Lonesome Ghosts (1937) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A bored group of ghosts summons ghost exterminators for amusement, only to be driven away by their own prank.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A House Without Victims

The ghosts complain that the haunted house is empty of people to scare. They find an advertisement and decide to summon the Ajax Ghost Exterminators as victims for a prank.

Key Events

• Ghosts Lament Empty House — The ghosts complain that nobody remains to scare. Characters: Short Ghost Location: Haunted house
• Exterminator Advertisement Found — A ghost finds an advertisement for Ajax Ghost Exterminators. Characters: Short Ghost Location: Haunted house
• Ghosts Plan Their Prank — The ghosts decide to hire the exterminators as a prank. Characters: Short Ghost Location: Haunted house
• Exterminators Sleep — The exterminators are sleeping before receiving the call. Characters: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy Location: Ajax Ghost Exterminators building

The False Emergency

The sleeping exterminators receive a deceptive telephone call reporting a haunting. Mickey, Donald, and Goofy travel to the house and are immediately attacked by the animated entrance.

Key Events

• Deceptive Call Arrives — A ghost impersonates a woman and reports a haunted house. Characters: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Short Ghost Location: Ajax Ghost Exterminators building
• Team Reaches House — The exterminators arrive and find no one answering the door. Characters: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy Location: Haunted house entrance
• Door Falls Inward — Mickey knocks down the door, which later throws the team inside. Characters: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy Location: Haunted house entrance
• Goofy Traps His Nose — Flying equipment includes a mousetrap that snaps on Goofy's nose. Characters: Goofy Location: Haunted house entrance
• Team Splits Up — After hearing laughter, Mickey decides to surround the ghosts. Characters: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Short Ghost Location: Haunted house

Ghost Tricks Unleashed

Mickey is pursued through impossible doors, water, surfboards, and a motorboat. Donald and Goofy separately endure noises, blows, mirrors, water, and other supernatural jokes.

Key Events

• Jasper Strikes Mickey — A ghost hits Mickey, blocks his gun, and causes it to explode. Characters: Mickey Mouse, Short Ghost Location: Haunted house corridor
• Ghost Band Emerges — The ghosts emerge like a marching band and vanish through another door. Characters: Mickey Mouse, Short Ghost Location: Haunted house upstairs
• Flooded Doorway Trick — Water pours from a door as ghosts surf and circle Mickey by motorboat. Characters: Mickey Mouse, Short Ghost Location: Haunted house upstairs
• Donald Hears Ghostly Noise — A ghost uses breaking dishes and chains to frighten Donald. Characters: Donald Duck, Short Ghost Location: Haunted house
• Donald Gets Soaked — The ghost becomes water, sprays Donald, and soaks him through his hat. Characters: Donald Duck, Short Ghost Location: Haunted house floor
• Goofy Chased Upstairs — A ghost bangs a pan, plays a trombone, and drives Goofy into a bedroom. Characters: Goofy, Short Ghost Location: Haunted house bedroom
• Mirror Confuses Goofy — Goofy sees the ghost in the mirror instead of his reflection. Characters: Goofy, Short Ghost Location: Haunted house bedroom
• Goofy Tangled In Dresser — Goofy becomes tangled and mistakes his pants for a ghost. Characters: Goofy, Short Ghost Location: Haunted house bedroom

The Basement Reversal

The ghosts force Goofy and the dresser into the basement, where the impact covers the exterminators in molasses, flour, and syrup. Their accidental disguise reverses the power balance.

Key Events

• Dresser Crashes Basement — The ghosts shove Goofy and the dresser into the basement. Characters: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Short Ghost Location: Haunted house basement
• Team Covered Like Ghosts — The crashing boxes cover the trio in ingredients, making them look ghostly. Characters: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy Location: Haunted house basement

The Ghosts Retreat

Looking like ghosts, Mickey, Donald, and Goofy frighten the actual ghosts out of the house. The team watches their retreat and ends the encounter with comic triumph.

Key Events

• Ghosts Flee House — The disguised trio scares the actual ghosts out through a window. Characters: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Short Ghost Location: Haunted house window
• Donald Declares Victory — The trio watches the ghosts run away while Donald calls them sissies. Characters: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Short Ghost Location: Outside the haunted house

Story Breakdown

• Ghostly Boredom — The ghosts lack human victims and search for a way to make the empty house entertaining.
  • Empty Haunted House — The ghosts complain that nobody remains inside to scare.
  • Newspaper Discovery — A newspaper advertisement reveals the Ajax Ghost Exterminators.
• False Telephone Call — The ghosts create a false emergency to lure the exterminators into the house.
  • Impersonated Caller — A ghost impersonates a woman during the telephone call.
  • Summoned Exterminators — Mickey, Donald, and Goofy respond to the reported haunting.
• Haunted House Arrival — The team enters the house and encounters physical tricks before locating any ghost.
  • Fallen Front Door — Mickey knocks the front door down when nobody answers.
  • Flying Equipment — The door throws the team inside and a mousetrap catches Goofy's nose.
• Mickey Pursues Ghosts — Mickey attempts to track the ghosts through doors and increasingly impossible rooms.
  • Exploding Gun — A ghost blocks Mickey's gun barrels and causes the gun to explode.
  • Waterway Illusion — Ghosts surf and circle Mickey with a motorboat before the water vanishes.
• Donald Endures Attacks — Donald becomes the target of sound effects, physical blows, and supernatural water tricks.
  • Breaking Dish Sounds — A ghost scares Donald with breaking dishes and rattling chains.
  • Water Transformation — The ghost turns into water, sprays Donald, and disappears.
• Goofy Faces Illusions — Goofy is driven through a bedroom sequence involving music, mirrors, and furniture.
  • Mirror Misdirection — Goofy sees the ghost in the mirror instead of his own reflection.
  • Dresser Entanglement — Goofy becomes tangled in the dresser and mistakes his pants for a ghost.
• Basement Reversal — The ghosts' attack accidentally gives the exterminators a disguise that changes the confrontation.
  • Dresser Crash — The ghosts shove Goofy and the dresser into the basement.
  • Ingredient Disguise — Molasses, flour, and syrup cover the trio and make them look like ghosts.
• Ghosts Retreat — The accidental disguise frightens the ghosts away and produces the team's comic victory.
  • Ghosts Escape — The actual ghosts flee through a window after seeing the disguised trio.
  • Donald Mocks Them — Donald calls the fleeing ghosts sissies while the team watches.

Directed by

Burt Gillett

Key Cast

• Walt Disney — Mickey Mouse (voice) (uncredited)
• Clarence Nash — Donald Duck (voice) (uncredited)
• Billy Bletcher — Short Ghost (voice) (uncredited)
• Pinto Colvig — Goofy (voice) (uncredited)
• Don Brodie — Ghost (voice) (uncredited)