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6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Delivery Boy remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have seven minutes to spare and want to see Mickey Mouse basically cause a small-scale riot on a farm, then yes. It is worth it just to see how weirdly elastic cartoons used to be.
You will probably like this if you enjoy that old-school rubber-hose style where bones don't seem to exist. You might hate it if you find high-pitched singing annoying or if you want a story that actually makes sense.
Honestly, it’s just a vibe. A very loud, bouncy vibe.
Mickey shows up driving a wagon full of musical instruments. He’s supposed to be a delivery boy, but I’m pretty sure he’s the worst employee ever.
He sees Minnie scrubbing clothes and just stops everything. The laundry scene is actually kind of funny because Minnie is scrubbing so hard it looks like she’s trying to punish the shirt.
They start singing "Stars and Stripes Forever." It’s one of those moments where you realize how much early Disney relied on patriotism and catchy tunes to fill time.
Mickey’s dancing is just him lifting his knees really high. It looks exhausting, to be honest.
While the mice are flirting, Pluto gets himself into a mess. He finds a big patch of tar and decides to sniff it.
The way the tar sticks to his nose is genuinely frustrating to watch. You can almost feel the stickiness through the screen.
He gets his paws stuck, then his tail. It’s a classic gag, but the animation on the tar is surprisingly good for 1931.
It has this heavy, gloopy look that makes you want to wash your own hands. I felt bad for the poor dog while the mice were just ignoring him to dance.
Mickey decides to have a little fun and tosses a beehive. Why would anyone do that?
The beehive lands right on the mule pulling Mickey's wagon. The mule’s face when it realizes what happened is the best part of the whole short.
Suddenly, the mule starts kicking everything. The wagon explodes—not with fire, but with instruments.
It’s like a musical explosion. Pianos and horns flying everywhere.
I noticed one shot where a piano lands perfectly and Mickey just starts playing it like nothing happened. The logic in these cartoons is just non-existent, and I love that.
It reminds me a bit of the energy in The Gallopin' Gaucho, but maybe a little more polished. Just a little.
The last few minutes are just pure noise. Every animal on the farm starts playing an instrument.
They use a cow’s teeth as a xylophone. It’s slightly creepy if you think about it too long, so don't.
The rhythm is everything here. Even the trees seem to be bouncing to the beat.
There is a specific moment where Minnie hits a high note and her ears literally fly off her head for a second. That kind of detail is why people still watch these things.
The whole thing ends with a big crash. It feels like the animators just ran out of paper and decided to stop there.
It’s not as iconic as some other shorts, but it’s got a lot of heart. Or at least, a lot of energy.
It’s a bit like Alice in the Alps in how it just devolves into musical chaos. I think I prefer the mice over Alice, though.
Watching this makes me realize how much we’ve lost with modern, stiff animation. Everything here is moving all the time.
Even when a character is just standing still, they are breathing in this weird, rhythmic way. It’s kind of hypnotic.
Anyway, it’s a good way to kill a few minutes. Just don't expect a deep plot or any life lessons.
It's just a mouse, a girl, and a very angry mule. And a lot of tar. So much tar. 🍯🐝
IMDb 6
1922
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