The Ugly Duckling (1931)

A black duckling is rejected by its mother, a hen, but manages to prove his worth when a tornado threatens the hen's chicks.

Stars:

Florence Gill

Cast

Credited cast:
Florence Gill	...	Mother Hen (voice)

Storyline

A black duckling is rejected by its mother, a hen, but manages to prove his worth when a tornado threatens the hen's chicks.

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Plot Keywords:

hen | tornado | chick | duckling | hollow log | 

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Genres:

Animation | Family | Short

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 December 1931 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le vilain petit canard

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

7 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The only Silly Symphony cartoon to be remade. (see Ugly Duckling)

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Connections

Remade as Ugly Duckling (1939)

User Reviews

Personally I prefer the 1939 "Ugly Duckling" cartoon, but only because it is more nostalgic for me.

I've known this cartoon for a few years now and I like the way in which Disney has changed round the story to fit what he wanted to say. Here the ugly duckling is not accepted as an adult by swans, but still as an ugly duckling for saving the lives of his "brothers and sisters" (I won't tell you how, you have to see for yourself in the cartoon, mwahaha).

If you know either the 1939 Disney version of this story or the original Hans Christian Anderson story, then the first part of the plot of this cartoon will come as no surprise to you. It starts with a mother chicken sitting on her nests and (conveniently for the viewers) the eggs start to hatch almost straight away. The hen is extremely gleeful as each chick hatches and the group wait excitedly for the very last egg to hatch. When it does hatch, however, out comes a measly black "thing", as they see it and the mother ushers her chicks away from it. The poor "ugly duckling" tries to follow the chicks and their mother and desperately seeks love and food. Will the chickens see him for who he really is..?

I enjoyed the animation and ending in this cartoon and as you feel so much pity for the ugly duckling, by the end of the cartoon you really love him too. The music incorporated into the animation, as with all of Disney's Silly Symphonies, works well too and helps along with the story (even though there is no dialogue in this cartoon, DO NOT watch it with the sound turned off if you can hear it).

I recommend this to people who like black and white Disney cartoons and to people who love anything to do with the Ugly Duckling. Enjoy "The Ugly Duckling"! :-)

8 and a half out of ten.