Rating: 
Summary: Surprises From the Revisionist Disney Empire
Review: I was leery of this set, but bought it without hesitation. My greatest concern was that the highly revisionist modern-day Disney would butcher these early, rude 'n' crude Mickey Mouse cartoons, which are rife with animal abuse, drinking, smoking and racial/cultural stereotypes. These cartoons are so much better and livelier than the stale, dull "Silly Symphonies," which are important historically but bland as tapioca. Maltin provides on-screen mea culpas for the blackface gags and outhouse humor, but defends every American's right to see these pieces of our cultural history, and to view them with hindsight and intelligence. That said, these 34 cartoons are corkers. It will surprise some to see how zany and surrealistic these early Mickeys are. They are almost as daffy as the pre-Code Betty Boop cartoons of the Fleischer brothers. My favorite is the anarchic "The Karnival Kid," a 1928 cartoon that made me laugh non-stop. Transfers are decent, considering the age and condition of these films. Some obviously suffered vault neglect, and given the volatility of nitrate film stock, I suppose we're lucky to have them at all. There is little to no tampering that I could see, tho' the 1930-32 cartoons have something weird going on with the title cards. You'll see what I mean when you view them. I wonder why they re-did the cartoon titles, and why they're so jerky and wobbly. The extras are quite thoughtful, and more substantial than on the "Silly Symphonies" set. This is essential viewing for anyone who loves the rough and tumble days of pioneer animation.
Rating:
Summary: For the cartoons that are on here, it's great.
Review: There are 34 cartoons that are nothing short of excellent, but there were 74 mickey mouse black and white cartoons, They're missing forty! Hopefully, they'll come out with a "Mickey mouse in black and white,part 2", but until then, you'll have to deal with these.
"Steamboat Willie"
(released on November, 18 1928 "The gallopin' gaucho"
(released in 1928)
" Plane Crazy"
(released in 1928) "The Karnival Kid"
(released in 1929)
"Mickey's follies"
(released in 1929) "The fire fighters"
(released on June 25, 1930)
"The chain gang"
(released on September 5, 1930) " The gorilla mystery"
(released on October 10,1930) "Pioneer days"
(released on December 5, 1930) "The birthday party"
(released on January 7, 1931)
"Mickey steps out"
(released on July 7,1931) "Blue rhythm"
(released on August 18,1931) "Mickey cuts up"
(released on November 30,1931) "Mickey's orphans"
(released on December 9, 1931) "The duck hunt"
(released on January 28, 1932) "Mickey's revue"
(released on May 25, 1932) "Mickey's nightmare"
(released on August 13, 1932) " The whoopee Party"
(released on September 17, 1932)
" Touchdown Mickey"
(released on October 15, 1932) " The klondike kid"
(released on November 12, 1932) " Building a building"
( released on January 7, 1933) " The mad doctor"
(Released on January 21, 1933) " Ye olden days"
(released on April 8, 1933)
" The mail pilot"
(released on May 13, 1933) "Mickey's gala premiere"
( released on July 1, 1933) "Puppy Love"
(released on September 2, 1933) " The pet store"
( released on October 28, 1933) " Giantland"
(released on November 25, 1933) " Camping out"
( released on February 17, 1934) " Gulliver Mickey"
(released on May 19, 1934) " Orphan's benefit"
(released on August 12, 1934) " The dognapper"
(released on November 17, 1934) "Two Gun Mickey"
(released on December 15, 1934) "Mickey service station"
(released on March 16, 1935) Enjoy!!
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent reflections in animation history
Review: My family loves this set. Ironically, the kids clamour for it more than the MICKEY IN LIVING COLOR set depsite the B&W and lack of dialogue in many of the cartoons. They LOVE it. Some parents may want to note that there is plenty of un-P.C. content here but that is a great time to open the discussion with your kids. The beef has already been noted that this disc does not have the Play it All feature like the color set has. So if you're getting it for little kids there is no "set it and forget it" option. They'll either have to know how to move around in a menu or you'll be back at the TV every 5 minutes to advance it to the next cartoon. Other than that, this set is a real treasure and not only a great look into animation/Disney history, but also US culture in the 30s and 40s.
Rating:
Summary: It all started with a mouse...
Review: Over the years Mickey Mouse has become more of a corporate symbol as opposed to a cartoon character in his own right. Today his smiling face and famous ears grace a million and one products, and he is arguably one of the most famous fictional characters of all time. Here at last is the original Mickey in the full black and white splendor. See, perhaps for the first time, why this clever, spunky and all-together likeable little guy achieved the fame he currently enjoys. Walt Disney Treasures collection continues in a fine tradition with "Mickey Mouse in Black and White." Chronicling the birth and rise of an American icon, included on this DVD are all of Mickey"s black and white shorts. From the famous first synchronized sound cartoon "Steamboat Willie" to his final black and white appearance in "Mickey's Service Station," all 34 toons are included complete and uncut with original soundtracks. As if this wasn't enough, "Mickey Mouse in Black and White" contains interviews with animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, rare pencil tests and other earlier visualizations of Mickey. Leonard Maltin adds his commentary has he has on other Disney Treasures DVDs. What a fantastic collection!
Rating:
Summary: Risque' Mickey!
Review: That's right, Mickey's somewhat of an animal abuser, politically incorrect and sexist! IT'S GREAT! Disney has impressed me this time around, by making this collection FOR ADULTS. Thank you! In the uncensored "Steamboat Willie", Mickey plays a female hog's teats like a xylophone! Wait'll you see the script for this scene! He kicks animals out of the way, forces his affections on Minnie in a couple of cartoons...man! Mickey kicks some serious butt in these old 'toons that begin in 1928 and run thru 1935. Let's face it, not many young kids will get a kick out of these...they won't care for the antique animation, the black and white, the lack of special effects or even the plotlines. But we who appreciate these early 'toons for their POLITICAL INCORRECTNESS, nostalgia and artwork need this in our collections. Included is an Easter egg of the FIRST "Mickey Mouse Club", a club that was held in movie theaters in the 30's. You will definitely get a kick out of these...you can view them in chronological or alphabetical order as well. Thanks again, Disney...looks like you're getting on the right track for those who were the first to grow up with you.
Rating:
Summary: What is wrong with people???
Review: People will complain about ANYTHING!!! So there is no PLAY ALL feature...that make this disc a 1 star review??? I know it must be so tough for these people to press a few buttons on the remote...can they not afford batteries??...are they so stupid they dont know how to navigate through a DVD???...there is just one word I can use to describe all these negative reviewers...LAZY!!! I trully believe these people look for the bad in everything. This is a great DVD, and I am extremely happy to finally have these shorts in my collection, and so should everyone else.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reflections in animation history
Review: My family loves this set. Ironically, the kids clamour for it more than the MICKEY IN LIVING COLOR set depsite the B&W and lack of dialogue in many of the cartoons. They LOVE it. Some parents may want to note that there is plenty of un-P.C. content here but that is a great time to open the discussion with your kids. The beef has already been noted that this disc does not have the Play it All feature like the color set has. So if you're getting it for little kids there is no "set it and forget it" option. They'll either have to know how to move around in a menu or you'll be back at the TV every 5 minutes to advance it to the next cartoon. Other than that, this set is a real treasure and not only a great look into animation/Disney history, but also US culture in the 30s and 40s.
Rating:
Summary: Essential for any animation fan
Review: This (along with the the Mickey Mouse in Living Color DVD Set) helped introduce me to why Mickey Mouse became popular in the first place - Great Cartoons.
If you are only familiar with Mickey Mouse the Pop Culture Icon, you owe it to yourself to check this out. The only drawback? There's no way to stick this into the DVD player and just play all the cartoons! You have to pick one from the menu, watch it, then pick another. Hopefully, Disney won't make the same mistake on the next set of Disney Treasures - the earlier ones (Silly Symphonies and Mickey Mouse in Living Color) had that feature - why not here?
Rating:
Summary: Tin or not Tin?
Review: This is an outstanding disk, for pure nostalgia alone. The quality is as good as can be expected, considering the age of some of these features. My only complaint is the case. Mine is a plastic snap case. Do I have some bootlegged version?
Rating:
Summary: Part of the history of animation
Review: It's a joy to see these films I've never before seen. In Sweden there been some color Mickey Mouse-films, "Boat Builders" and "Mickey's Trailer" and sometimes colorshorts with Pluto on TV. A complaint: why not release them cronological? I miss Ub Iwerks "The Barn Dance" and "The Opry House". Some others who sounds fun are: "The Jazz Fool", "Jungle Rhythm", "The Haunted House", "Shanghaied" and "Mickey in Arabia". Hoping that Disney will release a #2-box with the rest of the black and whites. December 2004?
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