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

Mickey Mouse, Mad Scientist...The Worm Turns (003)

 The Worm Turns...A Mickey Mouse Cartoon

SYNOPSIS: Mickey Mouse makes the food chain stand on its head, and makes a "Courage Builder" potion that makes the prey attack the predator!

ORIGINAL RELEASE: January 2nd, 1937
SUPERVISION: Ben Sharpsteen
STORY: Otto Englander
ANIMATION: Pete Burness, Chuck Couch, Al Eugster, and many other people I don't feel like listing
MUSICAL DIRECTION: Frank Churchill
STUDIO: Walt Disney Productions (producer), United Artists (distributor)

Pre-Show Remarks

We have approached the first Disney cartoon of the year...very unsure what to expect. I read somewhere that this cartoon was a test for the laboratory scene in Snow White. If the cartoon does suck, at least it'll look pretty.

(By the way, you keen-eyed readers might have noticed a slight update in the information chart. From here on out, this will be used in all future reviews. And yes, I know this review is rather...late. But life happens.)

In My Opinion...

Competent Cartoon, But Curious And Creepy

This is a very...interesting cartoon. The premise is fun, but the execution here could be a little better. I find it curious that the cartoon's title card features a worm and a bird, but neither are featured in the short proper. Mickey is a mouse, but there is another feral mouse in Mickey's(?) living room--they both look nothing alike. The music feels inappropriately circus-y in some scenes. There are quite a few nice looking shots, though--the very beginning with Mickey's lab, for example. And the animation is very wacky and fun--the screenshots don't do it justice.

Next time...Various Terrytoon animals go out to sail in Salty McGuire