Monty Citymouse is a character featured in the 1936 animated short film The Country Cousin.
Background[]
He is a sophisticated and refined mouse who lives in a luxurious apartment in the city. He invites his cousin Abner Countrymouse, a naive and clumsy mouse from Podunk, to visit him and experience the urban lifestyle. Monty shows Abner the lavish feast that the human residents have left on the table but warns him to be quiet and careful of the dangers of the city, such as traps, cats, and cars. Abner, however, ignores Monty's advice and indulges himself in the food, especially the mustard and the champagne, which makes him drunk and reckless.
He causes a lot of noise and trouble, attracting the attention of the cat and breaking several dishes. He also insults Monty’s reflection in a block of jelly, thinking it is another mouse. Monty tries to save Abner from his own folly but ends up getting hurt and humiliates himself. Eventually, Abner realizes that he is not cut out for city life and decides to return to Podunk, leaving Monty behind.
Appearance[]
In the film, Monty Citymouse invites his cousin Abner Countrymouse for a visit and shows him the ways of the big city, including traps, eating quietly, and busy traffic. Monty sports a top hat and is acutely aware of the problems they face in the city. Monty leads Abner to a meal that the human residents of the household have set out. The two mice begin by dining on cheese, but Abner lacks any sense of etiquette and soon begins gorging himself on celery, cream, and mustard.
The film's story contrasts the lifestyles of the archetypal country and city inhabitants. Without specifying the location of Abner or Monty, the film sets out to contrast their lifestyles. Abner is shown walking along a railroad towards the city, and when he arrives, the differences between the two become clear. Wearing overalls, Abner is portrayed as bumbling and oblivious to the dangers of the city.