Steamboat Willie (1928)

Why it's here:
The first "talkie" cartoon.

Specs:
8 minute short. Black and white, animated talkie

Our family's average rating (on a scale of 1-10):

6.67

More about the film and our reaction to it:
What was cool about this was learning that the title Steamboat Willie was a play on Buster Keaton's Steamboat Bill Jr - also part of the festival. It is so great to not just read that trivia note, but to read it having just seen Steamboat Bill Jr. Details like that, in context, make this festival so fun.

This was a far more satisfying talkie experience than The Jazz Singer, though, like The Jazz Singer, it didn't really have much dialog. Mickie only says one thing.

But with or without the incentive of synchronized sound, the film is cute and worth watching as a very early example of a cartoon character with which we are all so familiar.

I suppose it won't surprise anyone to hear that the kids enjoyed it more than I did.

Iconic shot: