Ducks, Donkey, and a Debut...Don Donald (005)

SERIES: Mickey Mouse (though he doesn't appear)

SYNOPSIS: After an attempt to court Donna Duck goes awry, Donald replaces his old-fashioned burro with a hot rod.

ORIGINAL RELEASE: January 9th, 1937
SUPERVISION: Ben Sharpsteen
STORY: Webb Smith, Otto Englander, Merrill De Maris
ANIMATION: Johnny Cannon, Ugo D'Orsi, Al Eugster, and many other people I don't feel like listing
MUSICAL DIRECTION: Paul Smith
STUDIO: Walt Disney Productions (producer), United Artists (distributor)

Pre-Show Remarks

Storyboard panel.

I'd be amiss if I didn't mention the short's interesting backstory. According to J.B. Kaufman's Walt Disney Silly Symphonies--a book I highly recommend to anyone reading this blog--the short was proposed in 1935 as "The Little Burro", featuring a human boy and a human girl as opposed to any familiar Disney stars. By early 1936, the boy and girl were replaced by Donald and Daisy (here called Donna.) To quote the book "the finished film retained most of the key story elements, including the burro, but he was reduced to a supporting character." The short was copyrighted on December 18th, 1936--4 weeks and 1 day before the short would get released.

Model sheet, probably drawn in 1936.

A more well-known fact is that this is Daisy Duck's very first screen appearance. As I mentioned previously, she is referred to as Donna Duck here. She would not be given the name "Daisy" until three years later, in Mr. Duck Steps Out (1940).

Now, let's begin, shall we?

Screenshots

In My Opinion...

Snappy and Entertaining

The film is delightfully wacky, with lots of great timing and gags. The odd structures that appear in the background make me think of the strange scenery George Herriman drew for the Krazy Kat comic. The animation is a little too bouncy, but it still looks wonderfully done. Overall, a very appealing cartoon.

What Did They Think?

A brand new element to these reviews, these brief sections will be devoted to contemporary reviews of the shorts (in the event that I find some), mainly from trade magazines.

First, here's a review from the February 26, 1937 issue of Film Daily that calls it "swell";

and a "Showman's Review" from the January 16th, 1937 edition of Motion Picture Herald;

Next week...A pig becomes the fightin' champeen in Porky the Wrestler