Walt Disney directed the fourth Mickey Mouse cartoon, The Barn Dance, released on this day in 1929, and the film is notable for the way our beloved ambassador to the world endures a series of setbacks over the course of a seven-minute short. He arrives at Minnie’s home on a horse-drawn cart to escort her to the big dance, his heart swelling with love, only to watch Pete arrive in a stylish car — and Minnie hop into the passenger seat. When the car explodes, Minnie changes her affection, joining Mickey in his less stylish, but still operational, conveyance. After arriving at the dance, Mickey escorts Minnie to the dance floor, but Mickey’s unique dance style — which involves stepping on Minnie’s feet at every turn — forces her to throw Mickey over in favor of the slick dancing Pete. The film closes with several seconds of Mickey bawling uncontrollably — a heartbroken victim of the vagaries of love.
