The Mouse In "March of the Wooden Soldiers"?

[Shep]

Laurel and Hardy's "March of the Wooden Soldiers" (aka "Babes In Toyland") is a favorite old film of mine and Mrs. Shep.

We were watching the movie the other day and I got to wondering: how did they create that Mickey Mouse-type character (the one that throws bricks at the cat and later flies the blimp at the end to help defeat the Bogeymen)?

Obviously at times it's a mere puppet, but I noticed at other moments, particularly during the climbing scenes, it almost looks like a monkey dressed in a mouse costume (!). (The tail especially looks like a monkey's tail.)

Anybody know?

[siamesesin]

I think it was. The expert's not home to ask.

Damnit, we JUST watched this the other night! Aargh!

[Shep]

siamesesin said:

I think it was. The expert's not home to ask.

Damnit, we JUST watched this the other night! Aargh!

It's a endearingly grotesque creation.

Love the 3 Little Pigs, too. Great movie!

[siamesesin]

I got confirmation. They used a monkey for the shoot.

[Chuck]

This was done around the time of the live-action feature of Alice In Wonderland, with Cary Grant as the Mock Turtle, Gary Cooper as the White Knight, etc.

They were trying to outdo that, or vice-versa.

[losingmydignity]

You guys are talking about one of my favorite movies from my childhood. It really kind of freaked me out. That mouse in particular. I watched it not so many years ago again and figured it was a monkey.
The boogeymen attacking the village is so cool when you're five years old or even forty years old....