The Old Army Game (1943)

Touches You

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

An Exercise In Nonsense

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

"Donald Duck" (voiced by Clarence Nash), "Sergeant Pete" (voiced by Billy Bletcher). Director: JACK KING. Screenplay: Carl Barks, Jack Hannah. Color by Technicolor. Producer: Walt Disney. Copyright 7 September 1943 by Walt Disney Productions. U.S. release through RKO-Radio Pictures: 5 November 1943. 1 reel. 6 minutes.COMMENT: The old army game of course is sneaking out of barracks and sneaking back in again. Donald attempts to fool Sergeant Pete firstly with a phonograph record and then by playing an amusing variant on the old shell game with himself as the pea. At this point, the cartoon then unexpectedly takes a rather grisly turn with a macabre, grotesque sequence of mutilation and attempted suicide that is not only highly unsuitable for children but adults as well.

I happen to love Disney and both these characters, especially Donald. And I find The Old Army Game to be one of their finest efforts together. The animation is wonderful, with the colours vibrant and the backgrounds fluid and always interesting to look at. And The Old Army Game also contains some of the best character animation I've seen for both Donald and Pete. I have always loved the music in the Disney cartoons, and The Old Army Game is no exception, right from the rousing main theme to the typically energetic and action-enhancing background scoring. The story is crisply paced and very tightly told, helped by the fantastic rapport between Donald and Pete and the imaginatively timed and funny sight gags. The missing legs and suicide attempt sequence is the highlight, both uproarious and disturbing. Clarence Nash and Billy Bletcher are as ever impeccable. In conclusion, a real treat in every regard. 10/10 Bethany Cox

This is one short that has to be seen to be believed.It is very outlandish. And not something would could imagine seeing in a cartoon today... well not entirely true... but not a cartoon with such a beloved cartoon icon such as Donald Duck.Donald Duck contemplating suicide has to be one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Ever. Not just in cartoons, but any medium. It was something I never thought I'd see. Especially in this legitimate Walt Disney adventure. But I'm glad I did. In context... always remember the context of war, people.This is maybe something you would not want to show your kids. It is available of the Walt Disney: On the front Lines collection, released in May 2004, but knowing Disney, is probably out of print by now.

Donald has snuck out of the barracks with the rest of the Privates. But he's the first to return and the first to meet the wrath of Sargent Pete, who is not impressed with his hijinks. A chase around the barracks follows as Donald hides from Pete and a possible thrashing. At one point Pete chucks Donald along a spiked fence and the little duck believes he's been cut in half. Donald and Pete both shed tears over this awful situation and Donald tries to end it all with a bullet to the brain (sure this would never be allowed in a cartoon today).A mild plot revolving around a chase, seems more like the basis for a Tom and Jerry. Kinda funny though Donald has done better.