The Gorilla Mystery | 1930 | Animation Comedy

Title: The Gorilla Mystery | 1930 | Animation Comedy Director: Burt Gillett Studio: Walt Disney Productions Starring: Mickey Mouse (voice by Walt Disney), Minnie Mouse (voice by Marcellite Garner), Beppo the Gorilla (voice by Purv Pullen) Based on: Original animated screenplay; spoof of the play *The Gorilla* Release Date: October 10 1930 Runtime: Approximately 7 minutes 27 seconds Format: Black and white animated short with synchronized sound Country: United States Language: English Genres: Animation Comedy Adventure --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Mickey reads about escaped gorilla 00:01:30 Telephone call to Minnie 00:03:00 Gorilla breaks into Minnie’s house 00:04:30 Minnie kidnapped and tied up 00:05:30 Mickey arrives and confrontation 00:06:30 Gorilla trips and capture 00:07:00 Celebration and resolution --- Summary: The Gorilla Mystery is a 1930 Mickey Mouse animated short in which Mickey learns that a dangerous gorilla has escaped from the zoo and calls Minnie to warn her. Confident and unafraid, Minnie plays music until the gorilla suddenly appears, captures her, and carries her off to the attic. Mickey races to her rescue and engages in a tense but comedic pursuit through the house. Using his wits, Mickey causes the gorilla to trip over a rope and knock itself out, freeing Minnie and bringing their adventure to a triumphant end. --- Background: Directed by Burt Gillett and produced by Walt Disney Productions for distribution by Columbia Pictures, The Gorilla Mystery was the twenty-second Mickey Mouse short and one of several released in 1930. The cartoon playfully spoofed the popular stage play *The Gorilla* and its film adaptations, integrating more narrative and suspense elements than earlier Mickey cartoons of the era. --- Trivia: The gorilla featured in this short was later retroactively named Beppo and appeared in subsequent Mickey cartoons. The Gorilla Mystery is notable for its extended action sequences and use of light and shadow to create atmosphere. The short was released between other 1930 Mickey cartoons such as The Shindig and The Picnic. The Gorilla Mystery entered the public domain in the United States on January 1, 2026. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: October 10 1930 Original Studio / Distributor: Walt Disney Productions / Columbia Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Not applicable --- Hashtags: #TheGorillaMystery1930 #MickeyMouse #DisneyAnimation #ClassicCartoon #PublicDomain