Donald's Dilemma

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Donald's Dilemma
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJack King
Story byRoy Williams
Produced byWalt Disney
StarringClarence Nash
Gloria Blondell
Music byOliver Wallace
Animation byDon Towsley
Ed Aardal
Emery Hawkins
Sandy Strother
Layouts byDon Griffith
Backgrounds byMaurice Greenberg
Color processTechnicolor
Production
company
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures
Release date
  • July 11, 1947 (1947-07-11)
Running time
7 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Donald's Dilemma is a Walt Disney Studios animated cartoon directed by Jack King[1] and starring Donald and Daisy Duck. It was originally released on July 11, 1947 in the United States.[2] The title of this short is a misnomer, as it is Daisy, rather than Donald, who confronts the story's central dilemma. The song "No One But Donald Duck", which became Donald Duck's official theme song, made its debut in this cartoon.[3]

Plot

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Daisy recounts her story to an unseen psychologist. Her troubles began when she was walking with Donald and a flowerpot fell on his head, causing him to lose his memory but gain a melodious singing voice. He became a well-known singer and his rendition of "When You Wish Upon a Star" became a huge success. Daisy was left heartbroken at the loss of Donald and grappled with insomnia, anorexia, and suicidal thoughts.[4][5] After an unsuccessful attempt to see Donald in concert at Radio City Music Hall, she sought the psychologist's help.

The psychologist hypothesizes that another flowerpot falling on Donald's head might restore his memory. He warns Daisy that this might also result in the loss of Donald's newfound singing talent, but Daisy is undeterred. She infiltrates one of Donald's concerts and drops a flowerpot on his head, restoring his memory and his original voice. Donald is booed off the stage but ultimately reunites with Daisy.

Voice cast

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Reception

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In The Disney Films, Leonard Maltin says that Donald's Dilemma is "perhaps the best Donald Duck of all... a sidesplitting satire of psychological dramas." Maltin provides a number of reasons why he considers this a great cartoon: "Foremost is the fact that it makes the characters and their situation real, even while reminding you that this is a cartoon. The audience actually becomes involved with Daisy's predicament, and there are marvelous little touches to heighten the emotionalism (as when she is climbing to the catwalk near the end and almost loses her step). At the same time the cartoon is filled with hilarious visual exaggeration: when Daisy recalls that Donald gave her a cold icy stare, a long icicle emits from his eyes, and as she waits for Donald at the stage door of the theatre, the seasons change and she is covered with snow. Donald's Dilemma shows how much could be done within the framework of a seven-minute cartoon, using familiar characters; it is a gem."[6]

According to John Howard Reid in Science-Fiction & Fantasy Cinema: Classic Films of Horror, Sci-Fi & the Supernatural, Daisy displays "a ruthlessly self-centered neurotic streak", but maintains the audience's sympathy throughout the film.[3]

Releases

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Home media

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The short was released on December 11, 2007 on Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Volume Three: 1947-1950.[7]

Additional releases include:

  • 1984 - Cartoon Classics - Limited Gold Edition: Daisy (VHS)
  • 2005 - Classic Cartoon Favorites: Extreme Music Fun (DVD)

References

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  1. ^ Disney Archives | Daisy Duck Character History
  2. ^ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 74–76. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Reid, John Howard (2007). "Donald's Dilemma". Science-Fiction and Fantasy Cinema: Classic Films of Horror, Sci-Fi and the Supernatural. Lulu.com. pp. 60–61. ISBN 9781430301134.
  4. ^ Donald's Dilemma (1947) - Alternate versions
  5. ^ "Donald's Dilemma (Walt Disney Studios)". Archived from the original on January 2, 2013.
  6. ^ Maltin, Leonard (1984). The Disney Films (2nd ed.). Crown Publishers. pp. 301–302. ISBN 0-517-55407-0. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  7. ^ "The Chronological Donald Volume 3 DVD Review". DVD Dizzy. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
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