The Old Army Game (1943)

Pretty Good

Memorable, crazy movie

Admirable film.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

If you only watch the first minute or two of "The Old Army Game", you'll think that it's a nice, silly cartoon about going AWOL from an army base. I particularly liked how Pete (the common antagonist in Disney cartoons who looks like a cross between a cat and and a bulldog) calmly puts his ear against the door to listen to the snoring, only to discover that the "snoring" is from a record titled ASSORTED SNORES, and then he finds that the beds are full of dummies.That's where the cartoon takes a nasty turn. After Donald returns to the base, Pete tries to get him, but through a mishap thinks that he killed Donald and gives Donald advice on suicide! I liked it whenever Bugs Bunny feigned death, but this was just gross. I don't recommend the cartoon (except for the first minute or two).If I remember right, 35 miles/hour is approximately 55 km/h.

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.

A Walt Disney DONALD DUCK Cartoon.It becomes THE OLD ARMY GAME when Donald tries to sneak back onto base without Sergeant Pete catching him...Here is another of Donald's wartime cartoons, with lots of laughs and physical comedy. Pete has finally found his perfect niche as a military noncommissioned officer. The legendary Carl Barks was one of the writers involved in this little film; Clarence Nash provides the Duck with his unique voice.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 blizzard of doomsayers, 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.