Steamboat Willie Lost Film
Ok, so, you all know Steamboat Willie, right? It was the first Mickey Mouse short released but only the third in production. Well, one day my dad sent me a package with a letter taped to it and it read "I had this in my stuff, the cops never found this, and someone has to know, so I gave it to you to watch. You HAVE to show this to the public. Love, Dad"
Keep in mind my dad used to work at Disney but was fired for theft and arrested a few days later though they never found the object, I thought this could be it, so I opened it up and found a film reel inside. It read "Steamboat Willie prototype film" Now this confused me, what was the big deal about some prototype Mickey Mouse film? I went up to the attic and brought down an old film projector, I set it up and called down a couple friends to watch it with me.
A few minutes later they arrived, and I turned on the projector. What we saw still remains in our heads to this day, it wasn't scary just...unforgettable...for the most part. It started with a white title card that read "Morty Mouse." We figured it was one of the original names of mickey, it was a prototype film after all. It opened up with Steamboat Willie going down the river, just then a crudely drawn "Morty" was driving the boat, but he had no shoes, and a button was missing from his pants, he was also whistling the Disney anthem "When you wish upon a star" just then a bear (presumably an early version of Pete) came up and yelled at Mickey/Morty who started screaming, it was a realistic tone though, not like hyper realistic like if Walt Disney was actually screaming, but as if it was intended.
One of the guys started to get bored and was about to leave when a slap and a "SIT DOWN!" came out of the film, which kept us in our seats. Apparently, Mickey was slapped in the face and was shoved to the Ground by Pete, just then Pete picked him up again and threw him down the stairs as Mickey grunted and moaned as he hit the bottom. Just then the boat arrived at a dock where cargo was stationed. And all sorts of passengers were waiting to board the boat, among them was Minnie, somebody pointed out how this wasn't in the film and how other scenes had been skipped too, I then told them all how this was an unreleased prototype, and that the Disney staff probably hadn't thought of all that yet.
Minnie boarded the boat as well as the others as Mickey limped to the dock after some other crew members, among them were early versions of Donald and Goofy. Mickey loaded up the animals and never talked to the others, which concerned the crew. Donald attempted to ask Mickey what was wrong but was cut off when Pete screamed at them to board the boat. I also forgot to mention, none of the three characters acted normal, after getting thrown down the stairs Mickey was silent and excluded himself from others, Donald was patient and polite, and Goofy seemed to be the smartest of the characters. Minnie was talking to early prototypes of Daisy and Clarabelle when mickey walked past the three. Minnie waved but Mickey just remained catatonic.
Minnie then took out her guitar and a note sheet as Daisy took out a flute with Clarabelle taking out a trumpet, the three seemed to be in a band and they started playing "Turkey in the straw." to lighten the mood. Everyone started to dance when Pete approached Minnie and tried to flirt with her. Minnie politely declined and walked up to Mickey and hugged him, Mickey seemed to snap out of it because he kissed and started to dance with Minnie. This infuriated Pete and he snatched Mickey then broke his arms and threw him in the river as Minnie screamed. Pete laughed and dragged Minnie below the deck as Minnie screamed and flailed wildly. Nobody seemed to hear her over the music, and everyone danced as the boat sailed away and the film ended.
We all just sat there, our mouths agape, I then finally found my train of thought then sputtered out, "Guys...what...the hell...did we just watch?"
Credited to Pastaspastaseverywhere2011
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