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DVD Walt Disney Treasures - The Chronological Donald, Volume One (1934 - 1941)
Although the book The Adventures of Mickey Mouse (1931) listed Donald Duck as one of Mickey's friends, he didn't appear on screen until the "Silly Symphony" "The Wise Little Hen," three years later. Donald's personality began to gel in "The Orphan's Benefit" (1934, on Walt Disney Treasures: Mickey Mouse in Black and White), when he threw his first temper tantrum. He began as dumpy-looking character with a long beak and thick legs, but was soon redesigned and made more appealing.
Donald's firecracker temper made him a favorite with audiences--and the Disney artists. By the late '30s/early '40s Mickey was no longer allowed to kick someone, break a window, or get into a really embarrassing situation. Donald was, and he did. If Donald encountered a mechanical device, from an outboard motor to a waffle iron to a riveting gun, the results were sure to be disastrous. He was routinely outwitted by chipmunks, ants, bees, and his nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, who came to visit in 1938 and stayed for more than 60 years.
The Donald Duck shorts featured some of the broadest slapstick comedy the Disney studio ever produced. They lack the razor-sharp timing, extreme takes, and wild gags the animators at Warner Bros. and MGM were developing at this time. But they're still funny and retain a nostalgic charm, especially such classics as "Don Donald," "The Autograph Hound," "Mr. Duck Steps Out," and "Put-Put Troubles." (Rated G, suitable for ages 8 and older: cartoon violence, tobacco use, minor ethnic stereotyping) --Charles Solomon
Review(s): DVD Walt Disney Treasures - The Chronological Donald, Volume One (1934 - 1941)
Not Exacerbating at All
The Walt Disney Treasures series has been a gold mine to Disney lovers who want to own the old classics from the early days. Having previously focused on Mickey and Goofy, the series now turns to Donald Duck for the first of what promises to be many volumes.
This set focuses on his early solo career with 36 cartoons from 1934-1941. It actually starts with "The Wise Little Hen," a Silly Symphony retelling of the classic fable where Donald only plays a small part. He's a co-star in "Donald and Pluto," and finally gets solo billing in the third short, 1937's "Don Donald." That short also introduces an early version of Daisy, who only shows up again one other time in this set, "Mr. Duck Steps Out" on disc two. His nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, make many appearances in this set in such shorts as "Donald's Nephews" (their first), "Hockey Champ," "Good Scouts," and "Truant Officer Donald."
I must admit, Donald has always been my least favorite of the Disney characters. My first complaint has been that I never could understand a word he's saying. I watched every cartoon in the set with the closed captions on, and let me tell you, it made quite the difference. Unfortunately, sometimes it spoiled a joke by letting you guess something was coming, but it was still worth it.
My other problem with Donald is more fundamental. He gets provoked way too easily and has a mean streak. There are some cartoons where I find myself rooting for him to fail, like when he tries to drown a bee for fun in "Window Washers." Of course, I find myself sympathizing with him more often then not, such as when a fly buzzes him for no reason in "Old MacDonald Duck." And sometimes it's just a case of funny bad luck, as is "Donald's Lucky Day" or "Chef Donald."
Leonard Maltin continues to host this series. As usual, we get an informative introduction on both discs. He also gives us a warning before any cartoon that might be considered offensive today. Like many, I find his breaking in more annoying then anything in the cartoons itself, but if that's what it takes to get these cartoons released, I'll live with it. The cartoons have obviously been restored as the picture is sharp and the sound is wonderful. Still in mono and nothing spectacular by today's standards, but you can easily hear everything. The bonus material seems a little light. Disc one has a photo gallery of stills, books, and other merchandise featuring Donald from the period. Disc two features a five-minute mini-biography on Clarence "Ducky" Nash, the voice behind the duck for over 50 years. There are some fun Easter Eggs to hunt for as well.
Ultimately, this set won me over to the exacerbated Duck. Which is fortunate since volume two of this collection is set for this year's wave of Treasure titles.
Great presentation of great cartoons. But enough with those menus already!!!
Chronological Donald features 35 shorts starring the iconic Duck from 1934 to 1941. Considering the age of these cartoons they have been kept in perfect shape and look absolutely startling on this DVD box set with hardly any dirt or scratches on the prints at all. Kudos to Disney on this.
But what really grinds my gears is the zillion menus you have to suffer through before you actually get to the screen listing the cartoons in order. Honestly, you'll be sitting there for about a whole minute just pushing the forward button on your remote waiting for it. Grr!
Another thing that proves how disgustingly PC Disney has become is the fact that they use Leonard Maltin (who I actually respect quite a bit) as a way of apologizing to over-weight, middle-class, narrow-minded, home-maker moms for anything that might seem the tiniest bit controversial, innappropriate or mean-spirited by having an intro to certain cartoons where he pleads us not to take offence. Oh, come on! This is too much!
Walt Disney built his empire on free speech and having an edge to his animation and projects. Many Americans grew up with this. But the Disney of today feeds us mass-produced direct-to-DVD drivel that Walt would be ashamed of. Disney of the 21st Century has played a huge part in the dumbing down of America's open-mindedness and tolerance (the Hallmark channel has contributed greatly to this also). And now when they offer us a collective look back at their older work they tell us not to be offended? That fact that you're telling me not be offended is what REALLY offends me!
That aside, I really enjoyed this set and loved watching each short and reviewing them individually on the IMDB. It's a fun hobby that only take up about 15 minutes if you do one each day.
New Donald Duck DVD
If you liked The Chronological Doanld, Volume One. There is a big suprise for you. On December 6th of 2005 a new DVD full of Donald Duck shorts will be realesed. The new volume is called The Chronological Donald, Volume Two. The new Donalde Volume will be the fifteenth is the Walt Disney Treasures series. The DVD will contain all Donald Duck shorts 1942 to 1948. This DVD is covering the following years from 1941. I hope you get a chance to preorder or order it when it is ready. I hope everbody who buys it will enjoy it. I will buy it also. I loved the first volume. Enjoy!
Related DVD's Walt Disney Treasures - The Chronological Donald, Volume One (1934 - 1941)
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