The Trial of Donald Duck

A Walt Disney DONALD DUCK Cartoon.

THE TRIAL OF DONALD DUCK attempts to prove his innocence of alleged bad behavior whilst a patron at the Café Chez Pierre.

Routine animation cannot detract from the enjoyment of watching the Duck in various stages of having a temper tantrum. Clarence "Ducky" Nash supplies Donald's unique voice.

Walt Disney (1901-1966) was always intrigued by drawings. As a lad in Marceline, Missouri, he sketched farm animals on scraps of paper; later, as an ambulance driver in France during the First World War, he drew figures on the sides of his vehicle. Back in Kansas City, along with artist Ub Iwerks, Walt developed a primitive animation studio that provided animated commercials and tiny cartoons for the local movie theaters. Always the innovator, his ALICE IN CARTOONLAND series broke ground in placing a live figure in a cartoon universe. Business reversals sent Disney & Iwerks to Hollywood in 1923, where Walt's older brother Roy became his lifelong business manager & counselor. When a mildly successful series with Oswald The Lucky Rabbit was snatched away by the distributor, the character of Mickey Mouse sprung into Walt's imagination, ensuring Disney's immortality. The happy arrival of sound technology made Mickey's screen debut, STEAMBOAT WILLIE (1928), a tremendous audience success with its use of synchronized music. The SILLY SYMPHONIES soon appeared, and Walt's growing crew of marvelously talented animators were quickly conquering new territory with full color, illusions of depth and radical advancements in personality development, an arena in which Walt's genius was unbeatable. Mickey's feisty, naughty behavior had captured millions of fans, but he was soon to be joined by other animated companions: temperamental Donald Duck, intellectually-challenged Goofy and energetic Pluto. All this was in preparation for Walt's grandest dream - feature length animated films. Against a blizzard of doomsayers, Walt persevered and over the next decades delighted children of all ages with the adventures of Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Bambi & Peter Pan. Walt never forgot that his fortunes were all started by a mouse, or that simplicity of message and lots of hard work always pay off.

This is a fun little cartoon. Donald Duck is facing trial for not paying a bill at a snooty French restaurant. After getting caught in the rain, our quiet, unassuming duck, realizes he has five cents, enough for a cup of coffee. But he makes the mistake of going to a French restaurant and is charged exorbitant sums for eating his own food. It is a pretty good effort and he actually comes out OK.

This is not a bad little cartoon where Donald goes on trial for refusing to pay an exorbitant bill at a French cafe, where he only got one drop of coffee. But, he ate his own lunch there and the waiter charged him for the service. The judge sentences Donald to labor work and is forced to wash the dishes at the cafe for 10 days. But, the waiter got more than he was bargained for.

There isn't much comedy or action in this cartoon, but it's a little entertaining seeing Donald argue with the waiter at the restaurant and go on trial. With a narrator telling the story, this cartoon almost resembles a courtroom drama.

Grade B-

Disney and Donald Duck fans will love this cartoon. I have seen better animation, but it is still impressive with nice colour and fluid backgrounds. The character designs are also good The music is full of energy as you will find with almost all Disney cartoons, the story is fun and crisply paced and the gags are imaginative with Donald's temper taking centre stage. Donald is his usual temperamental yet likable self, and the very unique voice of Clarence Nash is responsible for the character and is impeccable.

All in all, as someone who does love both Disney and Donald Duck, I loved this cartoon, even if it is not my favourite. 10/10 Bethany Cox