Ranger J. Audubon Woodlore takes Donald Duck and others people on a tour of the Grand Canyon - displayed here in wonderful, detailed animation. While the ranger is busy giving the tourists a run-down of the canyon, Donald does his share of being a little too overzealous in his trip, bothering Native sand painters, doing a rain dance outfit and arguing with his own echo. Pretty hilarious!
What results next is Donald and the Ranger stumble upon a mountain lion, who chases them around the landmark, resulting in funny slapstick humor and ultimately reducing the attraction to a pile of rubble. Some excitement and action in this cartoon short - not a bad one.
Grade B-
Grand Canyonscope
1954
Action / Animation / Comedy / Family
Grand Canyonscope
1954
Action / Animation / Comedy / Family
Plot summary
Donald is visiting the Grand Canyon as Ranger Woodlore narrates its various attractions. Donald tends to be a thorn in the ranger's side, bothering Native sand painters, borrowing a rain dance outfit heralding the inevitable raincloud, and getting into an argument with his own echo in Echo Canyon. Eventually, Donald loses track of his burro and his search for the lost animal disturbs an irate mountain lion who chases Donald and Woodlore around the landmark ultimately reducing the attraction to a pile of rubble. The ranger, unamused by this, insists that Donald and the lion return the landmark to its original state!
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
Some funny, slapstick humor at the Canyon.
Donald Duck, Walking Disaster?
Donald Duck is a tourist visiting the Grand Canyon who gives the tour's guide fits due to his continuous shenanigans including an encounter with an ill-tempered old lion.
This cartoon short is diverting enough in its goofy slapstick fashion only really I wonder if it really needed Donald Duck as its lead at all. In fact, this one seems better suited to Goofy himself to me as really there's no point here where we see Donald Duck's temper rise, which is usually said character's most entertaining aspect. Honestly most any character could have probably fit into the role which makes one wonder if they just didn't pick a popular character's name out of an hat to use for this one.
"Spread out....this is Cinemascope"
Ranger Woodlore stars in this one...one of the only shorts I can remember that also doesn't star Humphrey the Bear. In this one, his nemesis is Donald Duck and Donald is simply AWFUL...but funny.
The story is set in a national park a lot like the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon combined. As the Ranger tries to conduct a tour, Donald keeps doing the most awful things which could destroy the natural beauty of the place. Sadly, when I visited the Grand Canyon and Bryce I actually saw many folks doing similar stuff--such as climbing over barriers to get 'the perfect shot'! In the end, Donald and a mountain lion end up destroying everything!
While the art style is very 50s and was thereby simple and a shadow of the great shorts by Disney of the 30s and 40s, this IS fun...which is most important. I also like how this first Cinemascope cartoon by Disney makes fun of itself. Well worth seeing despite the subpar art style.