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IMDbPro

The Small One

  • 1978
  • G
  • 26m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
Sean Marshall, Clarence Nash, and Hal Smith in The Small One (1978)
AnimationShortDrama

Ordered by his father to sell his old, small donkey, named Small One, a boy in ancient Palestine takes the donkey to the Jerusalem market. Finding no buyers there, the boy is about to give u... Read allOrdered by his father to sell his old, small donkey, named Small One, a boy in ancient Palestine takes the donkey to the Jerusalem market. Finding no buyers there, the boy is about to give up when he meets a kind man named Joseph.Ordered by his father to sell his old, small donkey, named Small One, a boy in ancient Palestine takes the donkey to the Jerusalem market. Finding no buyers there, the boy is about to give up when he meets a kind man named Joseph.

  • Directors
    • Don Bluth
    • Jack Cutting
    • Wolfgang Reitherman
  • Writers
    • Vance Gerry
    • Peter Young
    • Charles Tazewell
  • Stars
    • Sean Marshall
    • William Woodson
    • Olan Soule
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    1.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Don Bluth
      • Jack Cutting
      • Wolfgang Reitherman
    • Writers
      • Vance Gerry
      • Peter Young
      • Charles Tazewell
    • Stars
      • Sean Marshall
      • William Woodson
      • Olan Soule
    • 23User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos23

    Sean Marshall and Clarence Nash in The Small One (1978)
    Sean Marshall, Clarence Nash, and Hal Smith in The Small One (1978)
    Scatman Crothers, Eva Gabor, Sterling Holloway, Dean Clark, Gary Dubin, Liz English, Phil Harris, Roddy Maude-Roxby, Thurl Ravenscroft, Vito Scotti, and Paul Winchell in The Aristocats (1970)
    Sean Marshall, Clarence Nash, and Hal Smith in The Small One (1978)
    Sean Marshall and Clarence Nash in The Small One (1978)
    Sean Marshall and Clarence Nash in The Small One (1978)
    Ruth Clifford and Clarence Nash in Pluto's Christmas Tree (1952)
    Sean Marshall and Clarence Nash in The Small One (1978)
    Sean Marshall and Clarence Nash in The Small One (1978)
    The Small One (1978)
    William Woodson in The Small One (1978)
    Thurl Ravenscroft in The Small One (1978)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sean Marshall
    • Boy
    • (voice)
    William Woodson
    • Tanner
    • (voice)
    Olan Soule
    Olan Soule
    • Father
    • (voice)
    • (as Olan Soulé)
    Hal Smith
    Hal Smith
    • Auctioneer
    • (voice)
    Joe Higgins
    Joe Higgins
    • Guard
    • (voice)
    Gordon Jump
    Gordon Jump
    • Joseph
    • (voice)
    Clarence Nash
    Clarence Nash
    • Small One
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Thurl Ravenscroft
    • Potter
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Ken Sansom
    • Baker
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Don Bluth
      • Jack Cutting(earlier cartoon clips) (uncredited)
      • Wolfgang Reitherman(earlier cartoon clips) (uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Vance Gerry
      • Peter Young
      • Charles Tazewell
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This short was Don Bluth's last involvement with Disney.
    • Quotes

      Tanner: You have a donkey to sell?

      Boy: [nervously] His-his name is Small One.

      Tanner: [inspecting Small One's hide] One piece of silver.

      Boy: Will you take good care of him?

      Tanner: [sneers] I only want his hide, boy. I'm a tanner.

      Boy: [gasps] The tanner?

      Boy: [turns his head to realize he and Small One have landed in a sweatshop] You wanna make leather out of him?

      Tanner: One piece of silver.

      Boy: No, I won't sell him! I won't! No, no!

      [the boy and Small One flee the shop in terror]

    • Alternate versions
      "The Merchant's Song" lyrics have been altered. The original lyrics were "We simply cheat a little if we must". In the recent versions it was changed to "We work a little harder if we must". This is because the original lyrics are perceived to have Jewish stereotypes. These original lyrics are no longer present on the DVD versions of the film.
    • Connections
      Featured in Disney Dimanche: Episode #2.1 (1979)
    • Soundtracks
      Small One
      Composed by Don Bluth

      Performed by Christalee

    User reviews23

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    A Masterpiece
    Every Christmas I watch this film with tears streaming. It's a beautiful story about true friendship and the small donkey chosen to carry Mary to Bethlehem. It has light comedy, danger and pathos by turns. The title song "Small One" and the boy's song "Friendly Face" are sweet and memorable. The Merchants' song is fun. It is a Christmas tale that everyone will love and is timeless. A masterpiece from Bluth. 10/10
    helpful•20
    4
    • Cylex
    • Dec 16, 2001

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 16, 1978 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Don Bluth's the Small One
    • Filming locations
      • Walt Disney Feature Animation - 500 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Walt Disney Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      26 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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    Sean Marshall, Clarence Nash, and Hal Smith in The Small One (1978)
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