December 8, 1944 – The Donald Duck Short Film Donald’s Off Day is Released to Theaters
“Are you a well man? You may think so, but you probably need a doctor. Call Dr. Quack at Maine-13-uh-oh, or you may be a dead duck.”
On December 8, 1944, the Donald Duck short film Donald’s Off Day was released to theaters. It was the first short directed by Jack Hannah, who would go on to direct over 90 short films. The story was written by Bill Berg and Dick Shaw.
The sun is rising over the hill, shining through Donald’s window while someone is singing for the duck to get out of bed. His alarm then goes off, but he still doesn’t move from his bed, until the alarm clock falls over. He excitedly shoots out of bed to perform his morning exercises before getting ready for his big golf day. He rushes by the nephews and excitedly steps out, only to be greeted with a sudden storm. Dejectedly, he turns around and heads back inside, but stops when the storm suddenly disappears. As he marches off again, the storm returns, and Donald throws his hat down angrily, railing at the rain.
Donald storms back into the house, ready to unleash his frustration on his nephews
Donald goes back inside and starts yelling at his nephews, sending them to their room. He then sits by the radio, eating licorice, when he decides to pull out a book on diseases and their symptoms. Coincidentally, an ad for a Dr. Quack starts to play on the radio, warning Donald that he may need a doctor. He starts to flip through the book, and starts seeing symptoms for random diseases (a coated tongue, for instance, forgetting that he did just eat licorice). The nephews see Donald worrying, and decide to play a prank on him, making him believe he really is unwell. Donald, thinking he is unable to see, starts wandering around blindly before collapsing on the floor. The nephews put him on the couch and start attending to his needs before continuing their prank with a squeak toy which Donald believes to be his heart.
Donald, convinced he’s dying, pulls his nephews close and gives him his will, which bequeaths them his precious golf clubs. As Donald lies panicking, he suddenly notices that what he thought was his heart is the squeak toy, and catches his nephews in the act. He storms after them, recalling all they did to torment him, and as the nephews cower in the corner, awaiting his rage, the sun suddenly begins to shine. Forgetting his anger, Donald runs for his golf clubs and sprints outside, although he is struck by lightning the moment he steps out the door.
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