Donald Duck's 50th Birthday

Last updated
Donald Duck's 50th Birthday
Donald50logo.jpg
Logo used by Disney in the birthday tour and the CBS television special.
Written by Peter Elbling
Andrew Solt
Directed by Andrew Solt
Phil Savenick
Starring Dick Van Dyke
Clarence Nash
John Harlan
Music by Paul J. Smith
John Debney
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Producer Andrew Solt
Production companiesAndrew Solt Productions
Walt Disney Pictures Television
Original release
Network CBS
ReleaseNovember 13, 1984 (1984-11-13)
Related

Donald Duck's 50th Birthday is a television special broadcast on The Magical World of Disney on November 13, 1984 on CBS. As the title suggests, it was produced to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Donald Duck character, who first appeared in the Walt Disney short The Wise Little Hen in 1934. [1]

Contents

Donald is shown in both animated and live costumed form, interacting with emcee Dick Van Dyke and other cast members. The film not only shows Donald's life, but also depicts an extensive international tour that Donald went on in 1984. Various celebrities of the day send Donald birthday greetings, including Ed Asner, Andy Warhol, Donna Summer and the Star Wars droids. [2] The tour culminates in a parade in Donald's honor at Disneyland.

This was the last time Clarence Nash voiced Donald Duck before his death a year later. It was rebroadcast on Disney Channel Europe on November 13, 2004 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the special plus at the end of the special, it has the sign: "Walt Disney 1901–1966 Clarence Nash 1904–1985".

Features

1984 birthday tour

In 1984, Donald Duck (in live form) went on an international tour through Europe, Japan and parts of the United States. Some of these stops on his tour actual stage performances attended by other (live) Disney characters. Donald's arrival at airports (on his own plane depicting Donald in flight on the tailfin) was met with colossal crowds that kept getting bigger. There were also several parades for Donald, and not just at the Disney theme parks. In one, Donald sat in a staff car in his military uniform and was promoted to the rank of sergeant. This scene was also when he was discharged from the US Army. Donald is also shown having his footprints cast in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in May 1984.

In the film, Donald's tour is shown with music as well as dialogue, assumedly added later by Clarence Nash.

Cast

Muppet performers

Also featured is Walt Disney in several clips (Disney himself having died in 1966).

Soundtrack

The Donald Duck's 50th Birthday
EP by
various artists
ReleasedNovember 1, 1984 (1984-11-01)
Recorded1984
Genre Various
LengthUnknown
Label Disneyland
Producer Uncredited
Singles from The Donald Duck's 50th Birthday Album
  1. "Happy, Happy Birthday to You (Donald Duck Version)"
    Released: 1984
  2. "Going Quackers"
    Released: 1985
  3. "Can You Quack Like Donald Duck?"
    Released: 1986
  4. "Tutti Frutti"
    Released: 1987
  5. "The Army's Not the Army Anymore"
    Released: 1988
  6. "Donald Duck Theme"
    Released: 1989

Happy, Happy Birthday to You (Donald Duck Version) was released on the Splashdance LP and cassette. Splashdance has since been re-released on compact disc.

Notes

  1. Jenner changed her name to Caitlyn Jenner due to gender transition in 2015. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huey, Dewey, and Louie</span> Disney cartoon characters

Huey, Dewey, and Louie are triplet cartoon characters created by storyboard artist (screenwriter) Carl Barks for The Walt Disney Company from an idea proposed by cartoonist Al Taliaferro. They are the nephews of Donald Duck and the grand-nephews of Scrooge McDuck. Like their maternal uncles, the brothers are anthropomorphic white ducks with yellow-orange bills and feet. The boys are sometimes distinguished by the color of their shirts and baseball caps. They appeared in many Donald Duck animated shorts, as well as in the television show DuckTales and its reboot, but the comics remain their primary medium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarence Nash</span> American voice actor (1904–1985)

Clarence Charles "Ducky" Nash was an American voice actor and impressionist. He is best remembered as the original voice of the Disney cartoon character Donald Duck. He was born in the rural community of Watonga, Oklahoma, and a street in that town is named in his honor. In 1993, he was posthumously made a Disney Legend for his contributions to Walt Disney films.

<i>Mickeys Christmas Carol</i> 1983 film by Burny Mattinson

Mickey's Christmas Carol is a 1983 American animated Christmas fantasy featurette directed and produced by Burny Mattinson. The cartoon is an adaptation of Charles Dickens's 1843 novella A Christmas Carol, and stars Scrooge McDuck as Ebenezer Scrooge. Many other Disney characters, primarily from the Mickey Mouse universe, as well as Jiminy Cricket from Pinocchio (1940), and characters from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949) and Robin Hood (1973), were cast throughout the film. The featurette was produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by Buena Vista Distribution on December 16, 1983, with the re-issue of The Rescuers (1977). In the United States, it was first aired on television on NBC, on December 10, 1984.

<i>The Band Concert</i> 1935 Mickey Mouse color cartoon film

The Band Concert is a 1935 American animated short film produced in 3-strip Technicolor by Walt Disney Productions and released by United Artists. The 73rd short film in the Mickey Mouse series, it was the second release of the year, and notable as the first in the series to be produced in color.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Anselmo</span> American voice actor and animator

Tony Anselmo is an American voice actor and animator. He has been the official character voice of Donald Duck since 1985 following the death of the original voice actor, Clarence Nash. He has also provided voices for Donald's triplet nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie.

<i>Don Donald</i> 1937 Donald Duck cartoon

Don Donald is a 1937 American animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by United Artists. The cartoon follows Donald Duck attempting to woo a female Mexican duck named Donna. It was directed by Ben Sharpsteen and features music by Paul J. Smith which was adapted from the Mexican folk songs "Cielito Lindo" and "Jarabe Tapatío". Clarence Nash voiced both Donald and Donna.

<i>Mickey Mouse Disco</i> 1980 film

Mickey Mouse Disco is an album released by Disneyland Records in 1979. A late entry in the genre of disco, Mickey Mouse Disco included disco versions of Disney songs and Disney-fied versions of disco hits. The album was re-released on CD in 1995, and later as a download. On April 13, 2019, the original LP was reissued for the annual Record Store Day.

"A Day in the Life of Donald Duck" is a 1956 episode of the Disneyland TV show. As the name of the episode implies, viewers experience Donald Duck himself as he struggles through a typical day at the Walt Disney Studios. In the process, he meets up with Jimmie Dodd, Roy Williams, the Mouseketeers and even his own voice, Clarence Nash. This episode introduces a song about Donald, "Quack, Quack, Quack, Donald Duck."

<i>Mickeys Birthday Party</i> 1942 Mickey Mouse cartoon

Mickey's Birthday Party is an American animated short film directed by Riley Thomson, produced by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures. The 114th short to feature Mickey Mouse, it was released on February 7, 1942. The animated film was directed by Riley Thomson and animated by Les Clark, James Moore, Ken Muse, Armin Shaffair, Riley Thompson, Bernie Wolf, and Marvin Woodward. It was the 116th short in the Mickey Mouse film series to be released, and the first for that year.

The third wave of Walt Disney Treasures was released on May 18, 2004. It was originally planned to be released in December 2003, but was delayed for almost half a year in order to meet an increased demand with a higher number of tins produced. This wave was the first to have a certificate of authenticity with the individual number of the tin on it, replacing the number embossed on the tin. This was the final wave released with side straps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald Duck</span> Disney cartoon character

Donald Duck is a cartoon character created by The Walt Disney Company. Donald is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a sailor shirt and cap with a bow tie. Donald is known for his semi-intelligible speech and his mischievous, temperamental, and pompous personality. Along with his friend Mickey Mouse, Donald was included in TV Guide's list of the 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time in 2002, and has earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has appeared in more films than any other Disney character.

<i>Donalds Crime</i> 1945 Donald Duck cartoon

Donald's Crime is a 1945 American animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The cartoon, which parodies film noir crime dramas of the time, follows Donald Duck as he struggles with guilt after stealing $1.25 from his nephews. The film was directed by Jack King and features original music by Edward H. Plumb. The voice cast includes Clarence Nash as Donald, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, Ruth Clifford as Daisy Duck, and Harry E. Lang as the off-stage voice of Donald's conscience. This was Blondell's first performance as Daisy and marks the debut of the character's "normal" voice. Previously in Mr. Duck Steps Out, Daisy had been voiced by Nash using a voice similar to Donald's.

<i>Mickeys PhilharMagic</i> 3D attraction at Disney theme parks

Mickey's PhilharMagic is a 4D film attraction found at several Disney theme parks around the world, including Magic Kingdom theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Park (Paris), and Disney California Adventure. The film was directed by George Scribner, who also directed Disney's 1988 animated film Oliver & Company. Mickey's PhilharMagic is a 12-minute-long show featuring 3D effects, scents, and water, as well as a number of characters from Disney movies. It is shown on the largest purpose-built 3D screen ever made, at 150 feet wide.

<i>Moving Day</i> (1936 film) 1936 Mickey Mouse cartoon

Moving Day is a 1936 American animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by United Artists. The cartoon, set during the contemporary Great Depression, follows the antics of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy as they frantically pack their belongings after being dispossessed from their home. The film was directed by Ben Sharpsteen and includes the voices of Walt Disney as Mickey, Clarence Nash as Donald, Pinto Colvig as Goofy, and Billy Bletcher as Sheriff Pete. It was the 85th Mickey Mouse short to be released, and the eighth of that year.

<i>Boat Builders</i> (film) 1938 Mickey Mouse cartoon

Boat Builders is an animated short film produced by Walt Disney, distributed by RKO Radio Pictures and released on February 25, 1938. The film was directed by Ben Sharpsteen and animated by Frenchy de Trémaudan, Louie Schmitt, Chuck Couch, Eddie Strickland, Clyde Geronimi, Paul Satterfield, Archie Robin, Don Patterson. It was the 99th short in the Mickey Mouse film series to be released, and the first for that year.

<i>The Dognapper</i> 1934 Mickey Mouse cartoon

The Dognapper is a 1934 animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by United Artists. The cartoon stars Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck as police officers who chase Pegleg Pete after he dognaps Fifi, Minnie Mouse's pet Pekingese. The film was directed by David Hand and features the voices of Clarence Nash as Mickey and Donald. Pinto Colvig as Pete and Melvin J. Gibby as Fifi. It was the 70th Mickey Mouse short film to be released, and the eighth of that year. This was the first and only time that Mickey was voiced by Nash; Walt was in Europe at the time and was unavailable to record his lines for Mickey, thus, Nash took over.

Dude Duck is a 1951 American animated short film featuring Donald Duck, directed by Jack Hannah and produced by Walt Disney. In the short film, Donald goes on vacation to a dude ranch and gets a totally uncooperative horse as a mount.

<i>Donalds Dream Voice</i> 1948 Donald Duck cartoon

Donald's Dream Voice is a 1948 American animated short film featuring Donald Duck, the film was directed by Jack Hannah and produced by Walt Disney. In the short film, no one understands a word that salesman Donald says, so he takes voice pills to improve his speech.

Test Pilot Donald is a 1951 American animated short film featuring Donald Duck and Chip 'n' Dale. The cartoon was directed by Jack Hannah and produced by Walt Disney. In the film, Donald flies his model airplane into Chip 'n Dale's tree. Dale climbs in and proceeds to cause trouble.

References

  1. Woolery, George W. (1989). Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987. Scarecrow Press. pp. 127–128. ISBN   0-8108-2198-2 . Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  2. Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. p. 253. ISBN   0-8160-3831-7 . Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  3. Buzz Bissinger (June 1, 2015). "Introducing Caitlyn Jenner". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on June 13, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015.