Tag Archives: Short film

September 1, 1950 – The Donald Duck Short Film Hook, Lion, and Sinker is Released to Theaters

“Now, watch your old man!”

On September 1, 1950, the Donald Duck short film Hook, Lion, and Sinker premiered in theaters. It was directed by Jack Hannah, with story by Bill Berg and Nick George.

A mountain lion is fishing using his tail as the pole, but hasn’t caught a thing. His cub sneaks up behind him and starts playing with the lure, much to the father lion’s anger. The father carries the cub back to their cave, where the cub is given a spanking, before the lion returns to his task. Meanwhile, at the nearby cabin, Donald returns, having caught many fish. The cub sees the catch and, after Donald drops a fish on the dock, runs over to claim it. He takes it back to his father, who is proudly showing off a tiny fish he caught, and is surprised that his son caught something bigger. The two then work together to grab the fish that Donald caught. Unfortunately, Donald has had many run-ins with mountain lions stealing his fish, as evidenced by the heads mounted on his wall. As Donald preps the fish, he sees the paw of the mountain lion near his oven, and tricks the lion into grabbing a hot piece of coal. Angered, the lion tries to leap inside, only to come nose to muzzle with a shotgun. Donald sends the two packing, and the cub has to pull bits of pellets out of his father’s backside. Nevertheless, they continue their plan, this time with the cub working to steal the fish. Donald catches the cub and throws him outside after giving him a spanking. The lion then tries fishing out the chimney, almost getting away with it until Donald has him fish out the shotgun. Again and again the lion and cub try, only to come face to face with Donald and his shotgun. In the end, all the lion is left with are the pellets that his cub has to pull out of his backside.

August 13, 1954 – The Donald Duck Short Film Grin and Bear It Premieres in Theaters

“Oh my goodness, what did I do? Uh oh, I gotta get out of here!”

On August 13, 1954, the Donald Duck short film Grin and Bear It was released to theaters. It features the first appearance of Ranger J. Audubon Woodlore and the second appearance of Humphrey the Bear (who premiered in the Goofy short film Hold That Pose). The short was directed by Jack Hannah, with story by Dave Detiege and Al Bertino.

It’s the beginning of the season at Brownstone National Park, and Donald is holding up traffic while looking at a sign. Ranger Audubon is excited at the visitors’ arrival, and shares a long list of rules before wishing them off to have fun. Audubon then calls the bears over for a few reminders of the season, warning them (mostly Humphrey) not to steal from the tourists, otherwise they face the ultimate punishment: becoming a rug. As the bears disperse to meet their tourists, Humphrey tries to entertain Donald for food, but the duck isn’t interested. Donald then makes a massive sandwich that Humphrey hopes he’ll split, but is disappointed when Donald continues to keep his food to himself. He attempts to steal some food, but ends up taking a hot pepper without knowing. Donald then packs up to go home, leaving an angry, hungry Humphrey, who comes up with a plan to trick Donald into thinking he ran over him. Donald then gives Humphrey the food but, after realizing he’d been tricked, Donald calls him a thief. The two get in trouble with Ranger Audubon, but the tables turn when Audubon is seen stealing Donald’s ham.