| Donald and the Wheel | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Hamilton Luske |
| Story by | Bill Berg |
| Produced by | Walt Disney |
| Starring | Clarence Nash The Mellomen |
| Narrated by | Thurl Ravenscroft |
| Music by | Buddy Baker |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Film Distribution Company |
Release date |
|
Running time | 17 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Donald and the Wheel is a 17-minuteDonald Duckanimated short directed byHamilton Luske, produced byWalt Disney and released on June 21, 1961.[1] It is an educational-based film, and features a considerable amount of musical vocals. Disney described the cartoon as "using the revolutionary Xerox andSodium Screen Processes together for the first time, Disney and his director, Ham Luske, combine real people and objects in the same perspective as animated characters and objects."[2][3]
Two "spirits of progress" are observing the potential inventor of thewheel. These spirits are never seen aside from theirauras. One of these spirits is an adult (voiced byThurl Ravenscroft) and is accompanied by hisbeatnik-talking son (voiced by Max Smith). The elder is trying to explain the importance of the wheel to his son. They observe acaveman (portrayed byDonald Duck) trying to haul his supply sled up a hill and into a cave. Donald is then chased out of the cave by aSaber Tooth Tiger. He gets away, but the tiger tumbles down a hill wrapped around a rock. The spirits tell Donald that this should be the inspiration for his invention of the wheel.
The film then goes into the evolution and widespread uses for the wheel, including those used by theAncient Egyptians,Ancient Greeks, andAncient Romans. It introduces thehorse-drawn vehicles of theMiddle Ages as well ascarriages of the 19th century, culminating with the invention of thesteam locomotive and theIndustrial Revolution.
The narrators also take time to explain various devices that use wheel-based parts, including gears like amusic box, agramophone and ajukebox. Inside the jukebox, a tiny lady dances on the recordscontemporary jazz,hoedown andclassic ballet with Donald joining in with her. The last few segments enter the 20th century and the rise offactories and theautomobile. They finally reach the present day, wrapping up withsatellites. They also explain that the world itself isa wheel, and that theSun,Moon,Earth and planetary orbits act as wheels.
After seeing into the future, Donald appears overwhelmed and bewildered, and decides against inventing the wheel. He claims it is "too much trouble" and does not want to bear the enormous responsibility. The Spirits of Progress accept that Donald may not be the true inventor of the wheel, but that "somebody did".
The music was composed byBuddy Baker, who also composedDonald in Mathmagic Land and sung byThe Mellomen.
Donald and the Wheel was released in theaters with the filmThe Parent Trap.
The short was released on November 11, 2008, onWalt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Volume Four: 1951-1961.[4]
