Donald's Dilemma

The title is a bit of a misnomer. It's actually Daisy's dilemma. For once, she is thrust center stage. No longer the shrinking violet or amiable catalyst, she displays a ruthlessly self-centered neurotic streak light years removed from the traditional Carl Barks comic-book conception. We sympathize with her all the same, despite her theatrics — which are not all that exaggerated when you think about it. I've known fans who would hang around stage doors for interminable lengths of time, patiently waiting for a fleeting glimpse or grudging autograph from their idol, gaining comfort during their long vigil just from the sight of a poster.

Donald's Dilemma is unusual for Disney in that it tells a definite story, laid out in the traditional premise/plot development/resolution fashion, rather than presenting just a series of gags and variations on a single theme (for example, wanting to fly, trying to sleep, jitterbugging, skinning a bear) which often ends abruptly when time is up. Happily, this well-crafted story experiment is highly successful, thanks to an ingenious central idea which is cleverly developed and brilliantly characterized, and direction that is both unusually snappy and atmospheric from the usually stolid Jack King.

One of the best Disney shorts. Highly recommend. Same very funny.

This is the old bit where someone gets hit on the head and a whole new personality appears. Donald and Daisy are walking down the street when a flower pot falls from a high floor in a skyscraper. He is suddenly transformed into a great actor, singer, and personality. He's on the cover of magazines, he fills entire concert halls, on and on. Meanwhile, Daisy wants him back the way he was. This leads to serious complications and a predictable finish. Watching him get there is a load of fun.

"Donald's Dilemma" is one of the first films to use a very common cliche for TV shows of the 50s and 60s. Early in the cartoon, a flower pot falls off a very high ledge and conks Donald in the head. Instantly, he is an all new duck....one that doesn't recognize Daisy and who is a crooner. In fact, he almost instantly becomes a huge sensation (like Sinatra in his prime) and the world is thrilled with the change. But Daisy is upset...and all she wants back is her cranky old Donald! So, she seeks out professional help...

Like all the Disney films of the era, the animation quality it tops and the cartoon is a wonderful counterpoint to the almost saccharine Mickey Mouse cartoons of the 1940s (where he is so nice...too nice if you ask me). Instead, this Daisy/Donald cartoon is violent and mean-spirited...exactly what most folks want out of a cartoon! Very enjoyable and nice to see a cartoon from Daisy's point of view.

The song Donald sings is "When You Wish Upon A Star"however it is slightly different from the famous song we know today because donald Replaces the verse "Makes No Difference who you are" to "Shine in Right In From Afar. I saw this short many times on a home video. I have read other comments about this short and they said that the title should be "Daisy's Dilemma" and i agree with that. I don't think i saw donald loose his temper in this short.