From Ryan Kilpatrick at The Disney Film Project : The last of the shorts for 1942 is Bellboy Donald, which is quite a departure for our favorite duck. After all, his recent adventures were mostly in the Armed Forces, while in his other shorts he’s been in a more rural setting, either as a gardener, blacksmith or just Uncle Donald fighting with his nephews.

Here, Donald enters an urban environment for the first time in recent years, serving as a bellhop at a prestigious hotel. The short employs a technique we have not seen in a while, jumping right into the middle of a situation. Donald is being scolded by his boss for attacking the guests and losing his temper, which would surprise no one.

It’s a great way to shorten the exposition and get right to the point of the short, which is Donald’s interaction with the guests. It plays off of the audience’s familiarity with Donald’s temper and character traits, but doesn’t shortchange the current film.

This short, like the Armed Forces shorts, casts Pete as Donald’s rival, although in this case it’s a new character, Pete’s son, that does most of the harm. Donald is, of course, attempting to control his temper, but doesn’t account for the horror that Pete’s little one tries to inflict upon him.

The situations are mostly as you would figure – Donald tries to lift the luggage but can’t, he messes up part of the luggage and gets reprimanded by Pete, and there’s a whole bunch of fun around the elevator. It’s not that these gags are more innovative or exciting than other things Disney has done. What’s unique is seeing Donald in this setting.

It was very reminiscent to what Mickey went through with Pete in the past. This time, though, there is the added element of the ticking time bomb you know is coming. Donald will not take this kind of treatment forever. When he eventually snaps, he asks his boss if he is fired, and then goes off on the kid, spanking him behind a well placed planter to hide the violence. I’m sure everyone in the audience cheered when he did.

From Joe Powell : I really enjoyed this short. I could understand how Donald must have felt in this one having to keep a smile on his face and keep reminding himself that "The Customer is Always Right". It was good to see Donald get the last laugh at the end when Pete's bratty kid got what was coming to him, and the devilish look that Donald had then was very funny and led to a good ending for this one.

From Ryan : I found this Donald Duck short hilarious. Pete is more of a minor character while his son is the one who upsets Donald. Pete Jr. torments Donald through all sorts of things, mainly the elevator. Donald must remember not to lose his temper as he is told by his supervisor that "The guest is always right." Well by now, Donald is fed up and decides to settle this matter his own way. He drags Pete Jr. out of the elevator and asks his supervisor if he is fired. After an affirmative reply, Donald spanks that little brat like the dickens. He certainly deserved it didn't he?

From Steve Faul : Donald is in his prime in this cartoon that follows the format established in Self Control. Put Donald in a situation where he's instructed not to lose his temper, and then wait for him to lose it. Notice we never see his boss. The Voice of Reason in Donald Duck Cartoons always seem to be invisible voices usually through a radio. The payoff ending has Carl Barks written all over it.

From Grace : Again this is one of Donald's hilarious short. When I saw the scene where it says " The Guest is Always Right" it was like "What you're crazy! Not every guest it right!", but on the scene when Donald spanks the bratty b**** it really made me laugh so hard and it was like saying " nice move Donald hit the brat soo hard!" I give this short a 10.

From Baruch Weiss : Poor Donald, he can not keep a job because there is always something to screw up his life. In this case, it is Pete's bratty son. However, Donald does get the last laugh in the end which is funny. Overall, a very funny cartoon.

From j.p.hope : This short upsets the natural order of things! I don't like it when all employees (including Donald)are forced to be harassed by annoying little brats! I especially don't like the beginning of this short! The hotel manager refuses to let Donald lose his temper! POOR DONALD!!!

Poster

Bellboy Donald

A Donald Duck Cartoon

Synopsis

Characters

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Animation

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Germany

France

Italy

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United States

Germany

Television

Technical Specification

Released by RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.

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