"A Mickey Mouse Cartoon"

Release Date January 19, 1935

Running Time 8:01

Synopsis

On a desert island, Mickey befriends the monkeyfaced native Friday, a cannibal whose brothers had planned him to be their evening meal. When the entire tribe returns to get even, Mickey and Friday hold them off from a boobytrapped fort.

Characters

Mickey Mouse

Friday

Credits

Director : Dave Hand

DVD

Disney Treasures : Mickey Mouse in Black and White Volume 2

Technical Specifications

Color Type : Black and white

Animation type : Standard

Sound mix : Mono

Aspect ration : 1.37 : 1

Negative format : 35mm

Print format : 35mm

Cinematographic process : Spherical

Original language : English

Released by United Artists Pictures

Comments

This short was released to the home movie market under the name "Robinson Crusoe Mickey." It is loosely based on the book "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe.

From Josh Brinkley : This cartoon is quite similar to "Trader Mickey." We've got Mickey encountering cannibals, except that he's not the one who's going to be cooked. It's Friday. Friday has trouble communicating with Mickey (this isn't like the Charlie McCarthy short, "Africa Speaks English"). "Me Mickey, you Friday," says Mickey. Friday just repeats it. Friday is also very skilled with his feet. He can chop down a tree holding the axe with his feet. Well, lucky for them, they escape the wrath of the cannibals by landing onto Mickey's boat. Bon Voyage!

From Jerry Edwards : Mickey lands on an island, rescues a native (Friday) from cannibals by scaring them off, and befriends Friday. They fight off a later attack by the cannibals until Mickey and Friday escape in Mickey's boat. A fun cartoon, full of action and gags - but full of black caricatures.

From Ryan : As Josh Brinkley pointed out above, this short is similar to the earlier short "Trader Mickey." I liked the scenes where Mickey was trying to talk to Friday by saying "Me Mickey, you Friday." Friday just repeats him. Friday sure seemed skilled with his feet when he was helping Mickey to build the fort. This is one of my favorite Mickey cartoons and I wish the Disney Channel would air it.

From Ross : I had never, ever, ever, ever seen this cartoon at all. But I finally got to see it for the first time on the new Walt Disney Treasures set, Mickey Mouse In Black and White Volume 2. It was wonderful! Mickey rescues a native from some cannibals by scaring them away. Then Mickey and the native become best friends, and Mickey names him Friday. I liked the part when Friday repeated Mickey's line, "You Friday, me Mickey." Next, Mickey and Friday build a fort together, and when the cannibals come back, Mickey and Friday start fighting with coconuts, spears, a boxing glove, and a mallet. Suddenly, the cannibals break into the fort and start throwing their spears at our heroes! Mickey and Friday escape out of the fort, jump into Mickey's boat, and Mickey and Friday sail off into the sunset happily ever after. I bet when children saw this cartoon back in theaters in 1935, I bet they started cheering happily for Mickey and Friday when they were fighting off the cannibals. One thing really amazed me when I first saw this cartoon. The voice of Friday was done by Billy Bletcher, best known as the voice of Mickey's nemesis, Pete! This cartoon was sensational, and even though it had a lot of racist black stereotypes, it had good gags, and a very happy ending.

From Chris C. : I think this is one of the funniest cartoons of all time, especially since it is so timeless. In the beginning where all of the savages are jumping up and down to their jungle-music is much like the present day savages who jump up and down at rap concerts. The only difference is today they wear jerseys, baggy pants, and crooked baseball hats. When Mickey says "Me Mickey, You Friday" and the savage does not understand and repeats him, it is much like dealing with one of the present day savages who works in a McDonalds. It was very interesting to see how the great Mickey Mouse was able to outsmart the savages with just a little enginuity. I'm sure the ACLU would have a real problem with Micky Mouse these days!

Gallery

Sketches from "Mickey's Man Friday" courtesy of The Gremlin Animation Gallery.

Click on the thumbnail for the full-sized picture

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