October 21, 1951 – The Goofy Short Film Fathers Are People is Released to Theaters
“The new father should start immediately sharing the responsibility for the child’s upbringing.”
On October 21, 1951, the Goofy short film Fathers Are People was released to theaters. This was one of several shorts where Goofy is portrayed as everyman George Geef. There is also a Hidden Mickey in this short, found on Junior’s bed. The short was directed by Jack Kinney, with story by Dick Kinney and Milt Schaffer.
The short begins with George entering the waiting room in the hospital with a box of cigars, proudly announcing that he is a father. Soon after, he is seen performing chores around his house, hanging up diapers, collecting milk bottles, preparing bottles for his son, and trying his best to help his wife. In the middle of the night, George goes to feed Junior, and ends up making himself a cocktail before turning off the light. The next morning, it’s time to take the family to Grandmother’s, forgetting one important thing: the baby. A picture diary shows the milestones in Junior’s life, including his first tooth, first step, and first word. One Sunday morning, Junior is seen getting in a fight with a neighborhood kid, with George and the other father fighting over which kid is in the wrong, although the kids just begin to play again. George tries to play with his father, but this “play” wears George out, as Junior is rather rough. George tries to sit and read the paper, although Junior pesters his father, wanting him to play. Junior also disobeys his father, and George tries to use reverse psychology, but to no avail. In the end, George falls on a roller skate, and decides that he’s had enough, and is going to give Junior a paddling. However, Junior is able to weasel out of it by acting cute. George decides that kids aren’t that bad, and wishes he had a million of them. When his wife asks how a tiny sweater she knitted looks, George panics, but relaxes when he realizes that he and his wife may only have the one child after all.
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