Bath Day

Another short recently added to the Disney Plus "short" film selection, "Bath Day" is my first Figaro short, Figaro of course being Minnie's pet cat (We'll gloss over the animals having animals as pets issue again as it's largely unresolvable). This looked good but the story was pretty basic.

Against his will, Minnie (Ruth Clifford) gives Figaro (Clarence Nash) a bath and a lovely new bow once she's finished. He heads out afterwards, chasing some nice smelling food and runs into a tough alley cat. Sensing that he can have some sport here, the cat begs Figaro off and allows him to corner him in an alley, before turning the tables. However, a series of dustbins fall on the cat, knocking him unconscious, his friends think that Figaro has beaten him up and run from the proud cat, as he makes his way home.

This short, from 1949 actually looks really nice, its' classic era Disney and has been cleaned up nicely for release on Disney Plus. Figaro started life as the cat in "Pinocchio" though I'm not clear enough on Disney-Lore as to whether it's supposed to be the same cat, or whether Minnie was inspired to get and name the cat having seen the film. The plot is fine, I described it as basic above, and it is, but it's also a cartoon for children and I'm sure it's slapsticky enough to keep them entertained. I can't honestly say I was charmed as I have been with some of the slightly older shorts though, particularly the ones set to music, those have been the most appealing.

This though was good, if perhaps not great.