| Director: | Andrew Solt Phil Savenick |
| Starring: | Dick Van Dyke Clarence Nash John Harlan |
| Music: | Paul J. Smith John Debney |
| Company: | Andrew Solt Productions Walt Disney Pictures Television |
| Producer: | Andrew Solt |
| Channel: | CBS |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
Donald Duck's 50th Birthday is a television special broadcast on The Magical World of Disney on November 13, 1984 on CBS. As the title suggests, it was produced to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Donald Duck character, who first appeared in the Walt Disney short The Wise Little Hen in 1934.[1]
Donald is shown in both animated and live costumed form, interacting with emcee Dick Van Dyke and other cast members. The film not only shows Donald's life, but also depicts an extensive international tour that Donald went on in 1984. Various celebrities of the day send Donald birthday greetings, including Ed Asner, Andy Warhol, Donna Summer and the Star Wars droids.[2] The tour culminates in a parade in Donald's honor at Disneyland.
This was the last time Clarence Nash voiced Donald Duck before his death a year later. It was rebroadcast on Disney Channel Europe on November 13, 2004 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the special plus at the end of the special, it has the sign: "Walt Disney 1901–1966 Clarence Nash 1904–1985".
In 1984, Donald Duck (in live form) went on an international tour through Europe, Japan and parts of the United States. Some of these stops on his tour actual stage performances attended by other (live) Disney characters. Donald's arrival at airports (on his own plane depicting Donald in flight on the tailfin) was met with colossal crowds that kept getting bigger. There were also several parades for Donald, and not just at the Disney theme parks. In one, Donald sat in a staff car in his military uniform and was promoted to the rank of sergeant. This scene was also when he was discharged from the US Army. Donald is also shown having his footprints cast in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in May 1984.
In the film, Donald's tour is shown with music as well as dialogue, assumedly added later by Clarence Nash.
Also featured is Walt Disney in several clips (Disney himself having died in 1966).
| The Donald Duck's 50th Birthday | |
| Type: | EP |
| Artist: | various artists |
| Recorded: | 1984 |
| Genre: | Various |
| Length: | Unknown |
| Label: | Disneyland |
| Producer: | Uncredited |
Happy, Happy Birthday to You (Donald Duck Version) was released on the Splashdance LP and cassette. Splashdance has since been re-released on compact disc.