April 16, 1948 – The Donald Duck Short Film Daddy Duck is Released to Theaters
“You big, bad, nasty bear! Scaring my little baby! I gotcha!”
On April 16, 1948, the Donald Duck short film Daddy Duck was released to theaters. It was directed by Jack Hannah, with story by Jack Cosgiff and Bob McCormick.
Donald is at an adoption agency, ready to adopt a baby. He signs the paperwork, and is given a baby kangaroo named Joey, who takes to Donald immediately. The two hop home, and right off the bat, Donald has a hard time controlling Joey. Donald immediately tries to show that he’s the boss, and the adoption agency keeps calling to remind Donald what he should be doing, like giving Joey a bath. Donald tries to give Joey a bath, but Joey refuses, until he spies the pouch in Donald’s apron. He quickly tucks himself into the pouch, as Donald tries to coerce him into taking a bath. At the end of it all, Donald’s the one that ends up in the tub.
Joey is terrified after coming across Donald’s bearskin rug
The phone rings again, and Donald is given his next assignment. Joey, however, is having more fun with the waxed floor, when he runs across a bearskin rug. Terrified, he dives back into the apron pouch, and Donald tries to reassure him that the bear rug is no threat by pretending to beat it up. Donald then pretends to be eaten by the bear, and desperate to save his new father, Joey hops into action, grabbing a poker from the fireplace and poking the bear, then chasing after him with a baseball bat. Joey uses a chair to knock Donald out of the bear rug, sending the duck flying into Joey’s rocker. Joey then hugs Donald affectionately, glad that his dad is safe.
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