Spencer-Staggs Review of Steamboat Willie

Steamboat Willie (1928)

Once We Get Past The Iconic Musical Number And It's Mark As The Third 'Mickey Mouse' Short What Is Left To Offer?

[6/10 · 17 June 2021]

I watched 'Steamboat Willie' today and wondered to myself "What is so good about this? What is so good about a mouse going around and cruelly abusing all the other animals aboard the vessel?" I would suppose that it's just because of it's mark in cinematic history, but other than that what does the film have to offer us? In short: nothing. We watch Mickey help Minnie aboard the steamboat, but then we see him go around and abuse the animals aboard the steamboat. Whether he's grabbing a bird by it's neck, drowning a parrot, or even pulling baby piglets' tails it all leads to, well, nothing. I got nothing out of this film and I'm not quite sure who did.