Boat Builders (1938)

Hey, even a child could do it, but Mickey, Goofy and Donald still have a hard time building the 'Queen Minnie' from a model kit. This shouldn't be surprising, or why would one even dream up the concept? Walt Disney himself provides the voice of the iconic Mickey Mouse in this 1938 cartoon, as Donald Duck plays paddle ball with the ship's rudder and Goofy attempts to romance a wooden figurehead of a woman. I wouldn't have any idea how much reproduction went into upgrading this flick for the current generation, but the clip shown on Turner Classics a few nights ago was exceptionally colorful and vibrant. Movie goers of the era must have been thrilled with the original presentation. Topping off the successful completion of the ship, Minnie Mouse herself christens her namesake, only to have the comic trio return to pandemonium once again. A lot of fun here, so check this one out when it comes your way.

Boat Builders was a solid Walt Disney cartoon. Featuring Mickey, Goofy and Donald, it has some really entertaining moments. My only real complaint is that some of the animation isn't always that great, there is the occasional stiff movement or the occasional flat background. That said the music is wonderful, and so is the voice acting, while Walt Disney and Clarence Nash both turn in fine work, it is Pinto Colvig as Goofy who comes off best.Then there are parts that are truly funny, the scene with the loose plank was funny, but the best was when Goofy thinks a mermaid figurine is a real woman and starts chasing after her when Mickey takes her away. Overall, I enjoyed this cartoon. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Before VHS tape and DVD technology, many old movies and old cartoons were re-released every few years. I was a preteen in the early 1950's and vividly remember first seeing the 1938 "Boat Builders" just before a Roy Rogers Saturday matinée flick at the local theater. It was the funniest cartoon I had ever seen. I laughed aloud continually through the entire seven minutes as Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and their animated friends build a boat and launch it with outrageous slapstick humor aplenty. The whole audience joined me in the laughter. Several years later I watched "Boat Builders" again. It was still funny and enjoyable, the animation still amazing. I'm rating this cartoon from the standpoint of a preteen. For youngsters yesterday, today, and tomorrow, this one is a winner.

If Mickey, Donald and Goofy build themselves a boat ('so easy even a child can do it') do you REALLY think that by the end of the cartoon it is still going to be standing? Obviously not.Their usual lack of skill and ignorance for each other's well-being cause enough problems during the actual building of said boat but it is when Minnie christens the boat 'Queen Minnie' that all their hard work slaps them in the face.And who would have known that Goofy was dumb enough to think a figurehead is a real lady and fall in love with her.Mildy amusing.