Evening star., 1939-01-22
Donald Duck.

Donald DUCK.
Thirp put it into Rud's head that
Norvel, instead of using the cinema
in the schools to display the rapid
development of the new life of man
kind, the public festivals, the sun
lit crops, the trophies of engineering
that were in progress, all with a
montage in which the Beethoven
lied head of Rud, the ruler and
guide, was displayed in such a man
ner as to evoke and sustain a world
wide enthusiasm, was diverting the
young with old romantic and trivial
stories and propagating a cult of dis
integrating laughter, even resorting
to the pre-revolutionary period for
his material.
Accordingly Rud asked Norvel to
show him selection of the still
popular classics. Norvel, who knew
nothing of what Rud had in his
mind. was pleased by this sudden
interest in his work. 1--WE been re-
viving a lot of old stuff that I re-
member as boy" he said. per-
haps you would like to see that
Some OF it is quite good enough to
delight the children still. The
comic stuff, for example. The taste
for romance and heroism seems to
have changed. That sort of thing
is too remote from our world TODAY
even to seem funny. Our children
nowadays can make nothing of
Cinderella or the Fairy Prince. But
when 1t comes to sheer absurdity
it's different story. Certain sorts
of fun seem to be universal and
perennial. Look at this, for ex-
ample"
He motioned to the operator to
run first one and then another of
those old-fashioned quaintnesses,
very early films. old cartoons. Felix
the Cat and so forth. I'VE use this
sort OF thing to illustrate the his
tory of the films"
At first Rud was amused He for
got Thirp's suggestions for a while.
Then suspicion crept back into his
mind.
Political Significance.
That" said Norvel. 'is Charlie
Chaplin. He has curious human
absurdity no one has ever excelled.
All these films were suppressed in
Germany during the Hitler regime.
You notice the moustache? . ."
Il did not realize they have a po-
lltlcal signlflcance,' said Rud, and
/ became more intent.
| Norvel came to the postwar
period and traced the development
OF Walt Dlsneys art. Gradually as
the plain Mickey Mouse gave way
! to his colored version and Donald
Duck appeared. silence came upon
Rud. And then to the infinite as
tonishment of Norvel, he broke out
suddenly.
Who is this Walt Disney? He
seems to me to be a very dangerous
revolutionary. This-all of this-is
underhand sedition. I'm not such
fool. I see his point. This Donald
Duck! It's subtle. but I get him.
l get him. The busybody who in
terferes and tangles up everything.
That's the suggestion That's how
I'm lied about That's what they
want to say Of me-if they dared.
He's even got the sailors cap
wear at times. The way the fore
head is shaped! Exactly the same!
The grave look he gives people be-
fore he does something decisive. It
is insidious. 1t is abominable. 1t
is deliberate. This Disney ought
to be shot Where does he work?
Where is he to be found?'
Made Before Group Existed.
These films were made before
the Group existed" said Norvel
recovering slowly from his amaze
ment. Il don't know where Disney
is. Probably he is quite old by now
He was doing his work before the
Great War. I don't know if he is
still alive. Maybe he is still making
films, happily unconscious. - ."
Autocracy was making Norvel a
facile liar. He had as matter
of fact been talking to Disney three
days before, and discussing a scheme
for great series of children's tales
with him. But he saw no reason
why Rud should intervene in these
matters.
Il don't believe it, said Rud, sud-
denly pathetic. IF these films were
See THE HOLY TERROR, Pg. C-12