Mr. Duck Steps Out

Donald is about to go to Daisy's house for a hot time with his sweetie. Naturally, when Huey, Dewey and Louie find out, they show up to ruin Donald's good time and make it impossible for him to score. Again and again, Donald tries dancing with Daisy--only to have the brats get in the middle of them...literally.

This is a highly unusual short because Clarence Nash not only provides the voice for Donald (which he did for many years) but for the nephews AND Daisy. With the nephews, this isn't a problem. But Daisy sounds exactly like Donald...which is strange considering in subsequent films she had a decidedly girlish voice.

So is it any good? Well, the animation is about as lovely as you'll find in a Disney short and is simply better than anything MGM or Looney Toons made at the time. My only quibble is much of this seems familiar since the nephews are always being jerks towards Uncle Donald. Still, you could do a lot worse and the film is entertaining.

'Mr. Duck Steps Out (1940)' is essentially one long dance number, as Donald boogies his way over to Daisy's house for a date. However, his three nephews seem determined to mess with him, so it isn't long before trouble ensues. There isn't much to the piece in terms of story. Thankfully, though, the piece is well-paced and lively, with generally impressive animation and a few chucklesome sight-gags. It's typically rather enjoyable and it comes together nicely in the end. 6/10

Mr Duck Steps Out has to be one of my favourite Donald Duck cartoons ever. As an avid Disney and Donald fan, I thought choosing absolute favourite would be difficult, but Mr Duck Steps Out I've always loved and sure is one of them. The animation is as colourful and smooth as some of the best animation of the best cartoons of the 30s and 40s, the music is some of the catchiest ever I've heard for any cartoon and the dancing is full of energy, reminding one fondly of the dancing of that particular era. The gags are fun and very imaginative, the gag where Donald's nephews Huey Duey and Louie put an ear of corn on the stove and knock it into Donald which causes him to shake uncontrollably and throw popcorn everywhere is hilarious especially and has endless and timeless replay value. The story is a very light-hearted one in tone, yet delicately balances also Donald's frustration, and the characters from the temperamental but likable Donald, lovely Daisy to the cheeky yet cute rascals that are Huey, Duey and Louie. Clarence Nash's vocals for all five characters are bravura in every sense of the word. In conclusion, fantastic, a must-watch. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Donald Duck has a date with Daisy but his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie keep getting in the way. He arrives at her house only to be preceded by them. In the end, they pop an ear of corn which leads to some outrageous dancing from Donald with Daisy.

I am surprised by the suggestive tail wagging from Daisy. Otherwise, it's a fun little family friendly cartoon short with Donald. The nephews are less annoying than usual since they eventually get Donald together with Daisy for a happy ending. It's not one of the icons but it's very solid.

One of the funniest of the Donald Duck cartoons, here his three nephews try to Donald and Daisy apart and the plan backfires. The real fun begins when Donald swallows the red-hot corn cob!! Great cartoon.