Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Volume Three 1947-1950

What goes around, comes around for Donald Duck in these vintage Disney cartoons spanning the years 1947-1950. Donald (voiced by Clarence Nash), the supporting player whose fowl play stole scenes from Mickey Mouse, now finds himself upstaged by a menagerie of mischievous characters bound to send him into characteristic fits. The nuttiest, of course, are Chip and Dale, who made their debut in a Pluto cartoon, but were ideally teamed with Donald in “Chip An' Dale” (which gave the rodent duo their names), one of 30 entries in this collection. Another highlight is the Oscar-nominated Christmas ‘toon "Toy Tinkers," in which C&D raid Donald's home with an arsenal of toys in a bid to steal his cache of nuts. "Clown of the Jungle" hilariously pairs Donald with the rambunctiously silly Aracuan Bird (first seen in the feature film The Three Caballeros), who foils bird photographer Donald's every Kodak moment. Donald's nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, take center stage in three lively pieces, while another comic foil for Donald is a bee that supplies the buzz in three more shorts. Lesser known (and for good reason) is the Bootle Beetle, who appears in several entries to relate tales of his misadventures with Donald. Not that Donald can't carry a cartoon solo: three of the ‘toons in this set rank among his best. In "Donald's Dilemma," a conk on the head from a flower pot transforms Donald into a Sinatra-like crooner, much to the growing displeasure of gal pal Daisy, who does not want to share him with his adoring fans. In "Donald's Dream Voice," after his signature voice alienates customers, salesman Donald takes a voice pill that gives him the debonair tones of Ronald Colman. And in "Dip Drippy Donald," a sleepy Donald tries to cope with a leaky faucet. As with past Walt Disney Treasures sets, a "From the Vault" feature isolates cartoons with politically incorrect content, ranging from Huey, Dewey, and Louie smoking in "Donald's Happy Birthday" to a Chinese caricature in "Three for Breakfast," with viewer advisory from on-camera host Leonard Maltin. Like Daffy Duck over at Warner Bros., Donald is hardly a role model—which gives these riotous cartoons some un-Disney-like edge—but his work stands the test of time. DVD extras include Donald's appearances on The Mickey Mouse Club, and a pair of featurettes (“The Many Faces of Donald Duck” and "Sculpting Donald"). (D. Liebenson)