Horst in Translation ([email protected]) Even if the title "Mickey's Polo Team" could make you think it is. This is a color cartoon from Disney 1936, so it had its 80th anniversary last year. To put it in perspective that it's maybe easier to imagine is that this was the year when Hitler held the Olympic Games in Berlin three years before WWII. Director is prolific Disney animator David Hand and this film he made here is a tribute to some of the biggest stars of the 1930s. Admittedly, it is difficult for me to think of a more boring sport than polo really, but these characters make it somehow worth checking out. Mickey despite being the title character is really insignificant here though, even the Wolf has more material with his blowing scene and this scene also shows right away that several familiar faces are also in the stands. But Donald has a couple baity scenes and the film stars steal the show otherwise. I liked that the animals look exactly like (or symbolize) the characters sitting on them, not just Donald's, but especially when it comes to the silent film stars like Laurel, Hardy or Chaplin of course too. Anyway, I maybe do not really like this film that much because of the action because after all it is really just polo still, but I think it is a nice tribute to its era and also includes a lot of worth by today's standards and helps this generation and future generations in not forgetting who these icons were, like in my case already I had no idea who they guy with the blond curls was. Shame on me, I guess. I highly recommend these slightly under 10 minutes, one of 1936's finest.

John T. Ryan CALLING ON HIS own personal experiences with the gentlemanly game of Polo, Mr. Disney no doubt had the inspiration for the premise for this Mickey picture. Polo, long the province of the wealthy, was an activity in which both the producers and stars participated-if only to prove that they can! THERE IS NO doubt that the subject matter of also hearkened to the older title MICKEY'S GALA PREMIER (1936); which was a well receiver and box office $ucce$$. It also was a veritable "Who's Who" of cartoon caricature; boasting of over 50 lampooning drawings.IN THE CHOICE of the rosters of actors vs. animation, comedy ruled. Therefore, the "Live Action" people was composed of Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy, Charlie Chaplin and Harpo. Mickey joined forces with the Big Bad Wolf, the Goof (Goofy) and rising star, Donald Duck.IN AN EFFORT to extend the laughs, each player might have a mount, which both resembled its rider; as well as taking on some of the riders' peculiar idiosyncrasies. For example: Donald Duck rode a donkey, Laurel had a long faced & scruffy haired look-alike, Hardy's was a stout & fully-figured draft-horse and Harpo rode an Ostrich, complete with top hat and blonde fright wig.THE MATCH WAS capably refereed by rugged Western-action star, Jack Holt; being a perfect neutral and authority figure.IN SELECTING THE membership of the Gallery who viewed the proceedings, the bleachers were filled with caricatured versions of stars of the day, interspersed with a selection of 'veteran' characters from previous Disney offerings. For example, little Miss Shirley Temple is seated and cheering along with The Three Little Pigs.THE RESULTING GAGS were executed in perfect timing to coincide with the particular brand of humor that was specialty of that character. Once again, Chaplin & horse skipped and had a bit of business with the goal posts, Laurel & Hardy had a protracted routine in helping Ollie to remount his pony, Harpo & Ostrich both silently mimed their reactions to the moving scrum of mounted players' charging and reversing field.FINALLY, BY THIS time in 1936, Disney was doing his MICKEY shorts (and all others) in Technicolor; as he had been doing his SILLY SYMPHONIES for several years. The color work here is as fine as any and aids in amplifying both the action and the Fun.AND ISN'T THAT the bottom line?

Shawn Watson I've never seen humans drawn so ugly. Not so much the Polo players like Laurel and Hardy (I always like them) but more the spectators in the audience. I don't know who that huge-headed, bulbous-eyed guy was supposed to be but he freaked me out.Anyways, it's Disney stars vs Real Actors in this Polo match (A rather odd choice of sport. Was it popular in the '30s?) and nothing really funny happens. Sure there are a couple of clever moments but, like far too many Disney toons, it's all a set-up for everything to come crashing down.Vividly animated as it may be, it's still a bit too boring and doesn't hold up against Looney Tunes when it comes to hijinks.

baz-15 one of the better 1936 mickeys. mm hardly appears in it though, the main player is donald duck as he battles it out with harpo marx, and he swallows the ball and becomes a target for the rest of the players. The laurel and hardy characters are spot on and overall the animation is a treat. Available on dvd now along with all the mm 1935-1938 shorts.