October 14, 1949 – The Donald Duck Short Film The Greener Yard is Released to Theaters
“It was a paradise all right, just full of fancy foods.”
On October 14, 1949, the Donald Duck short film The Greener Yard was released to theaters. It was directed by Jack Hannah, with story by Bill Berg and Milt Banta.
The story begins next to the yard of Donald Duck, where Bootle Beetle is preparing a meal for his son. His son is upset that they’re having beans again for dinner, and Bootle Beetle warns him that the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence. In Donald’s yard, Donald is feeding his birds, which Bootle Beetle calls a land of plenty – except for beetles. He then recalls a story from his youth when he travels to Donald’s yard to savor the foods in the garden. Unfortunately, he doesn’t realize that Donald is coming to work in his garden, and is caught unawares. Donald tries to smash Bootle Beetle, but the beetle ends up escaping into the hose. Donald manages to get him out of the hose, but knocks himself out on a tree branch in the process. Donald rouses and chases him across the yard, as do the chickens, but the resourceful beetle manages to save himself from being eaten. Two birds run off with Bootle Beetle, and he manages to slip out of their grasp as they argue who will eat him. He falls into his home, and relays that there is no place like home. His son rushes to gratefully eat his beans, but when he hears the clucking of chicken, he looks up in surprise to find his father has stolen some watermelon from Donald’s yard for dessert.
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