Society Dog Show

In this Disney cartoon, Mickey takes Pluto to a dog society show, where he has to compete with dozens of dogs (and their owners) with their noses up in the air. Pluto makes contact with future girlfriend Fifi, and later ends up saving her from a fire carelessly started by a photographer.

There's some funny chemistry between Pluto and Fifi and I like the way how Mickey tries to fit in with all the high-society people. There's not too much slapstick comedy or humor in this cartoon short, but there's a nice superhero scene when Pluto goes on to save Fifi from the fire (it has always bothered me how the photographer who started the fire was the first who cowardly runs away without helping anybody after the fire started to spread).

It's a predictable cartoon, but it's still pretty funny to watch.

Grade B

For reasons unknown, Mickey enters Pluto in a dog show. He sprays the poor dog with an unholy amount of perfume and drops a can on the ground. The can rolls away and Mickey disappears after it. That gives Pluto time to flirt with a cute little girl dog, Fifi.

Well, Pluto attacks one of the show's judges and, understandably, him and Mickey are tossed out. Mickey straps some roller skates on Pluto and, next thing you know, the building housing the dog show is consumed in flames. It's up to Pluto to use his skates and bravery to try and rescue Fifi.

Every second of this cartoon is nonsense and I continue to be amazed at what is so darn fascinating about Disney's shorts. Sure, Walt was fantastic at overseeing some wonderful full-length animated features. Sadly, that magic and creativity were consistently trashed when it came to producing shorts. 1/10

Okay, so the basic story here is predictable as heck, but who on Earth cares? 'Society Dog Show' is a beautiful Disney short which takes the familiar underdog formula and structures it into one of the most joyous and heart-warming products this studio has ever put together. It's one of the select Disney shorts which I saw way back, and which has really stayed with me over the years. And, every so often, I'll feel compelled to go hunt out my old videotape with it on just to relive those precious moments. What can I say - I've been a fan of these classic Walt Disney shorts since as long as I can remember watching TV, and I love the Pluto ones in particular to death; he's one seriously endearing cartoon dog, and 'Society Dog Show' contains what may well have been his finest hour (or at least 6 minutes at that).

Mickey Mouse, ever the eternal optimist (in the days when he still had those creepy, all-black eyes), has summoned the confidence to enter Pluto in a high class dog show. Naturally the poor funny-looking orange mutt doesn't stand a chance against all those highly-pampered, heavily-groomed pedigrees – but he instantly wins the heart of Fifi, a female King Charles spaniel entering in the 'trick dogs' competition, which leads to…well, I would hate to reveal any more than I have to. Like I said, the basic story is formulaic, but it's just plain pleasurable to watch this chain of events unfolding, right up to the very last few moments, which have my impressionable heart fluttering every time.

This cartoon also provides one of the most quirky contrasts between Disney's line of 'regular dogs' and separate line of 'humanoid dogs' which really tends to throw so many of their viewers (a la the "Pluto's a dog, so what the hell is Goofy?" discussion in 'Stand by Me'). Other than Mickey, every character in this short is a canine of sorts - entries, owners and judges alike! It's that kind of offbeat little in-joke that always lures me to the Disney province. There are also some great sight gags, in particular when Pluto is undergoing his examination with the disgruntled judge. Not to mention that the classic animation style is just gorgeous, and that Fifi is a real cutie.

It's a winner, no doubt about it. I've been in love with this one all my life.

Grade: A+

Mickey brings Pluto to a stuffy society dog show and has the temerity to enter his pooch. Not surprisingly, the judge is less than impressed with Pluto, though the dog ends up proving his worth when there is a fire and Pluto comes to the rescue.

Throughout the entire 1930s, the Disney Studio consistently made the best looking cartoons. Not only was the quality of animation the best in the industry, but they had an exclusive contract for several years for the use of Technicolor...true color...while the other studios generally made black & white films or films with primitive two-color systems (like Cinecolor). So the fact that "Society Dog Show" looks so darn good comes as no surprise whatsoever...folks came to expect excellence like this!

What you have is an excellently animated cartoon with a nice, enjoyable story...the sort of thing that helped to make Pluto a favorite for decades. Well worth seeing.

As I have said, the basic premise of Society Dog Show is very predictable. However putting that minor quibble aside, it is a hugely enjoyable silly symphony that fully reminds me of why I love Disney so much. Mickey is voiced by the master Walt Disney, and you have Pluto as energetic as ever, and voiced by the one and only Pinto Colvig. Another character that I loved was Fifi, who is not only really cute, but is at her most playful. The short is filled with clever and well timed gags, the best being the examination of Pluto by a disgruntled judge. Other elements that stood out were the gorgeous Technicolour animation and the music that is not only lively but quite lyrical as well. Overall, predictable, but nevertheless hugely enjoyable, where Pluto steals the show. I recommend it! 10/10 Bethany Cox