Poster

Donald's Happy Birthday

A Donald Duck Cartoon

Release Date : February 11, 1949

Running Time : 6:42

Synopsis

Huey, Dewey, and Louie earn enough money to buy their Uncle Donald a birthday present. Donald, not knowing what the money is for, wants the kids to save their money for a rainy day. The boys manage to get the money back and buy Donald a box of cigars. Donald thinks the boys have taken up smoking and force them to smoke the cigars.

Characters

Donald Duck
Huey, Dewey and Louie

Credits

Director
Jack Hannah
Animation
Bob Carlson
Volus Jones
Bill Justice
Jack Boyd
Backgrounds
Ralph Hullet
Layout
Yale Gracey
Story
Nick George
Bill Berg
Music
Oliver Wallace

Bloopers

Louie's name is spelled "Louie" on the piggy bank, but as "Luey" on Donald's birthday present.

Video

United States
Kids is Kids starring Donald Duck
Germany
Happy Birthday, Donald!
Donald Ich bin der Größte
France
Donald Vedette de Television
Italy
Paperino 60 Anni in Allegria
Video Parade 20
La Storia de Paperino

CED

United States
Disney Cartoon Parade Volume 3
Disney Cartoon Parade Volume 2

Laserdiscs

Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck Cartoon Collections Volume 2
At Home with Donald Duck
Kids is Kids Starring Donald Duck
Japan
Donald's Birthday Bash
This is Your Life Donald Duck

DVD

United States
Disney Treasures : Wave 7 : The Chronological Donald Volume 3
Germany
Disney Treasures : Wave 7 : The Chronological Donald Volume 3

Television

The Ink and Paint Club: Episode 51: Triple Trouble
Donald's Quack Attack: Episode 40
Walt Disney Presents: At Home with Donald Duck

Technical Specification

Color Type: Technicolor
Animation Type: Standard animation
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 1.37 : 1
Negative Format: 35mm
Print Format: 35mm
Cinematographic Process: Spherical
Original Language: English

Released by RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.

Comments

From Brad Bethel : I really enjoyed this cartoon. However, there's a small gag that I'm still unclear of. On a calendar, Donald's Birthday was listed under Friday the 13th. Probably due to his bad luck, but in reality, Donald's birthday is considered to be June 9th, his filming debut in 1934. I also found it rather surprising that Donald Duck would forget his own birthday! That's a mistake no one should make. There was a sequence in which Donald continuously chokes cigars down his nephews' mouths, thinking they've taken up smoking. With the already unfair cuts on Disney these days, it was surprising they didn't snip that part out. Other than that, good to watch.
From Ryan : It's Donald's birthday and he has apparently forgotten. Fortunately for him, his nephews remembered. They decide to buy him a box of Smello brand cigars. The nephews do a bunch of chores for Donald and then ask for their allowance. Donald, however, wants them to save their money. I enjoy the main plot of the short where the nephews are constantly trying to fish the piggy bank (actually a "house" bank) away from their napping uncle. Finally, they succeed and go off to the local drugstore to buy cigars. Apparently, when this short was made, a minor did not have to present an ID to buy tobacco products as long as you said it was a gift for someone of legal age since the nephews go in and out of the store. Donald thinks his nephews have taken up smoking. I find myself laughing at the part where Donald stuffs a bunch of cigars into their mouths to try to rid them of the habit. He then finds a note from them that reads HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UNCLE DONALD. Donald is so ashamed and begins to shrink in size just like he did in the earlier short Truant Officer Donald. This is one of my favorite Disney shorts and I recommend it to all Disney or just animation fans in general.
From Baruch Weiss : I first saw this short on a video entitled "Kids Is Kids" and it was a good short. But when I saw it on TV I enjoyed the opening song (which is used in many Donald shorts.)
From Dino Cencia : Happy 74th Birthday Donald Duck!

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