Modern Inventions

1937 Donald Duck cartoon

Modern Inventions

"Your hat, sir."

Directed by| Jack King
Story by| Carl Barks
Produced by| Walt Disney
Starring| Clarence Nash
Billy Bletcher
Adriana Caselotti
Don Brodie[1]
Music by| Oliver Wallace
Animation by| Jack Hannah
Paul Allen
Johnny Cannon[2]
Color process| Technicolor

Production
company

Walt Disney Productions

Distributed by| United Artists

Release date

* May 29, 1937 (1937-05-29)

[3]

Running time

| 8:30
Country| United States
Language| English

Modern Inventions is a 1937 American comic science fiction animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by United Artists. It is also the final Disney short to be released by United Artists. In the cartoon, Donald Duck tours the fictional Museum of Modern Marvels. Jack King directed it in his first directing role at Disney, and Oliver Wallace composed the original music. The voice cast includes Clarence Nash as Donald, Billy Bletcher as the Robot Butler, Adriana Caselotti as the Robot Baby Carriage, and Don Brodie as the Robot Barber.

## Plot

[edit]

Donald visits the Museum of Modern Marvels which showcases futuristic electronic appliances and inventions. He drops a coin on a string in the admission box and yanks it out. Once inside, he meets the Robot Butler, a golden robot cyclops. The Robot Butler is programmed to greet guests and take their hats but it has a flaw where it takes their hats whether they want to or not. It takes Donald's hat over Donald’s protest but Donald does a magic trick to produce a top hat. He encounters a robot hitchhiker exhibit that thumbs a ride when he imitates a passing ambulance. It pokes him in the eyes for tricking it into activating. The Robot Butler appears and takes his top hat but he does a magic trick to produce a bicorne.

He finds a bundle wrapping machine. He ignores a sign that says not to touch it and pulls a lever, causing it to wrap him with cellophane and a red ribbon. After he frees himself, the Robot Butler appears and takes his bicorne. He does a magic trick to produce a kepi and taunts the Robot Butler who chases him. He hides inside a robotic baby carriage and swaps his kepi with a bonnet. The carriage coddles him and offers a milk bottle, which squirts milk at his face. As he tries to escape, the carriage thrashes him with a puppet toy, squirts more milk and puts a diaper on him. When he finally gets free, the Robot Butler appears and takes his bonnet.

After he does a magic trick to produce a bowler hat, he finds a robotic barber chair that he activates by using his coin. It tosses him upside-down and trims his tail while giving his head a shoe-polish. After he is released, he puts his bowler hat on his well-polished head. However, the Robot Butler appears and takes his bowler hat. Fed up with the Robot Butler taking his hats, he throws an explosive tantrum.

## Production

[edit]

The story was originally conceived as Mickey's Inventions, a vehicle for Donald's co-star Mickey Mouse. As Donald's star began to rise in 1936, the short was reworked as a duck cartoon.[4]

## Voice cast

[edit]

### Uncredited

[edit]

* Clarence Nash as Donald Duck
* Billy Bletcher as Robot Butler
* Adriana Caselotti as Robot Baby Carriage
* Don Brodie as Robot Barber Chair[1]

## Releases

[edit]

Source:[2]

* May 29, 1937 - original release (theatrical)
* c. 1992 - Mickey's Mouse Tracks, episode 7 (TV)
* c. 1992 - Donald's Quack Attack, episode 30 (TV)
* December 24, 1997 - Ink & Paint Club, episode 26: "Classic Donald" (TV)[5]

## Home media

[edit]

The short was released on May 18, 2004, on Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Volume One: 1934-1941.[6]

It was also released on VHS in 1985 on Cartoon Classics: The Continuing Adventures of Chip 'n' Dale Featuring Donald Duck.

## Legacy

[edit]

The cartoon would later serve as inspiration for suicide booths, fictional contraptions appearing in the American adult animated sitcom Futurama.[7]

In an episode of the series House of Mouse, Minnie Mouse asks Goofy for the name of the cartoon. Goofy knows which Donald Duck cartoon she is talking about, but does not remember the name. Donald mistakenly tells them that the cartoon is called Donald's Haircut and made in 1945, only for Mickey Mouse to correct him.

## See also

[edit]

* Mickey Mouse (film series)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Scott, Keith (October 3, 2022). Cartoon Voices of the Golden Age, Vol. 2. BearManor Media.
2. ^ a b Modern Inventions Archived March 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine at The Encyclopedia of Disney Animated Shorts
3. ^ Kaufman, J.B.; Gerstein, David (2018). Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History. Cologne: Taschen. ISBN 978-3-8365-5284-4.
4. ^ Kaufman, J.B.; Gerstein, David (2024). Walt Disney's Donald Duck: The Ultimate History. Taschen. p. 106\. ISBN 978-3-8365-5280-6.
5. ^ Movie connections for "Ink & Paint Club" at the Internet Movie Database
6. ^ "The Chronological Donald Volume 1 DVD Review". DVD Dizzy. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
7. ^ Groening, Matt (2003). Futurama season 1 DVD commentary for the episode "Space Pilot 3000" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.

## External links

[edit]

* Modern Inventions at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Donald Duck in animation

Filmography

Silly Symphony
short films|

* The Wise Little Hen (1934)
* Mother Goose Goes Hollywood (1938; cameo)

Mickey Mouse
short films|

* Orphan's Benefit (1934)
* The Dognapper (1934)
* The Band Concert (1935)
* Mickey's Service Station (1935)
* Mickey's Fire Brigade (1935)
* On Ice (1935)
* Mickey's Polo Team (1936)
* Orphans' Picnic (1936)
* Mickey's Grand Opera (1936)
* Moving Day (1936)
* Alpine Climbers (1936)
* Mickey's Circus (1936)
* Donald and Pluto (1936)
* Magician Mickey (1937)
* Moose Hunters (1937)
* Mickey's Amateurs (1937)
* Hawaiian Holiday (1937)
* Clock Cleaners (1937)
* Lonesome Ghosts (1937)
* Boat Builders (1938)
* Mickey's Trailer (1938)
* The Whalers (1938)
* Tugboat Mickey (1940)
* The Nifty Nineties (1941; cameo)
* Orphan's Benefit (1941; remake)
* Mickey's Birthday Party (1942)
* Symphony Hour (1942)
* Pluto's Christmas Tree (1952; cameo)
* Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
* The Prince and the Pauper (1990)

Donald Duck and
Donald & Goofy
short films|

| 1930s|

* Don Donald (1937)
* Modern Inventions (1937)
* Donald's Ostrich (1937)
* Self Control (1938)
* Donald's Better Self (1938)
* Donald's Nephews (1938)
* Polar Trappers (1938)
* Good Scouts (1938)
* The Fox Hunt (1938)
* Donald's Golf Game (1938)
* Donald's Lucky Day (1939)
* The Hockey Champ (1939)
* Donald's Cousin Gus (1939)
* Beach Picnic (1939)
* Sea Scouts (1939)
* Donald's Penguin (1939)
* The Autograph Hound (1939)
* Officer Duck (1939)

|

1940s|

* The Riveter (1940)
* Donald's Dog Laundry (1940)
* Billposters (1940)
* Mr. Duck Steps Out (1940)
* Put-Put Troubles (1940)
* Donald's Vacation (1940)
* Window Cleaners (1940)
* Fire Chief (1940)
* Timber (1941)
* Golden Eggs (1941)
* A Good Time for a Dime (1941)
* Early to Bed (1941)
* Truant Officer Donald (1941)
* Old MacDonald Duck (1941)
* Donald's Camera (1941)
* Chef Donald (1941)
* The Village Smithy (1942)
* The New Spirit (1942)
* Donald's Snow Fight (1942)
* Donald Gets Drafted (1942)
* Donald's Garden (1942)
* Donald's Gold Mine (1942)
* The Vanishing Private (1942)
* Sky Trooper (1942)
* Bellboy Donald (1942)
* Der Fuehrer's Face (1943)
* The Spirit of '43 (1943)
* Donald's Tire Trouble (1943)
* The Flying Jalopy (1943)
* Fall Out Fall In (1943)
* The Old Army Game (1943)
* Home Defense (1943)
* Trombone Trouble (1944)
* Donald Duck and the Gorilla (1944)
* Contrary Condor (1944)
* Commando Duck (1944)
* The Plastics Inventor (1944)
* Donald's Off Day (1944)
* The Clock Watcher (1945)
* The Eyes Have It (1945)
* Donald's Crime (1945)
* Duck Pimples (1945)
* No Sail (1945)
* Cured Duck (1945)
* Old Sequoia (1945)
* Donald's Double Trouble (1946)
* Wet Paint (1946)
* Dumb Bell of the Yukon (1946)
* Lighthouse Keeping (1946)
* Frank Duck Brings 'Em Back Alive (1946)
* Straight Shooters (1947)
* Sleepy Time Donald (1947)
* Clown of the Jungle (1947)
* Donald's Dilemma (1947)
* Crazy with the Heat (1947)
* Bootle Beetle (1947)
* Wide Open Spaces (1947)
* Chip an' Dale (1947)
* Drip Dippy Donald (1948)
* Daddy Duck (1948)
* Donald's Dream Voice (1948)
* The Trial of Donald Duck (1948)
* Inferior Decorator (1948)
* Soup's On (1948)
* Three for Breakfast (1948)
* Tea for Two Hundred (1948)
* Donald's Happy Birthday (1949)
* Sea Salts (1949)
* Winter Storage (1949)
* Honey Harvester (1949)
* All in a Nutshell (1949)
* The Greener Yard (1949)
* Slide, Donald, Slide (1949)
* Toy Tinkers (1949)

1950s|

* Lion Around (1950)
* Crazy Over Daisy (1950)
* Trailer Horn (1950)
* Hook, Lion and Sinker (1950)
* Bee at the Beach (1950)
* Out on a Limb (1950)
* Dude Duck (1951)
* Corn Chips (1951)
* Test Pilot Donald (1951)
* Lucky Number (1951)
* Out of Scale (1951)
* Bee on Guard (1951)
* Donald Applecore (1952)
* Let's Stick Together (1952)
* Uncle Donald's Ants (1952)
* Trick or Treat (1952)
* Don's Fountain of Youth (1953)
* The New Neighbor (1953)
* Rugged Bear (1953)
* Working for Peanuts (1953)
* Canvas Back Duck (1953)
* Spare the Rod (1954)
* Donald's Diary (1954)
* Grin and Bear It (1954)
* The Flying Squirrel (1954)
* Dragon Around (1954)
* Grand Canyonscope (1954)
* No Hunting (1955)
* Bearly Asleep (1955)
* Beezy Bear (1955)
* Up a Tree (1955)
* Chips Ahoy (1956)

1960s|

* The Litterbug (1961)

Other short films|

* The Volunteer Worker (1940)
* All Together (1942; cameo)
* Donald's Decision (1942)
* How to Have an Accident in the Home (1956)
* How to Have an Accident at Work (1959)
* Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959)
* Donald and the Wheel (1961)
* Steel & America (1965)
* Donald's Fire Survival Plan (1966)
* Family Planning (1967)
* Plusaversary (2021; cameo)
* Once Upon a Studio (2023)

Feature films|

| Theatrical|

* The Reluctant Dragon (1941)
* Saludos Amigos (1942)
* The Three Caballeros (1944)
* Fun and Fancy Free (1947)
* Melody Time (1948)
* Fantasia 2000 (1999)

|

Direct-to-video|

* Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
* Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001)
* Mickey's House of Villains (2002)
* Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers (2004)
* Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas (2004)
* Once Upon a Halloween (2005; archive footage)

TV series|

* The Mickey Mouse Club (1955–1959)
* DuckTales (1987)
* Quack Pack (1996)
* Mickey Mouse Works (1999–2000)
* House of Mouse (2001–2003)
* Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (2006–2016)
* Minnie's Bow-Toons (2011–present)
* Mickey Mouse (2013–2019)
* Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures (2017–2021)
* DuckTales (2017–2021)
* Legend of the Three Caballeros (2018)
* The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse (2020–2023)
* Mickey Mouse Funhouse (2021–2025)
* Chip 'n' Dale: Park Life (2021–2024)
* Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ (2025)

TV specials|

* Totally Minnie (1988)
* Mickey's Tale of Two Witches (2021)
* Mickey and Minnie Wish Upon a Christmas (2021)
* Mickey Saves Christmas (2022)
* Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats (2023)

Film cameos|

* Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
* The Little Mermaid (1989)
* A Goofy Movie (1995)
* The Lion King 1½ (2004)

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Jack King

* Viva Buddy (1934)
* Buddy's Circus (1934)
* Buddy the Woodsman (1934)
* Buddy the Detective (1934)
* Buddy's Bearcats (1934)
* Hollywood Capers (1935)
* A Cartoonist's Nightmare (1935)
* Buddy the Gee Man (1935)
* Buddy Steps Out (1935)
* Buddy's Bug Hunt (1935)
* Buddy's Lost World (1935)
* The Phantom Ship (1936)
* Boom Boom (1936)
* The Fire Alarm (1936)
* Alpine Antics (1936)
* Westward Whoa (1936)
* Fish Tales (1936)
* Shanghaied Shipmates (1936)
* Porky's Pet (1936)
* Porky's Moving Day (1936)
* Modern Inventions (1937)
* Donald's Ostrich (1937)
* Self Control (1938)
* Donald's Better Self (1938)
* Donald's Golf Game (1938)
* Good Scouts (1938)
* Donald's Nephews (1938)
* The Autograph Hound (1939)
* Donald's Penguin (1939)
* Donald's Cousin Gus (1939)
* The Hockey Champ (1939)
* Donald's Lucky Day (1939)
* Fire Chief (1940)
* Window Cleaners (1940)
* Donald's Vacation (1940)
* Mr. Duck Steps Out (1940)
* Donald's Dog Laundry (1940)
* Chef Donald (1941)
* Old MacDonald Duck (1941)
* Truant Officer Donald (1941)
* Early to Bed (1941)
* Timber (1941)
* Bellboy Donald (1942)
* Sky Trooper (1942)
* The Vanishing Private (1942)
* Out of the Frying Pan into the Firing Line (1942)
* Donald Gets Drafted (1942)
* Donald's Snow Fight (1942)
* Home Defense (1943)
* The Old Army Game (1943)
* Fall Out Fall In (1943)
* The Spirit of '43 (1943)
* The Plastics Inventor (1944)
* Commando Duck (1944)
* Contrary Condor (1944)
* Donald Duck and the Gorilla (1944)
* Trombone Trouble (1944)
* Old Sequoia (1945)
* Cured Duck (1945)
* Donald's Crime (1945)
* The Clock Watcher (1945)
* Defense Against Invasion (1946)
* Dumb Bell of the Yukon (1946)
* Wet Paint (1946)
* Donald's Double Trouble (1946)
* Wide Open Spaces (1947)
* Donald's Dilemma (1947)
* Sleepy Time Donald (1947)
* The Trial of Donald Duck (1948)
* Donald's Dream Voice (1948)
* Drip Dippy Donald (1948)

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template