Tag Archives: Donald Duck

June 28, 1946 – The Donald Duck Short Film Donald’s Double Trouble is Released to Theaters

“Oh, the kiss? Don’t worry – it’s beginning to work like a charm, for you.”

On June 28, 1946, the Donald Duck short film Donald’s Double Trouble was released to theaters. It was directed by Jack King, with story by Roy Williams.

Donald is being lectured by Daisy over the phone, who breaks up with him. Donald, utterly destroyed, walks down the street dejected when he meets a duck that could be his twin, only speaking like Ronald Coleman. Donald struck with a plan to have the double stand in for him and help win her back for him. The double refuses, even when Donald offers him money. However, he agrees once he sees the picture of Daisy, and falls head over heels for her. Donald leads him to Daisy’s house, and the double charms Daisy off her feet. Donald soon realizes that he could lose Daisy to the smitten double, and his anger nearly gets the best of him. He follows the pair to the amusement park “for an evening of frivolity,” and starts counting the kisses and hugs between the double and Daisy. The double spots Donald spying on them, and tries to prevent Daisy from knowing the ruse. Donald spies them heading on the tunnel of love, he begs the double not to go on the ride. Finally, Donald beats up the double inside, only to come out with him on the other side, having accidentally beaten up Daisy instead. The two flee the park to escape Daisy’s wrath.

June 7, 1940 – The Donald Duck Short Film Mr. Duck Steps Out Premieres in Theaters

“Oh boy! What a jitterbug!”

On June 7, 1940, the Donald Duck short film Mr. Duck Steps Out premiered in theaters. It was directed by Jack King. This is one of the few shorts where Clarence “Ducky” Nash voices all the characters, including Daisy Duck.

The short begins with Donald preparing for his date with his sweetheart, Daisy. He dresses in his finest outfit, grabs a straw hat, a cane, and a box of chocolates, and dances his way into the living room, to find his nephews dancing with him with bouquets of flowers. He tricks the boys into the closet and locks the door before heading out on his date, unaware that the boys free themselves by sawing a hole through the wall. When Donald arrives at Daisy’s, the boys, who have already snuck inside, steal his gift. Donald chases after the boys, until he sees Daisy. Donald sheepishly says that he has brought his nephews with him, to which Daisy finds considerate and sweet. Donald bribes the boys to get some ice cream, which seems to leave Donald and Daisy alone. Daisy plays hard to get with Donald, but he is interrupted when trying to kiss her by the return of the nephews. Donald then gets Daisy to dance with him, but once again the happy pair are broken up by the nephews. Donald and the nephews continue to jockey over who gets to dance with Daisy, when one of the nephews gets an idea to use a hot corn cob to stop Donald. Donald accidentally swallows the heated cob, which starts to pop inside of him. Donald dances wildly while popping, and the boys accompany his movements. Daisy, seemingly unaware of any problem, continues to dance with Donald. The short ends with an excited Daisy covering Donald in kisses.

May 19, 1939 – The Donald Duck Short Film Donald’s Cousin Gus Premieres in Theaters

“P.S. He don’t eat much.”

On May 19, 1939, the Donald Duck short film Donald’s Cousin Gus premiered in theaters. It was directed by Jack King.

Gus Goose is walking down the sidewalk, when he stops at Donald’s house, realizing that this is indeed his cousin. Meanwhile, Donald is sitting down to a nice lunch when the doorbell rings. Donald rudely greets his guest, when Gus presents a letter from their Aunt Fanny. Gus has a special pocket watch that marks his meals, and when he smells Donald’s lunch, he rushes inside and devours everything on the table, much to Donald’s initial amusement. Donald is angry that he can’t even have a cup of coffee without Gus eating it all. After Gus eats every last pea Donald has, Donald tries to throw his cousin out, but Gus manages to throw Donald out instead. Donald vows to get rid of Gus, and uses a trick hot-dog to get rid of him. Gus eats the barking hot-dog, which starts barking inside of Gus, and follows Donald’s commands. Donald manages to get rid of Gus – so he thinks, when Gus is found inside Donald’s fridge, eating absolutely everything. Poor Donald passes out from exasperation.

April 28, 1939 – The Donald Duck Short Film The Hockey Champ is Released to Theaters

“I see that a demonstration is in order…so I’ll beat the three of you all by myself.”

On April 28, 1939, the Donald Duck short film The Hockey Champ was released to theaters. It was directed by Jack King.

It’s a cold winter’s day, and Donald is skating gracefully on a nearby pond. He imitates figure skater Sonja Henie, when he sees his nephews playing a fast and furious game of hockey. As Donald shows his nephews his hockey trophy, the boys are unimpressed. Donald decides to play the three boys by himself, and immediately begins to show off. The boys watch as Donald continuously scores, but are less than impressed when he berates them. Donald decides to try and beat them again, this time blindfolded, but the boys get the best of him, leaving an angry Donald to chase them across the frozen pond until he crashes into a bank of ice. The boys continue to mess with their uncle as they continue the game in the snow. Donald falls into a well and manages to get stuck in a block of ice, but frees himself quickly to chase his nephews. Unfortunately, Donald accidentally swallows the puck, and the boys chase him, hitting him with his hockey sticks to get the puck in the goal. The game ends with Donald and the puck getting caught in the net, with Donald squawking angrily.