"Mickey's Trailer" - with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy (1938)

When Mickey Mouse sets off for vacation with his two buddies, Goofy and Donald Duck, they make one big mistake; they let Goofy do the driving. You can expect the unexpected as Goofy takes the trio on a hair raising adventure to their destination. But, as usual, in the end everything seems to come together. Hey, like they say, half the adventure is in getting there….

"Donald's Diary" - Donald Duck (1954)

In this 1954 cartoon Donald is a happy bachelor looking for love and finds that true love is more than he bargained for. But before he realizes that truth, he must go through all of the “honeymoon” phases attendant to any loving relationship.

With the standard cast of Donald, Daisy and Huey, Dewey and Louie it is hard to imagine that this was the last feature which would have Daisy Duck in it. She is, after all, the main character in this cartoon, which is a wonderful send up of a typical marriage.

The cartoon begins in what appears to be San Francisco, with Donald strolling the hilly streets in search of love. Daisy hears him whistling down the street and dons a beautiful dress in the hopes of snaring a mate. She does all of the atypical things that women in the movies do; she drops a handkerchief; goes into a faint; even pretends to drown, but Donald seems oblivious to her. But Daisy has a few tricks up her sleeve and the two are soon dating.

Their courtship consists of all the usual things; a drive-in movie; eating at a diner; and they even carve their names on a tree trunk. (The trunk actually has all of Daisy’s previous prospects names on it.) It is at this point that they kiss and “fall in love.”

The next logical step is for Donald to meet Daisy’s family. Huey, Dewey and Louie play Daisy’s brothers and they give Donald the welcome you would expect in a Donald Duck cartoon. He then meets her deaf mother, who is an exact replica of Whistler’s classic painting. After meeting her father, a crazed photographer, Donald is entranced with the idea of entering the state of Holy Matrimony.

He goes to the jewelry store and buys the requisite ring in order to propose to Daisy. He arrives back at the house and the stage is set for him to pop the question. But, while Daisy is upstairs getting ready; which takes several hours; Donald falls into a deep sleep, dreaming of married life.

After Daisy accepts his proposal in the dream the two start out life as a happily wedded couple. But happiness seems to elude Donald at every turn as he deals with his in laws and all of the responsibilities which go along with wedded bliss. Clearly, Donald has made a mistake.

When Daisy comes downstairs to wake him up, expecting him to propose, Donald screams in horror and runs out of the house screaming, leaving a hole in the door which he neglected to open while making his escape. The wedding is, apparently, off.

When we next see Donald he is sitting in a sparsely furnished room writing in his diary. As the cartoon comes to a close Donald writes his summation of what he has almost been through. “"It was a narrow escape. Though I was born when I kissed her, I died when we parted."  

A bugle is then heard playing in the background and he rushes out the door to take his place along the ramparts of a desert fort flying the French tricolor. The last thing he says as the cartoon comes to a close is, "But I lived for a little while".

This is the original 1954 movie poster for "Donald's Diary"

"Toy Tinkers" - Donald Duck with Chip and Dale (1949)

When Chip and Dale are rudely awakened from their winter nap by Donald Duck cutting down a nearby tree for Christmas, they follow him home to see what all the fuss is about.  Peering inside the frosted windows they spot all kinds of goodies. So, naturally, they find their way inside and begin to play with the things they encounter, infuriating Donald Duck, who just doesn’t seem to understand the Spirit of Christmas. Naturally, a battle of wits ensues, with Donald looking like he will be the “Grinch” for Christmas.

But, never underestimate Chip and Dale, who wage an all-out war to bring Peace on Earth to Donald Duck.

"Out of Scale" starring Donald Duck with Chip and Dale (1951)

I don’t remember Donald Duck in any cartoons with Chip and Dale, but apparently there were quite a few. This episode was released on November 2, 1951. In it, Donald arrives at the miniature town of Canyonville, the home of Chip and Dale. Notice how the neighborhood closely resembles the post war housing developments which had just begun to spring up across the nation in the wake of the post war housing shortage.

Donald attempts to erect a railroad set in his backyard he goes overboard, planting small trees and creating a veritable village for his train. But trouble is afoot when he discovers Chip and Dale living in one of the larger trees he needs to move for his railroad. When he evicts them from their home in the tree, they take up residence in one of the miniature houses Donald has erected in his quest to build the perfect little village.  This begins a struggle between them which, as usual, reaches epic proportions.

When Donald removes their large tree, Chip and Dale see their chance, re-planting it back in the way of Donald’s train. Donald is furious at being outwitted by Chip and Dale, but, with a bit of cunning they proceed to show Donald that duck and nature can co-exist peacefully side by side. This may be one of the earliest cartoons espousing the need for man to balance progress with nature.

"Hawaiian Holiday" with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy (1937)

When Mickey Mouse goes to Hawaii on vacation he brings along his friends, Donald Duck, Pluto and Goofy. There they encounter all of the usual insanity you would expect. While Mickey strums a ukulele, Minnie dances the Hula. And Goofy goes off on an adventure of his own; surfing.

Meantime, Pluto checks out the local wildlife. He is especially baffled by the shellfish. Donald and Pluto discover an annoying little starfish as Goofy continues his battle with the surf, at one point losing his surfboard, thinking it has sunk.

Along with the usual sound effects the cartoon is scored to the popular tune of the day, “On the Beach at Waikiki.” Good weather, good music and good friends make this a vacation not to be forgotten!

"Donald's Happy Birthday" with Donald Duck (1949)

In this classic from 1949, Donald really screws things up when he takes too strict a stance with his nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. When the three devoted nephews take on extra chores in order to buy him a birthday present, he thinks they are going to squander the money. So, he takes it from them, only to have them take it back. But, boys being boys, the money is recovered just in time to get Uncle Donald something special for his birthday; and Donald Duck, being Donald Duck, manages to misconstrue the whole affair, finally looking for a hole to crawl into. A great cartoon which speaks to the issue of “trust” with the ones whom you love.

"The Wise Little Hen" - Walt Disney (1934)

This is a "Silly Symphony" cartoon from 1934. The "Silly Symphony" cartoons were the means by which Walt Disney built up his cast of cartoon characters, starting with the earlier Mickey Mouse cartoons in black and white. In this cartoon, Donald Duck makes his first appearance as a duck who doesn't want to do his share of the work in helping to gather corn.

Along with Pete Pig, the two feign stomach aches in order to escape the work. But the Wise Old Hen has a surprise in store for the two when they go to eat some of the corn that she has gathered for the other animals. This is a very simple, and age appropriate cartoon which extolls the virtues of working for what you want, or need. All of the classic cartoons from the 1930's evoke the values of hard work, and charity, which would help carry America through the Great Depression.