Prod. UM-11, Mickey's Mellerdrama

Known as Mickey's Mellerdrammer, this short directed by Wilfred "Jaxon" Jackson was released on 03/18/33. Though not all the scenes were assigned on this draft, we do find as animators: Paul Fennell, Ham Luske, Les Clark, Frenchy de Trémaudan, Chuck Couch, Eddy Donnelly, Bill Roberts, Johnny Cannon, Gerry Geronimi, Tom Palmer, Fred Moore, Marvin Woodward, Ben Sharpsteen, Roy "Big Mooseketeer" Williams, Harry Reeves and Ed Love. Interestingly, this draft mentions a whole slew of changes to be done, from new camera movements to new action and additions to the backgrounds.

In the words of my old mentor Børge Ring: Mickey's Mellerdrama is one of Walt Disney's alltime best. It must have cost a lot in all departments. The atmosphere of backstage amateur-theater is tops. The animation is 10 years ahead of 1933. it is controlled and fine-tuned like in his later features. I bet it went wildly over budget."

It can be found, with disclaimer by Leonard Maltin, on the Treasures DVD: Mickey Mouse in Black and White Volume 2, disc 2...Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving! I was pleasantly surprised that this blog surpassed the 100,000 hits!