Der Fuehrer's Face
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Der Fuehrer's Face (originally titled Donald Duck in Nutzi Land) is a 1942 American animated propaganda short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released in 1943 by RKO Radio Pictures. The cartoon, which features Donald Duck in a nightmare setting working at a factory in Nazi Germany, was made in an effort to sell war bonds and is an example of American propaganda during World War II. The film was directed by Jack Kinney and features adapted and original music by Oliver Wallace. The film is well known for Wallace's original song "Der Fuehrer's Face", which was actually released earlier by Spike Jones.
Der Fuehrer's Face won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 15th Academy Awards. It was the only Donald Duck film to receive the honor, although eight other films were also nominated. In 1994, it was voted Number 22 of "the 50 Greatest Cartoons" of all time by members of the animation field. However, because of the propagandistic nature of the short, and the depiction of Donald Duck as a Nazi (albeit a reluctant one), Disney kept the film out of general circulation after its original release. Its first home video release came in 2004 with the release of the third wave of the Walt Disney Treasures DVD sets.
In other media
- In August 1943, the cover of Four Favorites comic (Number 11), displayed the four favorites — from left to right, The Unknown Soldier, Captain Courageous, Lightning, and Magno, the Magnetic Man (along with Davey, his boy partner) — all singing "Der Fuehrer's Face" in the background, whilst a strong and powerful "War Bond" simultaneously knocks out Hirohito, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini with one fierce blow in the foreground.
- This short was featured in part in Donald Duck's 50th Birthday.
- The film makes an appearance in Pearl Harbor (2001)
Releases
- 1943 – Original theatrical run
- 2004 – "Walt Disney Treasures: On the Front Lines" (DVD)
- 2005 – "Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Volume Two" (DVD)
See also