The Cactus Kid (1930)

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Mickey finds himself down old Mexico way as he approaches a cantina where Minnie tends bar. He does some fancy dancing but grabs her nose and the next thing you know, everything that isn't bolted down comes flying at him. Also, to make matters worse, Pete shows up and puts the moves on Minnie. There is quite a shootout in the dark and Pete and Minnie ride away. Mickey and his horse pursue them. Lots of dancing and the usual ending.

Minnie sure fought with Mickey a lot in the earlier cartoons like this one, not liking his dance moves at first, but warmed to his many clever styles and piano skills. There is much catchy music in this one including the Can-Can, set to the galloping chase between Mickey and Peg-Leg Pete, whom had kidnapped Minnie. A clever little cartoon, overall. Grade B+

This is an early Disney cartoon featuring Mickey Mouse. There will be spoilers ahead:This is, in some ways, The Gallopin' Gaucho, V 2.0. The two cartoons are instructive as to the improvement in Disney's shorts. The short is tighter, the animation is better and there's more of a plot here, Both shorts are enjoyable but this one is just a touch better, Mickey rides up to a cantina, enters and through his exuberance, annoys Minnie. Trying to make amends, Mickey winds up at the piano. Pegleg Pedro (Pete) comes in and annoys Minnie even more than Mickey did. Mickey moves to defend Minnie's honor and things escalate.There's actually a gun battle between Mickey and Pete, before Pete grabs Minnie, rides away and the chase is on. There are some nice visual gags, with a bit of repetition, during the chase. Of course, in the end, virtue triumphs and Pete has a really bad day. The end gag is nice.This short is on the Mickey Mouse In Black and White, Volume Two Disney Treasures DVD set and is well worth looking for.

This cartoon begins with a very impressive bit of animation for 1930. Not only are the backgrounds painted very nicely, but with the foreground the way it was drawn, the cartoon has a nice 3-D effect--something you would not expect for the era.In this film, Mickey and Minnie are in Mexico and a Pete-like Mexican bandit provides the foil. When the guy attacks Minnie, it's Mickey to the rescue. Filled with lots of great old time cartoon violence and fun, this one isn't hampered by the excessive music that many early Mickey cartoons were saddled with--and as a result is more watchable. Nice stuff.