. In fact, they were so similar that Disney sued...and the faux mice soon vanished. Because of this, I have found these Van Buren films fascinating...though not especially well made. You won't mistake this for a Disney production, as the animation isn't as high in quality, there is a lot of repetitive use of cels (in order to make the film MUCH cheaper) and the cartoons lack the Disney cleverness and edge. Instead, in "Circus Capers" the pair have less to do and the film just seems heavily padded and adequate.

As far as plot goes, there isn't much. The circus comes to town (complete with LOTS of repetitive cels), a few acts occur under the big top and, finally, the baddie tries to kill Milton....though I have no idea why. There also is a sing that Milton sings ("Laugh Clown, Laugh")...but none of it was compelling.

Overall, this cartoon is about as edgy as a bowling ball. While not terrible by 1930 standards, even then this would have been seen as a second or third-rate product. Cartoons by the Fleischer Brothers, Educational (Felix the Cat) and, especially, Disney were far, far ahead of them quality wise. In fact, even Paul Terry's cartoons looked better than this Van Buren production. Dull and dated....and a rip-off which no one could ever mistake for Mickey and Minnie.

Circus Capers is interesting early sound Aesop's Fables cartoon

[tavm · 8/10 · 10 July 2006]

If you've read the summary then you pretty much know what happens in Circus Capers. I'd like to comment on some of the animation. At the beginning, there is a group of trombone players whose instruments get elongated as they go forward. Next, there are a couple of elephants who each dance with a tambourine attached to their right legs. After that are a couple of giraffes clog-hopping forward. Then come the main characters: The "Mickey"-like clown and "Minnie"-like bare back rider. As the summary revealed, however, this "Minnie" is a two-timer who deserved what she got in the end! Good for you, "Mickey"! This is another Aesop's Fables cartoon produced and directed by John Foster and Harry Bailey after creator Paul Terry left Van Beuren to form Terrytoons. While this is a bit slow moving, it does entertain throughout and has a very satisfying ending when after "Mickey" blew his raspberry to "Minnie", he moves his head forward for a close-up and winks as we iris out. If you're an animation buff who's interested in seeing early sound cartoons, Circus Capers is well worth checking out!