Short animated comedy

Mickey’s Good Deed (1932): Cast & Plot

Name: Mickey’s Good Deed
Genre: Comedy, Animation
Released: 1932-12-17
Duration: 7 min
Cast: Walt Disney, Pinto Colvig

Mickey’s Good Deed is a 1932 short animated comedy directed by Burt Gillett, starring Walt Disney as Mickey Mouse (voice) (uncredited) and Pinto Colvig. It runs 7 minutes.

Loading streaming availability…

Read the plot summary

Released: December 17, 1932
Runtime: 7 min
Director: Burt Gillett
Genres: Comedy , Animation
Original language: English
Studio: Walt Disney Productions
After the credits: No No extra scene

The story

What Is Mickey’s Good Deed About?

The premise of Mickey’s Good Deed without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Mickey plays Christmas carols on a stand‑up bass for change, getting only screws and rocks. He plays outside a wealthy house, where a spoiled child wants Pluto. After his bass is broken, he finds an orphanage lacking gifts and becomes Santa. The brat mistreats Pluto until his father intervenes. Pluto reunites with Mickey; brat ends up tied to a turkey.

Mickey’s Good Deed Themes & Keywords

· 44 tags

jack in the box
cello
animal cruelty
rear nudity
pluto the dog character
mickey mouse character
street musician
busker
christmas film
snow
dog
pet dog

+32 more

double bass
destroyed double bass
dog abuse
spanking a child
featurette
one reeler
good deed
sympathy
kindness
pet owner relationship
little boy
selling a dog
snowfall
musical instrument destroyed
son
pantsed
punishment
father
boy rear nudity
bare bottom spanking
boy getting spanked
pig
christmas
christmas eve
rich kid
spoiled brat
spanking
mouse
anthropomorphism
anthropomorphic animal
poverty
character name in title

Loading streaming availability…

Cast & crew

Mickey’s Good Deed Cast & Characters

Walt Disney leads the cast as Mickey Mouse (voice) (uncredited), with Pinto Colvig as Pluto (voice) (uncredited). Directed by Burt Gillett.

Director Burt Gillett

Walt Disney as Mickey Mouse (voice) (uncredited)
Pinto Colvig as Pluto (voice) (uncredited)

From the director

More from Burt Gillett

More films directed by Burt Gillett: Mickey’s House of Villains, Silly Superstition, The Winning Ticket and Brave Little Tailor.

Full filmography

Plot

Mickey’s Good Deed Plot Summary

What happens in Mickey’s Good Deed from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 10 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The short opens on a wintery scene in a world dusted with falling snow, setting a warm, festive tone as Mickey Mouse takes the stage as a street performer. He plays a cello to the tune of “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” while his loyal companion Pluto howls in rhythm beside him. Coins clink into Mickey’s cup as curious passersby wish them a merry Christmas, and the moment feels like a small beacon of holiday cheer amidst the cold. Yet the mood quickly shifts when Mickey discovers, to his dismay, that his cup is not brimming with coins but with nails, nuts, and bolts—a harsh reminder of the friction between generosity and need.

Full summary

The whole story of Mickey’s Good Deed, scene by scene

Read the full summary

Timeline of events

Quiz

How Well Do You Know Mickey’s Good Deed?

9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 9

Question 1: not answered
Question 2: not answered
Question 3: not answered
Question 4: not answered
Question 5: not answered
Question 6: not answered
Question 7: not answered
Question 8: not answered
Question 9: not answered

Which instrument does Mickey play at the beginning of the short?

Details

Mickey’s Good Deed Also Known As

9 alternative titles, including “Mickey's Lucky Break” and “Mickey Plays Santa”.

Also known as: Mickey's Lucky Break
Mickey Plays Santa
Pluto als Weihnachtsgeschenk
En riktig hundjul
La buena obra de Mickey
Buon Natale Topolino
На Мики добрината
Mickey Mouse: La buena obra de Mickey
Mickey père Noël