There are funnier Donald and nephews shorts around, and more crisply paced ones. But these don't stop Donald's Happy Birthday from being an interesting short. I don't think Donald's Happy Birthday is all that routine. Most Donald and nephews shorts have the theme of the nephews causing trouble or playing cruel tricks on Donald getting him frustrated easily. Here Donald's nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie had good intentions and Donald is a jerk while feeling guilty when it's not all what it seems(though I do think he loves his nephews and has their interests at heart but doesn't go about it the right way). The very end I did find somewhat dark and touching. The animation is wonderful, very crisp and colourful, and the music is beautifully orchestrated and paced in a characterful manner as ever. All the characters are on top form even with the change of pace, and Clarence Nash's voice work is impeccable. All in all, a very good short. 8/10 Bethany Cox
11 Reviews
Search me any Donald's worse flaw than this
elenavirgilio4 January 2023
Sometimes i think about why people prefer Donald than Mickey and the only answers are: he's the anti-hero, he's nevrotic, he got bad luck, we found ourselves so much in him.
It's a pity that one of his worst flaws is his jerkiness towards his nephews in this case, and it isn't the first time and wouldn't be the last that will happen. I guess it's the case to reflect how Donald is so beloved in all his tantrums around everything turning him. Or are you telling me you are like Donald even in this way, forcing people to smoke without any reason?
Anyway, it's a nice short, and so are the nephews.
It's a pity that one of his worst flaws is his jerkiness towards his nephews in this case, and it isn't the first time and wouldn't be the last that will happen. I guess it's the case to reflect how Donald is so beloved in all his tantrums around everything turning him. Or are you telling me you are like Donald even in this way, forcing people to smoke without any reason?
Anyway, it's a nice short, and so are the nephews.
Donald and Happy in the same sentence?
CuriosityKilledShawn9 May 2014
Huey, Duey, and Louie work hard in Donald's garden in order to make enough money to spoil him for his birthday (March 13th). Donald thinks their crazy but pays them nonetheless, though he insists that they stick the money in the bank for their future. Desperate to get the dough they need the triplets resort to hijinks and eventually manage to purchase a box of cigars (I guess tobacco laws were not so strict in 1949).
Donald thinks that the stogies are for the kids and makes them smoke the whole box. The final gag of Donald learning the truth makes him shrink to a couple of inches tall. Well, at least for once he knew he was in the wrong.
A nicely animated cartoon that is quick and concise with enough laughs to make it worthwhile.
Donald thinks that the stogies are for the kids and makes them smoke the whole box. The final gag of Donald learning the truth makes him shrink to a couple of inches tall. Well, at least for once he knew he was in the wrong.
A nicely animated cartoon that is quick and concise with enough laughs to make it worthwhile.
Donald's Not-So Happy Birthday
OllieSuave-00711 December 2015
Huey, Duey and Louie wants to get their hands on their allowance, kept in a little bank by Donald Duck, so they could go buy a cigar box for their uncle's birthday. But, when Donald catches them, he thinks they are out smoking them for themselves.
It has its funny moments, especially when Donald catches his nephews' hands on the bank and tells them to put it back. Very comical but it does show Donald being a bit of a jerk, as he jumps to conclusions and didn't realize the surprise gift his nephews are planning for them. But, of course, only Donald Duck is stuck with the bad luck.
Not the best Donald cartoon, but still a little funny.
Grade B-
It has its funny moments, especially when Donald catches his nephews' hands on the bank and tells them to put it back. Very comical but it does show Donald being a bit of a jerk, as he jumps to conclusions and didn't realize the surprise gift his nephews are planning for them. But, of course, only Donald Duck is stuck with the bad luck.
Not the best Donald cartoon, but still a little funny.
Grade B-
Watch as Donald Duck's Birthday Goes Up in Smoke!
ExplorerDS67895 October 2006
Warning: Spoilers
It's March 13, Donald Duck's birthday. His nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie want to get him a box of cigars, which only costs $2.98 (the good ol' days), but when they checked their pockets, they found they had nada. They decide to earn the money by doing yard work. They trimmed the hedges, mowed the lawn, raked the leaves, watered the plants, emptied the trash, all at break-neck speed. Afterwards they go to Donald for their allowance. He gives them $3.00 in quarters, which he immediately makes them put into a musical savings bank. The boys conspire to rob the bank, but are caught the first time. Next, they try to land it with a fishing pole atop the stairs, while Donald was taking a nap at the same time guarding the savings bank. They successfully snare the bank, get the money and race off to the cigar store. Donald spots them by telescope, and assumes they used their money to buy cigars for themselves. Well, when Huey, Dewey and Louie return to their treehouse with the box of cigars, Donald catches them and makes them smoke each cigar in the box. He felt the boys were getting a painful, but much-needed lesson...until he saw a note inside the cigar box that said "To Uncle Donald, Happy Birthday". It would seem the one receiving the painful, much-needed lesson was Donald himself, who literally felt very small after what he had done.
Donald's Happy Birthday, another classic Donald Duck cartoon! Donald thinks his nephews are buying cigars for themselves then he makes them smoke them, which is a great punishment for kids who want to smoke, but in this case it was unnecessary. That big ol' box of Cubans was a birthday present for Uncle Donald. And to think, this whole mess could've been avoided if Huey, Dewey and Louie had simply told Donald they were going to use their money to buy him a birthday present. But then, we wouldn't have had a cartoon. And what kind of store sells cigars to kids? Maybe kids were more trustworthy back then. Anyway, to all you Donald Duck fans, I recommend Donald's Happy Birthday from 1949. Donald's famous theme song is in the opening. "Who get's stuck with all the bad luck? No one, but Donald Duck". Great song.
Donald's Happy Birthday, another classic Donald Duck cartoon! Donald thinks his nephews are buying cigars for themselves then he makes them smoke them, which is a great punishment for kids who want to smoke, but in this case it was unnecessary. That big ol' box of Cubans was a birthday present for Uncle Donald. And to think, this whole mess could've been avoided if Huey, Dewey and Louie had simply told Donald they were going to use their money to buy him a birthday present. But then, we wouldn't have had a cartoon. And what kind of store sells cigars to kids? Maybe kids were more trustworthy back then. Anyway, to all you Donald Duck fans, I recommend Donald's Happy Birthday from 1949. Donald's famous theme song is in the opening. "Who get's stuck with all the bad luck? No one, but Donald Duck". Great song.
Another Dustup With The Ducks
Ron Oliver26 September 2003
A Walt Disney DONALD DUCK Cartoon.
In order to ensure DONALD'S HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Huey, Dewey & Louie must first scheme a way to get the money to buy a gift.
This is very much a routine Donald versus the Nephews cartoon, but it's pleasant enough. It is in this film that we learn that Donald's birthday is March 13th. Notice that Louie's name is misspelled `Luey' on the birthday card. Clarence Nash provided the voices for the entire Duck clan.
Walt Disney (1901-1966) was always intrigued by pictures & 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 comic 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 storm of naysayers, 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 childlike simplicity of message and lots of hard work always pay off.
In order to ensure DONALD'S HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Huey, Dewey & Louie must first scheme a way to get the money to buy a gift.
This is very much a routine Donald versus the Nephews cartoon, but it's pleasant enough. It is in this film that we learn that Donald's birthday is March 13th. Notice that Louie's name is misspelled `Luey' on the birthday card. Clarence Nash provided the voices for the entire Duck clan.
Walt Disney (1901-1966) was always intrigued by pictures & 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 comic 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 storm of naysayers, 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 childlike simplicity of message and lots of hard work always pay off.
That was certainly unexpected
Horst_In_Translation17 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Donald's Happy Birthday" is an American cartoon from 1949, so it is almost 70 years old now and the name Donald tells you of course that here we got another Disney short film that runs for approximately 6-7 minutes. Voice actor is Clarence Nash, but there's also several well-known names, even by today's standards, working on this one outside the acting parts. It's Donald's birthday soon and the kids are ready to give him a box of cigars. Wait what? Smoking ducks? That's right. And you have seen nothing yet. Without the humanization, this film would be highly disturbing. Then ahain, it still is somewhat with Donald shoving dozens of cigars into his boy's mouths eventually before he finally realizes what's going on and sinks and shrinks in the most hilarious manner. Another interesting aspect here is of course the use of cigars and how harmless they were considered back then while today smoking in film is almost a bigger no-go than nudity/sexuality. But completely aside from this contemporary part about society, this is also a really entertaining watch with the comedy and how the film goes over the top in pretty hilarious ways, especially in the second half. So there is not too much else to add I believe. This is one of the best cartoons of the year from a time that is unmatched until today I guess in terms of excellent animation, at least quantity wise, maybe quality-wise too. I highly recommend checking it out. A must-see if you love old cartoons.
Not that funny
rbverhoef3 May 2003
It is March 13 and it is Donald's birthday. The nephews want to by him a box of cigars but they don't have any money. They work for it so Donald will give them money, but they are not allowed to spend it right away. When Donald is sleeping they try to get the money. This short is a little boring and there are no real laughs in it. Compared to most others it is pretty bad. 5/10.
Nephew's good intentions thwarted again
uruseiranma12 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
It's Donald's birthday, and his nephews are planning to buy him a box of 'fine cigars,' only $2.98. Frantically, they begin to do all sorts of chores and present Donald with a bill of sales, totaling the required amount. Donald agrees to pay them, but their plan is halted when he insists they put that money into a singing bank ('Take my advice, do what I say, save a little money for a rainy day'). The boys then plot and scheme to get the money out, further infuriating Donald as to what they are planning to use it for. When he spots them leaving a nearby cigar store with a box, he becomes angry. cornering them in their clubhouse, he forces them to smoke the entire box, thinking that they're the ones who the box is for. It's only after he's spent all the cigars and the boys are passed out, that he finds a card left in the box- "To Uncle Donald. Happy Birthday! -Huey, Dewey and Louie."
One of several good cartoons depicting Donald and his nephews, though here they are not as much the rapscallions of other cartoons, such as 'Truant Officer Donald.' Their scheme of good intentions going awry is reflected in several other shorts of the time, such as 'Lucky Number.'
Personally, I've always felt that Clarence Nash's voice for Donald gave the duck a very 'sorrowful' sound. When Donald reads the Birthday card and the real reason his nephews wanted to buy the cigars, it almost feels a bit touching to me.
One of several good cartoons depicting Donald and his nephews, though here they are not as much the rapscallions of other cartoons, such as 'Truant Officer Donald.' Their scheme of good intentions going awry is reflected in several other shorts of the time, such as 'Lucky Number.'
Personally, I've always felt that Clarence Nash's voice for Donald gave the duck a very 'sorrowful' sound. When Donald reads the Birthday card and the real reason his nephews wanted to buy the cigars, it almost feels a bit touching to me.
The consensus among film historians is that . . .
pixrox17 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
. . . DONALD'S HAPPY BIRTHDAY is the most definitive celluloid biography of Thomas Riley Marshall, America's 28th Vice President. Tom was two-faced from boyhood, sitting on BOTH Abe Lincoln and Steve Douglas' laps during the older gents' debate in 1858. Working his way through law school with summer jobs on tobacco farms, Tom began his career of pushing the demon weed on innocent U. S. youths. After proclaiming in America's Senate "What this country needs is a really good five-cent cigar" kids could afford, Frank Holt--a leader of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children--tried but failed to assassinate Marshall. Note that during HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Donald's box of 50 cigars is priced at $2.98, which rounds down to a nickel each. By stuffing five cigars into the mouth of each "nephew," Don as Tom emulates the latter's life-long avocation of corrupting U. S. kids with tobacco. The choice of such subject matter is par for the course when it comes to the nefarious Dizzy rodent ranchers.,
Donald's an even bigger jerk than usual!
planktonrules3 June 2012
Warning: Spoilers
This is a VERY unusual Disney cartoon because it's apparently accidentally slipped into the public domain and can be downloaded for free from archive.org. It's especially surprising because it's one of the better Donald Duck cartoons.
Huey, Dewey and Louie want to buy a gift for Uncle Donald for his birthday. They decide to buy him a box of cigars but need money. So, they go to Donald to collect payment for all the chores they've been doing. He pays them but then insists they put it in the piggy bank. Later, they sneak the money. Donald finds out...and finds out they bought a box of cigars. He stupidly thinks the boys are smoking and instead of asking about the cigars, he decides to punish them by making them smoke them. Later, he discovers why they bought them and he feels like a total jerk.
My guess is that the smoking theme is why Disney didn't renew the copyright on this one. Kids buying cigars and smoking them, while a great plot for 1949, became unacceptable in the more health-conscious 60s and 70s and especially today. Still, I think the film is well worth seeing as it's unusually sweet and poignant for a Donald Duck cartoon.
Huey, Dewey and Louie want to buy a gift for Uncle Donald for his birthday. They decide to buy him a box of cigars but need money. So, they go to Donald to collect payment for all the chores they've been doing. He pays them but then insists they put it in the piggy bank. Later, they sneak the money. Donald finds out...and finds out they bought a box of cigars. He stupidly thinks the boys are smoking and instead of asking about the cigars, he decides to punish them by making them smoke them. Later, he discovers why they bought them and he feels like a total jerk.
My guess is that the smoking theme is why Disney didn't renew the copyright on this one. Kids buying cigars and smoking them, while a great plot for 1949, became unacceptable in the more health-conscious 60s and 70s and especially today. Still, I think the film is well worth seeing as it's unusually sweet and poignant for a Donald Duck cartoon.
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