April 15, 1938 – The Donald Duck Short Film Donald’s Nephews is Released to Theaters
“Dear Brother, I am sending your angel nephews to visit you.”
On April 15, 1938, the Donald Duck short film Donald’s Nephews was released to theaters. This short marks the first on screen performance of Huey, Dewey, and Louie, sent to Donald by his sister Dumbella. The trio were created by Ted Osborne and Al Taliaferro, with their first appearance in a newspaper comic strip on October 17, 1937. The short was directed by Jack King.
Donald reads the message from his sister that his nephews are visiting, with his sister “misinforming” him that they are three angels. The moment they arrive, however, they cause nothing but trouble, from sending Donald flying into a wall and riding their tricycles all over the house in a game of tricycle polo. Through their efforts of destroying the house, Donald comes across a book called Modern Child Training, and decides to use the lessons inside to tame his nephews. The first exercise is that music will tame them, and he goes over to his piano to play. The nephews pick up some other instruments and begin to play “Pop Goes the Weasel” along with Donald, but the joy is short lived, as they use the instruments to harass Donald further.
Donald attempts to regain control over his nephews at mealtime
The book advises Donald to never lose his temper, much to their confusion. When Donald goes back to the piano, they continue to play their pranks on their uncle. He reads another lesson in the book that if the kids are quarreling, they must be hungry, and has them sit down for a meal. As he tries to say grace, the three nephews try to steal the food, with Donald getting more and more agitated. The book tells him that “if all else fails, arouse their sympathy.” Donald decides to do just that, and the nephews are alarmed to see their uncle cry. They apologize, and promise to be good boys, although they play another prank on him, replacing the filling of a pie with hot mustard. Donald cries out for water after eating the mustard pie, and the trio delights in soaking him in water and using the fire extinguisher before leaving his house. Dazed, Donald looks down at the book, with the page reading, “After all, little children are only angels without wings.” Donald throws a tantrum and rips the book into pieces.
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