Grand Canyonscope

Ranger Woodlore stars in this one...one of the only shorts I can remember that also doesn't star Humphrey the Bear. In this one, his nemesis is Donald Duck and Donald is simply AWFUL...but funny.

The story is set in a national park a lot like the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon combined. As the Ranger tries to conduct a tour, Donald keeps doing the most awful things which could destroy the natural beauty of the place. Sadly, when I visited the Grand Canyon and Bryce I actually saw many folks doing similar stuff--such as climbing over barriers to get 'the perfect shot'! In the end, Donald and a mountain lion end up destroying everything!

While the art style is very 50s and was thereby simple and a shadow of the great shorts by Disney of the 30s and 40s, this IS fun...which is most important. I also like how this first Cinemascope cartoon by Disney makes fun of itself. Well worth seeing despite the subpar art style.

Donald Duck is a tourist visiting the Grand Canyon who gives the tour's guide fits due to his continuous shenanigans including an encounter with an ill-tempered old lion.

This cartoon short is diverting enough in its goofy slapstick fashion only really I wonder if it really needed Donald Duck as its lead at all. In fact, this one seems better suited to Goofy himself to me as really there's no point here where we see Donald Duck's temper rise, which is usually said character's most entertaining aspect. Honestly most any character could have probably fit into the role which makes one wonder if they just didn't pick a popular character's name out of an hat to use for this one.

Donald Duck never has followed orders and this is no exception. He is part of a tour group, and despite warnings, he manages to constantly disobey, causing havoc on the great canyon. It is certainly well done and colorful, showing Mr. Duck to be about as destructive as one can be.

Ranger J. Audubon Woodlore takes Donald Duck and others people on a tour of the Grand Canyon - displayed here in wonderful, detailed animation. While the ranger is busy giving the tourists a run-down of the canyon, Donald does his share of being a little too overzealous in his trip, bothering Native sand painters, doing a rain dance outfit and arguing with his own echo. Pretty hilarious!

What results next is Donald and the Ranger stumble upon a mountain lion, who chases them around the landmark, resulting in funny slapstick humor and ultimately reducing the attraction to a pile of rubble. Some excitement and action in this cartoon short - not a bad one.

Grade B-

This 6 minute and 51 second cartoon starring Donald Duck can be found on the first disc of the 2-dvd set of "20,000 Leaques under the Sea". As the first Disney animated short shot in Cinemascope to compliment their first movie to be shot the same way, this has Donald Duck being a pain in the backside to a hapless grand canyon tour guide. And for what it is, is pretty good. Although I think that it might have been edited to make it more P.C. which would be a shame as changing scenes only taints the heritage that we could gain in seeing the original version. As such, I can't give this a great score.

My Grade: C+