Better Late Then Never

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

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.

Show The Old Army Game to a little kid who loves Donald Duck and see what his or her reaction will be. I know as a kid this got to me in a big way; half if it is simple (but highly entertaining) enough, and it's one of the World War 2 shorts with Donald Duck that were produced at the time - you'll know them if you had the VHS of An Officer and a Duck as a kid, or just see Donald with the military hat or helmet on for the most part - but where it leads to in its second half is what is rather disturbing... though as an adult very, uproariously funny in the darkest sense.How is it dark? Well, the short of it is that the 'Old Army Game' part is with the gag-type section, as Pete discovers Donald out of his quarters (actually all of the soldiers are, it's an ingenious little bit, though Pete's most mad at Donald). When the Duck gets into bed, Pete's there and he chases Donald around. He hides under a helmet - make that three of them - and that old game where the switcheroo deal comes about happens. Pete kicks one of the helmets and it slides off on to a fence, sliding as if on a razor's edge. Donald drops down into a hole, looks down, and... GOOD GOD, WHERE ARE HIS LEGS?! Seeing it today as a grown man, stuff like Donald looking at his ghost legs flying off to heaven, or that moment where Donald takes Pete's gun and puts it to his head in a frenzy in a 'No, no, YES YES YES!' moment of back and forth as to whether to kill himself or not, it's hysterical. As a kid, there was a part of me that, yes, I knew that his legs were fine of course, but this is the great thing about Disney: I didn't think they were kidding with their emotions, that is Donald and Pete as they ponder with big tears over the supposed amputation, and for a kid these are real characters in a sense. Also, depending on how young one is, this is a moment of suicidal depression: the way a kid processes that is... really? And Pete's *encouraging* it?The ending of course returns things to pure slapstick, with a poetic note as they pass by and have to stop for a Speed Limit sign - 35 mph. Now it's time to chase in slow motion. Even if they continue, it will be within the law, or something. It's not Shakespeare, but The Old Army Game is one of those top ten, maybe top five, Donald Duck cartoons that parents should watch and have a good time with their kids; ironic that certain movies like Melody Time are now censored for home video for things cigarette smoking, something that at least can be put in context, while this stays (not that this should be censored, just saying about the double standard of what can or can't be shown to kids via Disney's sense of morales).

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.

Donald has snuck out of the barracks with the rest of the Privates. But he's the first to return and the first to meet the wrath of Sargent Pete, who is not impressed with his hijinks. A chase around the barracks follows as Donald hides from Pete and a possible thrashing. At one point Pete chucks Donald along a spiked fence and the little duck believes he's been cut in half. Donald and Pete both shed tears over this awful situation and Donald tries to end it all with a bullet to the brain (sure this would never be allowed in a cartoon today).A mild plot revolving around a chase, seems more like the basis for a Tom and Jerry. Kinda funny though Donald has done better.