Walt Disney Shorts - Mickey Mouse - 1937 - The Worm Turns

In the animated short "The Worm Turns", produced and released by Walt Disney Studios in 1937, Mickey Mouse is conducting some chemical experiments in his basement, and is trying to create a "Courage Builder" potion, which he then sprays on various creatures to give them the courage to face off against their natural predators. A little fly gets the courage to take on and defeating a spider. A mouse totally humiliates a cat, and the same cat then gets the courage to face Pluto, who then gets sprayed to take care of the dog catcher, Black Pete. Heck, Mickey even sprays a fire hydrant that Pluto stops to sniff at, at the end of the short. (I think you get the picture, right?! This short is just wackiness, at its best.)

But it is the little mouse that really is the reason why I'm writing here about this short. Because when it is in a corner, scared frozen by the cat, Mickey sprays the little guy with the Courage Builder, and after some comical "starting car engine" sound effects and funny wild takes, the little mouse is now so brave, that he roars like a big lion, after which, he beats his chest in complete and serious silence.

(This is actually my second favourite chest beating scene, after Bubba's Tarzan yell in the "Ducktales" episode "Ducks On The Lam".

I guess it has something to do with the fact that the mouse makes his lion roar before he starts to beat his chest, instead of doing it the traditional way and roar while he performs the chest beating. Or maybe it could also have something to do with the fact that this short was animated at a time in history, when softness was really becoming a standard in animation. Because if you run the chest beating scene in this short in slow motion, you will notice that the mouse's hands are actually sinking into the skin and flesh on his chest. In other words, his chest is not solid as a rock, but is rather plush toy soft, which, if you ask me, gives a much more powerful feel to his chest beating, which also conveys a very mighty and powerful attitude.

In short, this short is a classic and a masterpiece, on its own, but the short scene with the mouse's chest beating… That scene is a masterpiece in its own right. Well done, Disney!)