This is a real shame as I love Donald Duck and Disney. But Donald's Cousin Gus just wasn't them at their best for me. It certainly has its good points. The animation is absolutely beautiful, as pretty much always it is nothing to complain about, and I'll say the exact same for the music too. Donald's trademark personality is put to good use, mainly through his priceless reactions to what's going on, though could have been done better in a more inspiredly written situation. Some of the gags at the beginning and a couple of Gus' sly ways with stealing the food especially the one with the cake work very well, and Clarence Nash's Donald voice is impeccable. Sadly, the story gets routine very quickly, and it doesn't help that most of the gags are too more of the same. The barking hot dog gag was an interesting concept and quite an original one, but came across as contrived here instead. Also not helping is that outside of the sly food-stealing Gus doesn't have much of a personality and his playing dumb gets annoying and predictable at the end of the day. Overall, lacking but not bad. 6/10 Bethany Cox
10 Reviews
Maybe I Took It Too Seriously
Hitchcoc31 March 2019
There are times when even cartoons become annoying. This big moose of a goose shows up at Donald's door uninvited. Like many worthless relatives, he expects to be fed, big time. He has no manners and no sense of priority. I actually felt sorry for Mr. Duck in this one because he was generous to the guy and he just kept coming back. Quite tiresome.
Stuff the goose
Horst_In_Translation24 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
"Donald's Cousin Gus" is a Disney cartoon from 1939, so this one is already almost 80 years old, maybe more when you read this, and the names King, Colvig and Nash make sure that it can be easily understood who produced this. The title is pretty simple this time as it states the name of the character next to Donald in here, the insatiable Mr. Goose who keeps emptying Donald's entire fridge. Oh well. The best moment is maybe when Donald is channeling his inner cat and Gus is channeling his inner (hot) dog voiced by Pinto Colvif too, Disney's go-to guy for dog characters, even hotdogs. So yeah this was a fast and funny work and it is a bit of a pity that Disney's equivalent to Relaxo is not used in other cartoons really. Bx the way, this runs for seven minutes of course like most other cartoons from that time and it is in color too. A certain contender for best/funniest short film from its year and thumbs-up for Gus who really brings out the best and funniest in Donald. Maybe not for Donald himself, but certainly for us. This one really deserves to be more famous and if you love these old cartoons, then it is a must-see. I enjoyed it almost as much as during the first watch thanks to its quality plays on words and give it a very positive recommendation. Go for it.
Birds Not Of A Feather
Ron Oliver23 September 2002
A Walt Disney DONALD DUCK Cartoon.
DONALD'S COUSIN GUS Goose arrives with his inexhaustible appetite & bottomless maw.
The Donald finally meets his match in this very funny & well-made cartoon. Clarence `Ducky' Nash supplies Donald's voice. Gus did not prove popular enough with viewers to justify his return as a featured player in further films; when last heard from he was operating a tiny seafood restaurant in Redondo Beach, California.
Walt Disney (1901-1966) was always intrigued by drawings. As a lad in Marceline, Missouri, he sketched farm animals on scraps of paper; later, as an ambulance driver in France during the First World War, he drew figures on the sides of his vehicle. Back in Kansas City, along with artist Ub Iwerks, Walt developed a primitive animation studio that provided animated commercials and tiny cartoons for the local movie theaters. Always the innovator, his ALICE IN CARTOONLAND series broke ground in placing a live figure in a cartoon universe. Business reversals sent Disney & Iwerks to Hollywood in 1923, where Walt's older brother Roy became his lifelong business manager & counselor. When a mildly successful series with Oswald The Lucky Rabbit was snatched away by the distributor, the character of Mickey Mouse sprung into Walt's imagination, ensuring Disney's immortality. The happy arrival of sound technology made Mickey's screen debut, STEAMBOAT WILLIE (1928), a tremendous audience success with its use of synchronized music. The SILLY SYMPHONIES soon appeared, and Walt's growing crew of marvelously talented animators were quickly conquering new territory with full color, illusions of depth and radical advancements in personality development, an arena in which Walt's genius was unbeatable. Mickey's feisty, naughty behavior had captured millions of fans, but he was soon to be joined by other animated companions: temperamental Donald Duck, intellectually-challenged Goofy and energetic Pluto. All this was in preparation for Walt's grandest dream - feature length animated films. Against a blizzard of doomsayers, Walt persevered and over the next decades delighted children of all ages with the adventures of Snow White, Pinocchio, Bambi, Peter Pan and Mr. Toad. Walt never forgot that his fortunes were all started by a mouse, or that simplicity of message and lots of hard work always pay off.
DONALD'S COUSIN GUS Goose arrives with his inexhaustible appetite & bottomless maw.
The Donald finally meets his match in this very funny & well-made cartoon. Clarence `Ducky' Nash supplies Donald's voice. Gus did not prove popular enough with viewers to justify his return as a featured player in further films; when last heard from he was operating a tiny seafood restaurant in Redondo Beach, California.
Walt Disney (1901-1966) was always intrigued by drawings. As a lad in Marceline, Missouri, he sketched farm animals on scraps of paper; later, as an ambulance driver in France during the First World War, he drew figures on the sides of his vehicle. Back in Kansas City, along with artist Ub Iwerks, Walt developed a primitive animation studio that provided animated commercials and tiny cartoons for the local movie theaters. Always the innovator, his ALICE IN CARTOONLAND series broke ground in placing a live figure in a cartoon universe. Business reversals sent Disney & Iwerks to Hollywood in 1923, where Walt's older brother Roy became his lifelong business manager & counselor. When a mildly successful series with Oswald The Lucky Rabbit was snatched away by the distributor, the character of Mickey Mouse sprung into Walt's imagination, ensuring Disney's immortality. The happy arrival of sound technology made Mickey's screen debut, STEAMBOAT WILLIE (1928), a tremendous audience success with its use of synchronized music. The SILLY SYMPHONIES soon appeared, and Walt's growing crew of marvelously talented animators were quickly conquering new territory with full color, illusions of depth and radical advancements in personality development, an arena in which Walt's genius was unbeatable. Mickey's feisty, naughty behavior had captured millions of fans, but he was soon to be joined by other animated companions: temperamental Donald Duck, intellectually-challenged Goofy and energetic Pluto. All this was in preparation for Walt's grandest dream - feature length animated films. Against a blizzard of doomsayers, Walt persevered and over the next decades delighted children of all ages with the adventures of Snow White, Pinocchio, Bambi, Peter Pan and Mr. Toad. Walt never forgot that his fortunes were all started by a mouse, or that simplicity of message and lots of hard work always pay off.
Not that funny
rbverhoef15 November 2004
This Donald Duck cartoon starts with cousin Gus Goose who is visiting Donald Duck. Donald has no idea who he is, but after a note from his aunt he lets the goose inside his house. The note said that Gus does not each much, but as soon as he is in he starts eating all of Donald's food. Gus drives Donald crazy and of course he tries to get rid of the goose.
The first minute is pretty nice with some good gags and a well animated sequence where Gus is eating everything. But after that it is too much of the same. After a couple of minutes I wanted this cartoon to end. Not a good thing for a Disney cartoon; I normally enjoy them very much.
The first minute is pretty nice with some good gags and a well animated sequence where Gus is eating everything. But after that it is too much of the same. After a couple of minutes I wanted this cartoon to end. Not a good thing for a Disney cartoon; I normally enjoy them very much.
DONALD'S COUSIN GUS is a lot funnier than anything . . .
pixrox14 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
. . . that Mickey Mouse ever did. Gus also is more humorous than Minnie Mouse. Gus is a barrel full of laughs compared to Goofy. Viewers will get a lot more chuckles out of Gus than they will from Pluto. Gus will tickle your funny bone 100 times more than Clara Cluck and Clara Belle Cow combined, even if you toss in Harvey Horse Bridle into the mix. Gus will win games of Duck Duck Goose every time.
'This is very, very exasperating.'
CuriosityKilledShawn28 July 2005
In this cartoon an ungainly and annoying goose called Gus turns up at Donald's house with a note from Aunt Fanny (?) claiming that he is his cousin and is here for a visit. The note also says he doesn't eat much, which turns out to be a total lie since Gus proceeds to eat Donald out of house and home and turn an otherwise peaceful, non-stressful day for Donald into bedlam.
Gus is an annoying character but thankfully he doesn't say much and only ever makes a honking sound when he wants attention, which he does by squeezing his ass! Much like Donald, I hope to never see Gus again. And this cartoon ain't that great I'm afraid.
Gus is an annoying character but thankfully he doesn't say much and only ever makes a honking sound when he wants attention, which he does by squeezing his ass! Much like Donald, I hope to never see Gus again. And this cartoon ain't that great I'm afraid.
This cousin will be OUT!
m-867307 February 2019
This cartoon remarkly marked the debut of Cousin Gus, which the only Duck family's members which appeared on Disney animated shorts so early.
On my word, Gus should be OUT for sure, let alone violent-tempered Donald, I truly wondered why did the note was wrote" He doesn't eat much". This could really be a cheater, and when Gus rudely devoured Donald's dishes, like bananas, peas, and even sucked Donald's coffee by the loaf of bread!
Besides the cartoon was being funny, I guess this kind of relative in reality should be kicked out for sure! But Donald can't stop Gus, so poor Donald!
Ranted 8/10.
On my word, Gus should be OUT for sure, let alone violent-tempered Donald, I truly wondered why did the note was wrote" He doesn't eat much". This could really be a cheater, and when Gus rudely devoured Donald's dishes, like bananas, peas, and even sucked Donald's coffee by the loaf of bread!
Besides the cartoon was being funny, I guess this kind of relative in reality should be kicked out for sure! But Donald can't stop Gus, so poor Donald!
Ranted 8/10.
Annoying Cousin!
OllieSuave-00730 September 2013
I know Donald Duck always get the bad luck in Disney cartoons, which gives the character his uniqueness and charm. However, I think Donald got a little too much misfortune in this short.
I know this is a cartoon and I shouldn't dwell on the details. But, Donald's cousin Gus is one annoying bird, who pays Donald a visit and eats him out of his house and food. When I watched this as a kid, I wished Donald would have thrown this creature out and locked all the doors so he could enjoy his lunch. Too bad Donald didn't get the last laugh in this one.
Grade D
I know this is a cartoon and I shouldn't dwell on the details. But, Donald's cousin Gus is one annoying bird, who pays Donald a visit and eats him out of his house and food. When I watched this as a kid, I wished Donald would have thrown this creature out and locked all the doors so he could enjoy his lunch. Too bad Donald didn't get the last laugh in this one.
Grade D
Donald's Cousin Gus has an eating disorder and horded food from poor Donald
crosswalkx4 January 2020
I have seen this Donald Duck cartoon and I was very disappointed in this cartoon. Donald Duck is about to have lunch when his cousin Gus stops by for a visit.
It made me mad that Cousin Gus just rudely stole the food including corn, peas, loaf of bread and ate the entire cake and he didn't even share with Donald Duck, Donald Duck tried to get him out of the house with a magic sausage but it didn't work and he even broke into Donald's refrigerator to eat more and leave nothing left for Donald Duck.
I'm very disappointed in this cartoon. His cousin Gus owes Donald Duck an apology for stealing his food without permission. I didn't like the portrayal of a gluttony character with an eating disorder, this episode made me sick to watch, I'm surprised Cousin Gus didn't throw up because this episode made me literally want to throw up. There should be a sequel where Cousin Gus has to pay back Donald Duck for the food he rudely stole from him.
This is one of the worst Disney cartoons I've ever seen and I would like to forget this Donald Duck episode ever existed. I sure hope this cartoon short doesn't end up on Disney Plus, oh wait it's in the Disneyland episode "The Plausible Impossible" by Walt Disney which is painful to watch. Do yourself a favor and fast forward this cartoon short scene and skip it, it isn't worth your time. But everything else in that episode is worth watching.
This Donald Duck episode deserves a Razzie Award for worst cartoon short ever.
It made me mad that Cousin Gus just rudely stole the food including corn, peas, loaf of bread and ate the entire cake and he didn't even share with Donald Duck, Donald Duck tried to get him out of the house with a magic sausage but it didn't work and he even broke into Donald's refrigerator to eat more and leave nothing left for Donald Duck.
I'm very disappointed in this cartoon. His cousin Gus owes Donald Duck an apology for stealing his food without permission. I didn't like the portrayal of a gluttony character with an eating disorder, this episode made me sick to watch, I'm surprised Cousin Gus didn't throw up because this episode made me literally want to throw up. There should be a sequel where Cousin Gus has to pay back Donald Duck for the food he rudely stole from him.
This is one of the worst Disney cartoons I've ever seen and I would like to forget this Donald Duck episode ever existed. I sure hope this cartoon short doesn't end up on Disney Plus, oh wait it's in the Disneyland episode "The Plausible Impossible" by Walt Disney which is painful to watch. Do yourself a favor and fast forward this cartoon short scene and skip it, it isn't worth your time. But everything else in that episode is worth watching.
This Donald Duck episode deserves a Razzie Award for worst cartoon short ever.
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