The Prince and the Pauper is an animated feature film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and directed by George Scribner….as it features the voice of Wayne Allwine as Mickey Mouse….with a storyline that is inspired by the Mark Twain story of the same name….as this film was Disney’s final use of the traditional ink-and-paint and camera process that was used in all their animated productions before the CAPS digital-ink-and-paint process rendered the traditional techniques and equipment obsolete.
The story begins with the a king of England who ruled the country with peace and compassion….however, the good king has fallen ill….and his greedy Captain of the guards, Pete, plunders and terrorizes the country in the king’s name….so, when Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Pluto….who are three beggars, are trying to get money for some food,…that is when Captain Pete’s carriage, filled with stolen food, passes. Pluto sees a string sausage hanging out from the carriage….and begins to chase it by pursuing it into the castle. Mickey knocks on the door to get his dog back….and one of the soldiers opens the door and lets him in after mistaking him for the Prince….to which Pete lectures the soldier for letting anyone in and points out where the real prince is…..as he is taking his classes with his teacher, Horace Horsecollar and his valet Donald Duck in the background. The Prince hears Pete outside where he is roughly handling Mickey and Pluto….as the prince orders them to be brought to him right away…..to which Pete kicks Mickey through the door….and forces Pluto out of the castle.
While in the palace Mickey meets the Prince and they both realize that they are entirely identical in appearance….when the prince tells the beggar that he is bored with his life….and convinces the beggar that they exchange clothes and take the role of the other. The prince reassures the beggar that everything will be fine….saying that if there are any problems….everyone will recognize the true prince with his real ring. Disguised as a beggar, the prince tricks Pete into kicking him out of the palace and meets Goofy and Pluto while Mickey is challenged with the prince’s studies. The real prince witnesses a couple of soldiers trying to steal a chicken from Clarabelle Cow and her two children. The children explain that for years the soldiers take away their food and belongings in the name of the king. When a carriage with the stolen food goes by….the real prince stops it by showing the real ring and he returns the food to the people. The soldiers attempt to stop the prince while thinking that he is an imposter….but fail when he escapes with help from the villagers and Goofy….which leads to one of the soldiers telling Pete that one of the beggars had the royal ring.
Pete is alarmed learning that he cast out the prince….who may see the corruption and theft going on outside the castle….so Pete plans to make Mickey become the real king….so the prince won’t make it back. The beggar, dressed as the prince, is called to see his “father” the king….who is now dying. Mickey enters the room of the dying king and the king tells him he must take his royal birthright and become king. Mickey decides to find the true prince as quickly as possible….but Pete arrives and blackmails Mickey to be crowned king….or else he will kill Pluto…..and in the meantime, the true prince hears the bells announcing the death of his father and realizes that he must return immediately to the palace….when Pete captures the Prince and detains him with Donald….so, while the coronation begins…..Goofy disguises himself as an executioner….who after accidentally knocking out the guard….the three escape the cell and run to the coronation chamber. While the beggar tries to postpone being crowned by the archbishop….the Prince arrives and fights Pete who becomes entangled with the soldiers in a fallen chandelier and falls out of a window to his unknown fate. Mickey and the Prince then cheer in their success in defeating Captain Pete. The archbishop is confused and does not know who to crown….that is until Pluto recognizes the beggar. The real Prince is crowned King of England, and with Mickey and Goofy at his side….and rules for many years with justice and compassion for all.
Any way you cut the pie….this video is classic Disney animation and is enjoyable to watch at any time….but especially with the kids.
