12 Days of the Big Three, Day 3: Moving Day

Day 3: Moving Day (1936)
Starring: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy
Costarring: Pete
Setting: Mickey and Donald’s home.
Plot: Mickey and Donald are late on their rent so they enlist their pal Goofy to help them move before Sheriff Pete could sell their furniture.

Yada, Yada, Yada…

Is Pete even the bad guy here?  It’s not like the gang is merely a few months late with their rent – it’s a whole six months past due!

Ironically, it’s Goofy who has his act together and actually has a job delivering ice while Mickey and Donald look to be unemployed.

I love Goofy but that piano gag has the feel of a Saturday Night Live (1975 – present) sketch that goes a little too long.

Apropos of nothing, the lighter blue outfit with the black tie and white cap is my favourite of Donald’s looks.

Speaking of which, Goofy has the most variation in his outfits.  His grey top and orange hat/vest getup is an example of one of many different colour combinations.

The fish Donald displaces from its bowl (of which we never see again and presumably dies) looks a lot like the fish from the previously reviewed Mickey’s Fire Brigade (1935).

Pete puts up thirteen signs advertising the furniture sale.

The trio appears to be sportsmen with their stuffed moose head and set of golf clubs.
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The explosion from Pete’s match presumably occurs because of the leaky gas line.
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A Short About Nothing  
Prior to this short, Mickey, Donald and Goofy have been coworkers but the veracity of their actual friendship is vague. Here, though, their bond feels stronger with Mickey and Donald being housemates.  Then, there’s Goofy who is close enough to the pair that they don’t hesitate in asking for help while the dippy dawg is more than happy to acquiesce.  A prior and strong relationship among the three is clear.
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A pattern is also beginning to emerge.  In actuality, the three rarely interact with each other while most of the action occurs as individuals – i.e. Goofy with the piano and Donald with the plunger.  What’s especially interesting is Mickey’s lack of a sequence in this short.  Who was once the star, is now starting to play second and third fiddle to his more colourful costars.