Scrooge McDuck and Money

A Walt Disney Cartoon.

Huey, Dewey & Louie visit their Uncle Scrooge to seek advice in what to do with their piggy bank savings of $1.95.

SCROOGE McDUCK AND MONEY was another little Disney film which both entertained & educated. Scrooge informs the viewer about the history of the development of convenient currency and gives a brief explanation of inflation, economics and the importance of living on a budget for good household management. He reveals the reason for taxes, explains why money must circulate and advocates the value of making shrewd investments. Throughout, the animation is strictly routine - showing where Disney pinched a few production pennies.

Largely created by the legendary Carl Barks for Disney comic books, this was the film debut for Scrooge, the richest duck in the world. He is voiced here by Bill Thompson.

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 the very first Scrooge McDuck cartoon and while it's notable for this reason, I cannot recommend you see this film because it embodies why Disney stock began to drop like a rock in the 1960s and 70s. By the early 80s, the Disney name was at its lowest---due at least in part to 20 or more years of cartoons and live-action films of often dubious quality. This period was so unlike the glory days of the late 20s through the 1940s when Disney meant first quality--and very much unlike the improved Disney of the last few decades. The huge slip in watchability came when Disney did so many moves to cut costs that the films simply weren't any fun. Low frame-rates, dull characters and poor animation became the norm.

SCROOGE MCDUCK AND MONEY is, in particular, no fun at all. And, instead of fun, it was meant to educate children about the history of bartering, money and credit! For a kid, this is like being given new underwear for Christmas!! You expect more from the Disney folks than boring education...set to awful music.

Don't watch this film. While I am not a huge fan of DuckTales, I suggest you try them instead--It's harmless and at least fun...and your brain will thank you for it.

"Donald" in the guise of a stereotypically Scottish hoarder tries to explain to nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie the evolution of money and the basics of economics. Surrounded by piles of gold and banknotes, he tries to inspire the youngsters - armed with $1.95 in their piggy bank - to use their cash wisely whilst also explaining the origins of some of the language: "2 bits"; "salary"; "cough up" etc. It's largely set to rhyme and fairly unashamedly extols the values of capitalism - money must, of course, "circulate". It's a carton equivalent of a "Ladybird" book that goes on too long, but is still quite good fun.

One of the classics, Educational and will have characters that are recognizable to thew youth of today. So many kids today take money for granted & have no clue about investing, or even savings. Show them this one at say 10-15years & then sit them down and talk them through it. Answer any questions they have. I think they should include this with school curriculum and the future would be much better.

I think they should bring this back into circulation, like they did with Donald & mathmagic land. There are so much that fall through the cracks & should be addressed. I highly recommend this one & most of the educational one's for Disney. I found it fun & engaging