The Old Mill

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

1937 0h 9m EN

👍

7.3

SOLID

★7.3TMDB · 226

AnimationThrillerFamilyMusicHorror

Synopsis

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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.

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

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Marie Arbuckle
Singer (voice) (uncredited)
Jean MacMurray
Crickets (voice) (uncredited)
Louise Myers
Birds (voice) (uncredited)
Clarence Nash
Frogs (voice) (uncredited)
Marta Nielsen
Singer (voice) (uncredited)
Jerry Philipps
Singer (voice) (uncredited)
Barbara Whitson
Singer (voice) (uncredited)
Elvia Allman
Birds / Singer (voice) (uncredited)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Wilfred Jackson
Writers: Dick Rickard
Languages: No Language
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 9-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $0.1M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

ERA

Did you know

89 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Leigh Harline. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Marie Arbuckle and Jean MacMurray and Louise Myers carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Animals try to stay safe and dry in an old mill.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0029339 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Wilfred Jackson directs. Leigh Harline scores. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in No Language.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 9-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
2Shot for just $0.1M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
389 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
4Original score by Leigh Harline. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Marie Arbuckle and Jean MacMurray and Louise Myers carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "Animals try to stay safe and dry in an old mill.".
7IMDB entry: tt0029339 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Original score: Leigh Harline
Runtime: 9 min · 0h 9m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $50,663
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: The Old Mill (1937)

Awards

Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Wilfred Jackson

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Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2024-02-09
★ 7/10
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.

Production companies