Working for Peanuts

1953 Donald Duck cartoon

Working for Peanuts

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Jack Hannah
Story by| Nick George
Roy Williams
Produced by| Walt Disney
Starring| Clarence Nash
James MacDonald
Dessie Flynn
Music by| Oliver Wallace
Animation by| Volus Jones
Bill Justice
George Kreisl
Dan MacManus (effects)
Layouts by| Yale Gracey
Backgrounds by| Eyvind Earle
Color process| Technicolor

Production
company

Walt Disney Productions

Distributed by| RKO Radio Pictures

Release date

* November 11, 1953 (1953-11-11)

Running time

| 6:40
Country| United States
Language| English

Working for Peanuts is a 1953 animated short produced by Walt Disney, featuring Donald Duck and Chip 'n' Dale.[1] It is notable for being one of their first shorts filmed in 3D (the first being Adventures in Music: Melody, which was released several months before). The tagline of the film is "Walt Disney's Donald Duck & Chip 'N Dale in their first laugh riot in 3-Dimension".

In 2006, it was remastered for digital 3D purposes and re-released in 2007 along with the Disney Digital 3-D version of the Walt Disney Animation Studios film Meet the Robinsons.

Working for Peanuts was also showcased a number of times at the Disney theme parks and was used as a teaser 3D cartoon at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, which showcased a 3D film, Magic Journeys, that was sponsored by Kodak.

The title "Working for Peanuts", which is a common expression to indicate earning low wages, is used to allude to the development in the story related to the elephant's peanuts.

## Plot

[edit]

While collecting acorns, Chip and Dale discover a peanut that had been thrown from the nearby zoo. The duo sample the peanut and enjoy its taste. They spot a crowd throwing peanuts at Dolores the Elephant, who is being cared for by Donald Duck.

The chipmunks attempt to steal peanuts while Donald is away, but Dolores discovers Dale. Dale offers Dolores a peanut, but runs off while her eyes are closed. In response, Dolores tricks Dale into throwing his load of peanuts into her mouth by using her trunk as a "branch", then sucks Chip's load out of the tree. The chipmunks retaliate by pulling back a branch on their tree and striking Dolores in the rear. Dolores complains to Donald. Once he notices the chipmunks in the act of theft, Donald uses Dolores' trunk like a vacuum to suck up the stolen peanuts. He then fires the peanuts at them like a machine gun, but runs out of peanuts. The chipmunks retreat into a mouse hole, and Donald, rushing towards them, collides with the wall and is left dazed. The chipmunks observe other animals receiving peanuts. Dale attempts to gather more by imitating a sea lion. A fish is thrown at him instead, and Chip mocks him. Unamused, Dale slaps Chip with the fish.

Dolores notices Donald and snaps him out of his stupor. The two then find the chipmunks dancing in exchange for peanuts. Donald furiously tries to chase the chipmunks out of the zoo. While trying to escape from Donald, Dale trips in a bucket of white paint, covering himself in it. Chip gets an idea. The two cover themselves in the white paint and put themselves in a box, posing as albino chipmunks and instructing Donald to only feed them peanuts.

Donald creates an albino chipmunk exhibit and fills it with peanuts. Dolores provides the chipmunks with a miniature swimming pool. Dale attempts to cannonball in. Chip stops Dale, but not before he inadvertently washes the paint off his bottom half. Dolores alerts Donald, so Dale draws two lines across his body, imitating a pair of suspenders. Donald buys the ruse and he and Dolores walk away. Chip says "We sure fooled him!", to which Dale responds "Yep! Sure did!" and pulls back on his now-real suspenders. Chip looks at the camera and shrugs.

## Voice cast

[edit]

* Donald Duck: Clarence Nash
* Chip: Jimmy MacDonald
* Dale: Dessie Flynn

## Releases

[edit]

* 1953 - theatrical release
* 1956 - as part of "3D Jamboree" (Disneyland).
* 1960 - Walt Disney Presents, episode #6.23: "This Is Your Life, Donald Duck" (TV)
* c. 1983 - Good Morning, Mickey!, episode #8 (TV)
* 1987 - preshow for "Magic Journeys" at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom (theme park).
* c. 1992 - Donald's Quack Attack, episode #44 (TV)
* 1998 - The Ink and Paint Club, episode #1.42: "Goin' to the Zoo" (TV)
* 2006 - as part of the World 3D Film Expo II.[2]
* 2007 - reissued with 3D version of Meet the Robinsons (theatrical).

## Home media

[edit]

The short was released on November 11, 2008 on Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Volume Four: 1951-1961.[3]

Additional releases include:

* 1981 - Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck Cartoon Collections Volume Three (VHS)
* 1987 - Cartoon Classics: Starring Chip 'n Dale (VHS)
* 2005 - Classic Cartoon Favorites: Starring Chip 'n Dale (DVD)

Also, in 2010, Walt Disney Home Entertainment partnered with Mitsubishi Electric to bring the Disney Digital 3D Showcase Disc to homes across the country. The disc is a full HD 1080P Blu-ray 3D disc and requires a 3D-capable HDTV, 3D-capable Blu-ray player and compatible glasses to enjoy. The disc is 22 minutes long and includes the short film "Working For Peanuts" in Full HD 3D, along with previews and clips in 3D from Toy Story 3, Alice in Wonderland, A Christmas Carol and Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. The disc was unreleased for general retail and was only available as a part of Mitsubishi's 3D Starter Kit.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 74–76\. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
2. ^ "Working For Peanuts (1953) World 3-D Film Expo II presented by SabuCat Productions". Retrieved April 9, 2007.
3. ^ "The Chronological Donald Volume 4 DVD Review". DVD Dizzy. Retrieved February 13, 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Working for Peanuts at IMDb

* 1950s portal

* 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

Chip 'n' Dale in animation

Short films|

| Pluto|

* Private Pluto (1943; prototype)
* Food for Feudin' (1950)

|

Mickey Mouse|

* Squatter's Rights (1946)
* Pluto's Christmas Tree (1952)
* Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983; cameo)

Donald Duck|

* Chip an' Dale (1947)
* Three for Breakfast (1948)
* Winter Storage (1949)
* All in a Nutshell (1949)
* Toy Tinkers (1949)
* Crazy Over Daisy (1950)
* Trailer Horn (1950)
* Out on a Limb (1950)
* Corn Chips (1951)
* Test Pilot Donald (1951)
* Out of Scale (1951)
* Donald Applecore (1952)
* Working for Peanuts (1953)
* Dragon Around (1954)
* Up a Tree (1955)
* Chips Ahoy (1956)

Chip 'n' Dale|

* Chicken in the Rough (1951)
* Two Chips and a Miss (1952)
* The Lone Chipmunks (1954)

Others|

* Once Upon a Studio (2023; cameo)

Feature films|

* Fun and Fancy Free (1947; cameo)
* Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999; cameo)
* Mickey's Magical Christmas (2001; cameo & archive footage)
* Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)

TV series|

* Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (1989–1990)
* Mickey Mouse Works (1999–2000)
* House of Mouse (2001–2003)
* Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (2006–2016)
* Mickey Mouse (2013–2019)
* Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures (2017–2021)
* DuckTales (2020–2021)
* The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse (2020–2023)
* Mickey Mouse Funhouse (2021–2025)
* Chip 'n' Dale: Park Life (2021–2024)
* Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ (2025)

* v
* t
* e

Humphrey the Bear in animation

Short films|

| Goofy|

* Hold That Pose (1950)

|

Donald Duck|

* Working for Peanuts (1953; cameo)
* Rugged Bear (1953)
* Grin and Bear It (1954)
* Bearly Asleep (1955)
* Beezy Bear (1955)

Humphrey|

* Hooked Bear (1956)
* In the Bag (1956)

Others|

* Once Upon a Studio (2023; cameo)

Feature films|

* Mickey's Magical Christmas (2001; cameo)
* Mickey's House of Villains (2002; cameo)
* Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018; cameo)

TV series|

* The Mickey Mouse Club (1955–1994)
* Mickey Mouse Works (1999–2000)
* House of Mouse (2001–2002)
* Mickey Mouse (2017–2018)
* Legend of the Three Caballeros (2018)
* The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse (2020)

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