The Prison Panic: Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (Lantz, 1930)

This rare black-and-white archival footage presents "The Prison Panic," a classic silent Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon from April 28, 1930, produced and directed by Walter Lantz for Universal Studios—nearly a century ago—offering a nostalgic thrill for early animation fans. The silent film follows Oswald, the mischievous black rabbit with expressive ears, as a police officer who captures a mischievous rodent burglar, throwing him into jail. The mouse escapes using its teeth to chew through the bars, prompting a frantic chase as Oswald pursues the rodent through the prison, using the bars as harp strings in a surreal gag. The chase continues down a river, where Oswald loses the mouse, faints, and comically revives when the rodent falls into his mouth—Oswald then forces the mouse to play music while chained, entertaining himself with the tune. Featuring a score prominently including "The Prisoner’s Song" (written in 1924 by Guy Massey), this short—voiced by Pinto Colvig, marking his early role as Oswald’s voice—captures Lantz’s signature slapstick and rubbery animation. A lively window into early 1930s animation’s golden age, this preserved gem grips cartoon enthusiasts, animation historians, and nostalgic viewers, offering a timeless peek at a prison breakout frozen in time.