The Haunted House (1929 film)

1929 Mickey Mouse cartoon

For other uses, see Haunted house (disambiguation).

The Haunted House

Directed by| Walt Disney
Produced by| Walt Disney
Starring| Walt Disney
Music by| Carl Stalling
Animation by| Ub Iwerks
Color process| Black-and-white

Production
company

Walt Disney Studios

Distributed by| Celebrity Productions

Release date

* December 2, 1929 (1929-12-02)

[1]

Running time

| 7 minutes
Country| United States
Language| English

The Haunted House, also known as Haunted House, is a 1929 Mickey Mouse short animated film released by Celebrity Productions, as part of the Mickey Mouse film series.[2] The cartoon was produced by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by Celebrity Productions. It was the fourteenth Mickey Mouse short to be produced, the eleventh of that year.[3]

The film has a comedy horror theme. It follows Mickey Mouse who is trapped in a haunted house and forced to play music. It was directed by Walt Disney who also provided the voice of Mickey; Ub Iwerks was the primary animator and Carl Stalling wrote the original music.

The Haunted House borrows animation from Disney's first Silly Symphony cartoon, The Skeleton Dance, which was released earlier in 1929, although most of the sequence is new.[2] The Haunted House was Mickey's first cartoon with a horror theme and led the way to later films such as The Gorilla Mystery (1930) and The Mad Doctor (1933).[2] Disney had some trouble with the state censors over this cartoon, because of the gags involving a chamber pot and an outhouse.[1]

As a published work from 1929, The Haunted House entered the U.S. public domain on January 1, 2025.[4]

## Plot

[edit]

The short.

On a dark and stormy night, Mickey Mouse takes shelter in a house that he is passing and soon discovers that it is haunted when he knocks on the first door and receives no answer, but pulls the door knob open when the entire porch collapses. When Mickey enters the house, the door locks itself, before Mickey is startled by several bats appearing from cracks in the wall and a large spider descending from the ceiling, while hiding in a chamber pot. After climbing out of the chamber pot, Mickey then hears the sound of ghosts and flees into a hallway before the lights of a chandelier above go out. He shouts three times in the dark, but lights a match, and looks around, and finds a shadow of a cloaked figure appearing in his shadow. Dizzy with fear at this, Mickey screams, panics, and flees in fright, but is pursued by his pursuer, who growls with other growling noises too. The cloaked figure and several skeletons corner Mickey in a room, and compel him to play the organ while skeletons dance along to the music, one of them using a thermostat as an accordion. When the music stops, Mickey sneaks away, and tries to escape, but is spotted by the skeletons, who try to stop him, and as he runs into dead ends and tries to open a door, the door handle is a skeleton hand, who shakes Mickey frantically. He runs up a staircase and bumps into two more skeletons in a bed. He finally falls out of a window and into a barrel full of skeletons, and as he quickly escapes to open the door, a skeleton, that pops out from the door of an outhouse, is busy using the toilet, and spooks him off, and as Mickey runs away terrified, the skeleton shuts the door when Mickey leaves.

## Reception

[edit]

On the 2004 Walt Disney Treasures DVD set Mickey Mouse in Black and White: Volume Two, The Haunted House is in the bonus-features "From the Vault" section, which begins with an introduction by film historian Leonard Maltin explaining the origins of racial stereotypes seen in Disney cartoons of the 30s and 40s. The Haunted House is included in that group because of Mickey's "Mammy!" impression, which refers to Al Jolson's famous blackface performance, "My Mammy". The 1931 short The Moose Hunt is also included in that section because of a similar gag featuring Pluto.

On the Disney Film Project, Ryan Kirkpatrick praises this short as a step forward in the series' sophistication: "The Haunted House breaks the formula of putting Mickey into a setting and having the music start immediately. Instead, it starts with an establishing shot of the titular house, which looks like a menacing face on the horizon. Then we see Mickey struggling through a storm trying to reach the house. The music, the rain animation, and the blowing wind that moves the objects in the foreground all help to give a sense of foreboding."[5]

In his book Mickey's Movies: The Theatrical Films of Mickey Mouse, Gijs Grob disagrees: "Mickey's role in this short is limited, and his only function is as the carrier of the audience's fear. Indeed, he looks repeatedly into the camera for sympathy, dragging us into the haunted house with him. The early scenes of this cartoon manage to evoke a genuine feel of horror, but in the end the short resembles the boring song-and-dance routines of both the early Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony series too much to be a standout."[2]

Motion Picture News (January 4, 1930) said: "As the title indicates, a haunted house furnishes the background for this subject of the popular Mickey Mouse series. It has plenty of weird stuff capped by a burlesque of Al Jolson's Mammy line, that is a darb, and should bring down any house."[6]

Film Daily (January 5, 1930) wrote: "The 'creeper' idea, as the title implies, injected into a Mickey Mouse comic, with the usual storm, lightning ghosts, dancing skeletons, etc. Also a flash simulation of Al Jolson, produced by a black-and-white character silhouette, with a simultaneous cry of 'Mammy', that is a knockout."[7]

Variety (February 12, 1930) said: "Another comedy wow. Joins Ub Iwerks' highly imaginative comedy conceptions with sound effects. Mickey Mouse in a haunted villa is fast with laughs throughout. Culminates in Mickey being compelled to play an eerie organ while a ballet of skeletons dance weird capers. Delightfully mad, this short can be added to any bill and improve it thereby."[8]

## Releases

[edit]

* 1929 - theatrical release
* c. 1992 - Mickey's Mouse Tracks: Episode 25[9]
* 1998 - The Ink & Paint Club: "Oooh! Scary!"[10]

## Home media

[edit]

The short was released on December 7, 2004 on Walt Disney Treasures: Mickey Mouse in Black and White, Volume Two: 1929-1935.[11]

Additional releases include:

* 1983 - Walt Disney Cartoon Classics: "Scary Tales" (VHS)[12]

## See also

[edit]

* Mickey Mouse (film series)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Kaufman, J.B.; Gerstein, David (2018). Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History. Cologne: Taschen. p. 46\. ISBN 978-3-8365-5284-4.
2. ^ a b c d Grob, Gijs (2018). "The Haunted House". Mickey's Movies: The Theatrical Films of Mickey Mouse. Theme Park Press. ISBN 978-1683901235.
3. ^ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 108–109\. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
4. ^ Pearl, Mike (December 28, 2024). "Yes, Popeye can eat spinach: Everything you need to know about Public Domain Day 2025". Mashable. Archived from the original on March 29, 2025. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
5. ^ Kilpatrick, Ryan. "The Haunted House". Disney Film Project. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
6. ^ "Shorts for Week Show a Wide Range in Entertainment". Motion Picture News: 35. January 4, 1930. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
7. ^ "Short Subject Reviews". The Film Daily: 13. January 5, 1930. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
8. ^ "Talking Shorts". Variety: 18. February 12, 1930. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
9. ^ TV.com
10. ^ The Haunted House at IMDb
11. ^ "Mickey Mouse in Black & White Volume 2 DVD Review". DVD Dizzy. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
12. ^ The Encyclopedia of Disney Animated Shorts

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Haunted House (1929 film).

* The Haunted House is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
* The Haunted House at IMDb
* The Haunted House at the Internet Animation Database

* v
* t
* e

Mickey Mouse in Disney animation

List of appearances in media

Mickey Mouse
short films|

| 1920s|

* Steamboat Willie (1928)
* The Gallopin' Gaucho (1928)
* The Barn Dance (1929)
* Plane Crazy (1929)
* The Opry House (1929)
* When the Cat's Away (1929)
* The Barnyard Battle (1929)
* The Plowboy (1929)
* The Karnival Kid (1929)
* Mickey's Follies (1929)
* Mickey's Choo-Choo (1929)
* The Jazz Fool (1929)
* Jungle Rhythm (1929)
* The Haunted House (1929)
* Wild Waves (1929)

|

1930s|

| 1930|

* Fiddlin' Around
* The Barnyard Concert
* The Cactus Kid
* The Fire Fighters
* The Shindig
* The Chain Gang
* The Gorilla Mystery
* The Picnic
* Pioneer Days

|

1931|

* The Birthday Party
* Traffic Troubles
* The Castaway
* The Moose Hunt
* The Delivery Boy
* Mickey Steps Out
* Blue Rhythm
* Fishin' Around
* The Barnyard Broadcast
* The Beach Party
* Mickey Cuts Up
* Mickey's Orphans

1932|

* The Duck Hunt
* The Grocery Boy
* The Mad Dog
* Barnyard Olympics
* Mickey's Revue
* Musical Farmer
* Mickey in Arabia
* Mickey's Nightmare
* Trader Mickey
* The Whoopee Party
* Touchdown Mickey
* The Wayward Canary
* The Klondike Kid
* Mickey's Good Deed

1933|

* Building a Building
* The Mad Doctor
* Mickey's Pal Pluto
* Mickey's Mellerdrammer
* Ye Olden Days
* The Mail Pilot
* Mickey's Mechanical Man
* Mickey's Gala Premier
* Puppy Love
* The Steeplechase
* The Pet Store
* Giantland

1934|

* Shanghaied
* Camping Out
* Playful Pluto
* Gulliver Mickey
* Mickey's Steam Roller
* Orphan's Benefit
* Mickey Plays Papa
* The Dognapper
* Two-Gun Mickey

1935|

* Mickey's Man Friday
* The Band Concert
* Mickey's Service Station
* Mickey's Kangaroo
* Mickey's Garden
* Mickey's Fire Brigade
* Pluto's Judgement Day
* On Ice

1936|

* Mickey's Polo Team
* Orphans' Picnic
* Mickey's Grand Opera
* Thru the Mirror
* Mickey's Rival
* Moving Day
* Alpine Climbers
* Mickey's Circus
* Mickey's Elephant

1937|

* The Worm Turns
* Magician Mickey
* Moose Hunters
* Mickey's Amateurs
* Hawaiian Holiday
* Clock Cleaners
* Lonesome Ghosts

1938|

* Boat Builders
* Mickey's Trailer
* The Whalers
* Mickey's Parrot
* Brave Little Tailor

1939|

* Society Dog Show
* Mickey's Surprise Party
* The Pointer

1940s|

* Tugboat Mickey (1940)
* Pluto's Dream House (1940)
* Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip (1940)
* The Little Whirlwind (1941)
* A Gentleman's Gentleman (1941)
* Canine Caddy (1941)
* The Nifty Nineties (1941)
* Lend a Paw (1941)
* Orphan's Benefit (1941; remake)
* Mickey's Birthday Party (1942)
* Symphony Hour (1942)
* Pluto and the Armadillo (1943)
* Squatter's Rights (1946)
* Mickey's Delayed Date (1947)
* Mickey Down Under (1948)
* Mickey and the Seal (1948)

1950s|

* R'coon Dawg (1951)
* Pluto's Party (1952)
* Pluto's Christmas Tree (1952)
* The Simple Things (1953)

1980s|

* Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)

1990s|

* The Prince and the Pauper (1990)
* Runaway Brain (1995)

2010s|

* Get a Horse! (2013)

Pluto short films|

* Pluto's Purchase (1948)
* Pueblo Pluto (1949)
* Plutopia (1951)

Other short films|

* Parade of the Award Nominees (1932; cameo)
* The Night Before Christmas (1933; cameo)
* The Fox Hunt (1938; cameo)
* All Together (1942; cameo)
* Crazy Over Daisy (1950; cameo)
* Mickey in a Minute (2022)
* Once Upon a Studio (2023)

Feature films|

| Theatrical|

* Fantasia (1940)
* Fun and Fancy Free (1947)
* Fantasia 2000 (1999)

|

Direct-to-video|

* Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
* Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001)
* Mickey's House of Villains (2002)
* Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers (2004)
* Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas (2004)

Documentary|

* Mickey: The Story of a Mouse (2022)

TV specials|

* Totally Minnie (1988)
* Mickey's Tale of Two Witches (2021)
* Mickey and Minnie Wish Upon a Christmas (2021)
* Mickey Saves Christmas (2022)
* Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats (2023)

TV series|

* The Mickey Mouse Club (1955–1994)
* The Mouse Factory (1972–1973)
* Good Morning, Mickey! (1983–1992)
* Mickey's Mouse Tracks (1992–1995)
* Mickey Mouse Works (1999–2000)
* House of Mouse (2001–2003)
* Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (2006–2016)
* Minnie's Bow-Toons (2011–present)
* Mickey Mouse (2013–2019)
* Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures (2017–2021)
* The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse (2020–2023)
* Mickey Mouse Funhouse (2021–2025)
* Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ (2025)

Film cameos|

* Hollywood Party (1934)
* Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
* A Goofy Movie (1995)
* The Lion King 1½ (2004)
* Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)
* Wish (2023)
* Hidden Mickey

* Mickey Mouse films
* Mickey Mouse television series
* Non-Disney works featuring Mickey Mouse

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