Name: The Old Mill
Genre: Animation, Thriller, Family, Music, Horror
Released: 1937-11-05
Duration: 9 min
Rating: 7.3
Cast: Marie Arbuckle, Jean MacMurray, Louise Myers, Clarence Nash, Marta Nielsen

The Old Mill

Animals try to stay safe and dry in an old mill.

Night in an old mill is dramatically depicted in this Oscar-winning short in which the frightened occupants, including birds, timid mice, owls, and other creatures try to stay safe and dry as a storm approaches. As the thunderstorm worsens, the mill wheel begins to turn and the whole mill threatens to blow apart until at last the storm subsides.

AnimationThrillerFamilyMusicHorror

DirectorsWilfred Jackson, Graham Heid

WriterDick Rickard

StatusReleased

LanguageEnglish

Release DateNovember 5, 1937

Runtime9m

Budget$50,663

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

February 9, 20247/10

An old and dilapidated windmill sets the scene for this engaging animation depicting all that goes on amongst the wildlife that have taken over from the long departed humans. Nesting birds share a juicy worm; cooing doves and a wise old owl take shelter there too. High in the rafters, some bats sleep the day away awaiting nightfall and the frog's chorus which sets off all the night sounds - tweeting and chirping galore. Fortunately, for our ears, the wind picks up and the old structure stretches and strains as it comes again to life - much to the chagrin of the occupants who find the menacing grinding apparatus still uncomfortably functional! A storm brews and everything leaks and creaks and howls - the whole thing looks like it's about to take off! Then the weather calms and the building is just about upright - but for how much longer? It's quite poignant here to see just how quickly nature reclaims the things mankind builds - either for it's own use or by simply taking it's time to get rid altogether. I wasn't an huge fan of the extended choral arrangement at the close, but this is an enjoyable watch.