| Donald Duck and the Gorilla | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Jack King |
| Story by | Carl Barks Bill Berg Nick George Jack Hannah Jesse Marsh Frank Tashlin Roy Williams Bill de la Torre |
| Produced by | Walt Disney |
| Starring | Clarence Nash James MacDonald |
| Music by | Oliver Wallace |
| Animation by | Paul Allen Jack King Joshua Meador George Nicholas Charles A. Nichols Judge Whitaker Marvin Woodward |
| Layouts by | Bill Herwig |
| Backgrounds by | Maurice Greenberg |
| Color process | Technicolor |
| Production company | Walt Disney Productions |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
| Release date |
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| Running time | 7 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Donald Duck and the Gorilla is a Donald Duck short adventure horror monster film which was originally released in 1944. It stars Donald Duck along with his three nephews; Huey, Dewey and Louie and Ajax, the killer gorilla. The 1930 Mickey Mouse cartoon The Gorilla Mystery has a similar plot involving a gorilla named Beppo who captures Minnie Mouse.
Plot
On a stormy night, Donald and his nephews overhear a radio announcer, Breckenridge, notify the listeners that a gorilla named Ajax has escaped from the city zoo. As a prank, Donald frightens his nephews with gorilla hands. Vowing revenge, the nephews dress up in a gorilla suit and sneak up behind Donald as he reads, taking a bite of Donald's lollipop. Donald, comparing the bite to the gorilla's fangs, runs away in fright.
At the same time, the real Ajax appears in front of the window and breaks into the house, causing the nephews to flee. Donald, now aware the nephews tricked him, chase the boys, running right into Ajax. Donald, assuming the gorilla is the nephews in disguise, discovers that this is the real gorilla. The radio announcer advises listeners to master wild animals by looking them straight in the eye. Taking the advice, Donald stares into the gorilla's eyes, seeing a tombstone destined for Donald, and flees.
Donald and his nephews sneak through the house, but the nephews first spill melted wax on Donald's tail before accidentally burning his rear. Donald, boiling with rage, sends the triplets away, but burns his hand on the now superheated doorknob.
Donald searches for Ajax, who is swinging from the rafters. After a stare-down, and at the urging of his tail, Donald runs away, beginning a chase. Donald briefly triumphs by tricking Ajax up a ladder, where he crashes through several floors of the house, ending in the attic. Ajax resumes the chase, with Donald using the ladder as stilts.
Donald is trapped in the dining room table, the leaves having flown into Ajax's hands. At the suggestion of the radio announcers, the nephews use tear gas in an attempt to stop Ajax, who begins to cry. However, Donald is also affected by the tear gas, and Ajax and Donald close the short by consoling each other.
Voice cast
- Clarence Nash as Donald Duck, Huey, Dewey and Louie
- James MacDonald as Ajax the Gorilla
Home media
The short was released on December 6, 2005 on Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Volume Two: 1942-1946.
Additional releases include:
VHS
- Cartoon Classics: First Series: Volume 3: Scary Tales
- Disney's Halloween Treat
- Cartoon Classics: Second Series: Volume 13: Donald's Scary Tales
Laserdisc
- Cartoon Classics: Scary Tales
- Donald's Scary Tales
- Halloween Haunts
VCD
- Cartoon Classics: Birdbrain Donald (Malaysian release)
Television
- The Ink and Paint Club, episode 34: "Donald's Nephews"
In other media
The short is part of the stories that the characters see during the plot of the 2001 direct-to-video film Mickey's House of Villains.
See also
References
- Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 74–76. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- "The Chronological Donald Volume 2 DVD Review". DVD Dizzy. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
External links
| Donald Duck World War II films | |
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| Army films |
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| Propaganda films |
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| Huey, Dewey, and Louie in animation | |||||
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| Short films |
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| Films directed by Jack King | |
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- 1944 films
- 1940s monster movies
- Donald Duck short films
- 1940s Disney animated short films
- American monster movies
- World War II films made in wartime
- Animated films about gorillas
- Films directed by Jack King
- Films produced by Walt Disney
- Films scored by Oliver Wallace
- 1944 animated short films
- Films with screenplays by Carl Barks
- Films with screenplays by Frank Tashlin