The Spirit of '43 - Misplaced Pages

1943 Donald Duck cartoon

The Spirit of '43
Theatrical release title card
Directed by	Jack King
Story by	Carl Barks
Produced by	Walt Disney
Starring	Clarence Nash
Narrated by	Fred Shields
Animation by	Ward Kimball
Color process	Technicolor
Production company	Walt Disney Productions
Distributed by	RKO Radio Pictures
Release date	January 7, 1943 (1943-01-07)
Running time	6 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Spirit of '43 is an American animated World War II propaganda film created by Walt Disney Studios and released in January 1943. The film stars Donald Duck and features writer /designer Carl Barks' prototype for the character Scrooge McDuck. It is a sequel to The New Spirit. The purpose of the film is to encourage patriotic Americans to file and pay their income taxes faithfully in order to help the war effort. The repeated theme in the film is "taxes to defeat the Axis".

The film is in the public domain and therefore can be seen on many gray market videos as well as official Disney releases.

History

The title is an allusion to the expression "Spirit of '76" (referring to the sentiment around the American Revolution in 1776).

The plot of the second film recycled from The New Spirit involves how taxes are used to develop war materials to destroy the Axis.

The Spirit of '43 was released in 2004 as part of the two-disc DVD collection of Walt Disney Treasures. Since then, it has fallen in the public domain due to wartime films made for the U.S. government.

Plot

In the film, Donald Duck is portrayed as an everyman who has just received his weekly pay. He is met by two physical manifestations of his personality—the classic "good angel on one shoulder, bad devil on the other shoulder" dilemma common to cartoons of the time—identified as the "thrifty saver" and the "spendthrift".

The "good duck" appears as an elderly duck in Scottish garb who urges Donald to be thrifty with his money so he can pay his taxes and help the war effort. The "bad duck" appears as a zoot suit-wearing hipster who urges Donald to spend his money on idle pleasures such as "good dates". The good duck reminds him of other "dates": the dates when his taxes are due. The narrator explains that Americans should "gladly and proudly" pay their income taxes which are higher than ever that year "thanks to Hitler and Hirohito".

A tug-of-war ensues between "spend" and "save" with Donald caught in the middle. Eventually the two burst apart and Donald sees them for who they really are: one a friend of Hitler, the other an American patriot. The narrator asks the audience whether they will "spend for the Axis" or "save for taxes". Donald chooses the latter and goes to pay his taxes with the good duck.

The second part of the film is a montage entirely recycled from The New Spirit, showing how the taxes are being used to make planes, bombs, ships, and other war materials. It then shows them being used against Axis forces, along with the repeated slogan "taxes to (bury, sink, etc.) the Axis", accompanied by the opening bars of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony (the "V for Victory" theme).

Voice cast

Clarence Nash as Donald Duck

Home media

The short was released on May 18, 2004, on Walt Disney Treasures: Walt Disney on the Front Lines.

References

MUBI
FilmAffinity
Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 74–76. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
The film's trivia section on IMDb
Cartoon craze presents: Donald Duck, Woody Woodpecker: Pantry Panic (DVD video, 2004)-WorldCat.org
Amazon.com: Donald Duck: Spirit of '43, Susie the Little Blue Coupe, Hooked Bear & the Old Shell Game
Walt Disney Treasures: Walt Disney on the Front Lines DVD Review-DVDizzy.com
In the 1940s, unlike modern times, income taxes were paid directly by workers every three months rather than directly deducted from employee paychecks and paid by employers on behalf of the employees.
Internet Archive
"Walt Disney on the Front Lines DVD Review". DVD Dizzy. Retrieved 14 February 2021.

External links

The Spirit of '43 on publicdomainmovie.net
The Spirit of '43 on YouTube
The Spirit of '43 at IMDb
The Spirit of '43 at Disney A to Z

v t e Disney World War II propaganda films
Donald's films	Donald's Decision (1942) The New Spirit (1942) Der Fuehrer's Face (1943) The Spirit of '43 (1943)
Stand-alone films	The Thrifty Pig (1941) 7 Wise Dwarfs (1941) Stop That Tank! (1942) Food Will Win the War (1942) Out of the Frying Pan into the Firing Line (1942) The Grain That Built a Hemisphere (1943) Education for Death (1943) Reason and Emotion (1943)
Related	All Together (1942) Donald Gets Drafted (1942) The Vanishing Private (1942) Sky Trooper (1942) Private Pluto (1943) Fall Out Fall In (1943) Victory Through Air Power (1943) The Old Army Game (1943) Chicken Little (1943) Home Defense (1943) Commando Duck (1944) A Few Quick Facts series (1944, 1946)

v t e Donald Duck World War II films
Army films	Donald Gets Drafted (1942) The Vanishing Private (1942) Sky Trooper (1942) Fall Out Fall In (1943) The Old Army Game (1943) Commando Duck (1944)
Propaganda films	Donald's Decision (1942) The New Spirit (1942) Der Fuehrer's Face (1943) The Spirit of '43 (1943)
Related	Donald's Tire Trouble (1943) Home Defense (1943) Donald Duck and the Gorilla (1944) World War II and American animation

Donald Duck in animation

Filmography

Silly Symphony
short films

The Wise Little Hen (1934)
Mother Goose Goes Hollywood (1938; cameo)

Mickey Mouse
short films

Orphan's Benefit (1934)
The Dognapper (1934)
The Band Concert (1935)
Mickey's Service Station (1935)
Mickey's Fire Brigade (1935)
On Ice (1935)
Mickey's Polo Team (1936)
Orphans' Picnic (1936)
Mickey's Grand Opera (1936)
Moving Day (1936)
Alpine Climbers (1936)
Mickey's Circus (1936)
Donald and Pluto (1936)
Magician Mickey (1937)
Moose Hunters (1937)
Mickey's Amateurs (1937)
Hawaiian Holiday (1937)
Clock Cleaners (1937)
Lonesome Ghosts (1937)
Boat Builders (1938)
Mickey's Trailer (1938)
The Whalers (1938)
Tugboat Mickey (1940)
The Nifty Nineties (1941; cameo)
Orphan's Benefit (1941; remake)
Mickey's Birthday Party (1942)
Symphony Hour (1942)
Pluto's Christmas Tree (1952; cameo)
Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
The Prince and the Pauper (1990)

Donald Duck and
Donald & Goofy
short films

1930s	Don Donald (1937) Modern Inventions (1937) Donald's Ostrich (1937) Self Control (1938) Donald's Better Self (1938) Donald's Nephews (1938) Polar Trappers (1938) Good Scouts (1938) The Fox Hunt (1938) Donald's Golf Game (1938) Donald's Lucky Day (1939) The Hockey Champ (1939) Donald's Cousin Gus (1939) Beach Picnic (1939) Sea Scouts (1939) Donald's Penguin (1939) The Autograph Hound (1939) Officer Duck (1939)
1940s	The Riveter (1940) Donald's Dog Laundry (1940) Billposters (1940) Mr. Duck Steps Out (1940) Put-Put Troubles (1940) Donald's Vacation (1940) Window Cleaners (1940) Fire Chief (1940) Timber (1941) Golden Eggs (1941) A Good Time for a Dime (1941) Early to Bed (1941) Truant Officer Donald (1941) Old MacDonald Duck (1941) Donald's Camera (1941) Chef Donald (1941) The Village Smithy (1942) The New Spirit (1942) Donald's Snow Fight (1942) Donald Gets Drafted (1942) Donald's Garden (1942) Donald's Gold Mine (1942) The Vanishing Private (1942) Sky Trooper (1942) Bellboy Donald (1942) Der Fuehrer's Face (1943) The Spirit of '43 (1943) Donald's Tire Trouble (1943) The Flying Jalopy (1943) Fall Out Fall In (1943) The Old Army Game (1943) Home Defense (1943) Trombone Trouble (1944) Donald Duck and the Gorilla (1944) Contrary Condor (1944) Commando Duck (1944) The Plastics Inventor (1944) Donald's Off Day (1944) The Clock Watcher (1945) The Eyes Have It (1945) Donald's Crime (1945) Duck Pimples (1945) No Sail (1945) Cured Duck (1945) Old Sequoia (1945) Donald's Double Trouble (1946) Wet Paint (1946) Dumb Bell of the Yukon (1946) Lighthouse Keeping (1946) Frank Duck Brings 'Em Back Alive (1946) Straight Shooters (1947) Sleepy Time Donald (1947) Clown of the Jungle (1947) Donald's Dilemma (1947) Crazy with the Heat (1947) Bootle Beetle (1947) Wide Open Spaces (1947) Chip an' Dale (1947) Drip Dippy Donald (1948) Daddy Duck (1948) Donald's Dream Voice (1948) The Trial of Donald Duck (1948) Inferior Decorator (1948) Soup's On (1948) Three for Breakfast (1948) Tea for Two Hundred (1948) Donald's Happy Birthday (1949) Sea Salts (1949) Winter Storage (1949) Honey Harvester (1949) All in a Nutshell (1949) The Greener Yard (1949) Slide, Donald, Slide (1949) Toy Tinkers (1949)
1950s	Lion Around (1950) Crazy Over Daisy (1950) Trailer Horn (1950) Hook, Lion and Sinker (1950) Bee at the Beach (1950) Out on a Limb (1950) Dude Duck (1951) Corn Chips (1951) Test Pilot Donald (1951) Lucky Number (1951) Out of Scale (1951) Bee on Guard (1951) Donald Applecore (1952) Let's Stick Together (1952) Uncle Donald's Ants (1952) Trick or Treat (1952) Don's Fountain of Youth (1953) The New Neighbor (1953) Rugged Bear (1953) Working for Peanuts (1953) Canvas Back Duck (1953) Spare the Rod (1954) Donald's Diary (1954) Grin and Bear It (1954) The Flying Squirrel (1954) Dragon Around (1954) Grand Canyonscope (1954) No Hunting (1955) Bearly Asleep (1955) Beezy Bear (1955) Up a Tree (1955) Chips Ahoy (1956)
1960s	The Litterbug (1961)

Other short films

The Volunteer Worker (1940)
All Together (1942; cameo)
Donald's Decision (1942)
How to Have an Accident in the Home (1956)
How to Have an Accident at Work (1959)
Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959)
Donald and the Wheel (1961)
Steel & America (1965)
Donald's Fire Survival Plan (1966)
Family Planning (1967)
Plusaversary (2021; cameo)
Once Upon a Studio (2023)

Feature films

Theatrical	The Reluctant Dragon (1941) Saludos Amigos (1942) The Three Caballeros (1944) Fun and Fancy Free (1947) Melody Time (1948) Fantasia 2000 (1999)
Direct-to-video	Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999) Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001) Mickey's House of Villains (2002) Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers (2004) Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas (2004) Once Upon a Halloween (2005; archive footage)

TV series

The Mickey Mouse Club (1955–1959)
DuckTales (1987)
Quack Pack (1996)
Mickey Mouse Works (1999–2000)
House of Mouse (2001–2003)
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (2006–2016)
Minnie's Bow-Toons (2011–present)
Mickey Mouse (2013–2019)
Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures (2017–2021)
DuckTales (2017–2021)
Legend of the Three Caballeros (2018)
The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse (2020–2023)
Mickey Mouse Funhouse (2021–present)
Chip 'n' Dale: Park Life (2021)
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ (2025)

TV specials

Totally Minnie (1988)
Mickey's Tale of Two Witches (2021)
Mickey and Minnie Wish Upon a Christmas (2021)
Mickey Saves Christmas (2022)
Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats (2023)

Film cameos

Category

v t e Films directed by Jack King
Viva Buddy (1934) Buddy's Circus (1934) Buddy the Woodsman (1934) Buddy the Detective (1934) Buddy's Bearcats (1934) Hollywood Capers (1935) A Cartoonist's Nightmare (1935) Buddy the Gee Man (1935) Buddy Steps Out (1935) Buddy's Bug Hunt (1935) Buddy's Lost World (1935) The Phantom Ship (1936) Boom Boom (1936) The Fire Alarm (1936) Alpine Antics (1936) Westward Whoa (1936) Fish Tales (1936) Shanghaied Shipmates (1936) Porky's Pet (1936) Porky's Moving Day (1936) Modern Inventions (1937) Donald's Ostrich (1937) Self Control (1938) Donald's Better Self (1938) Donald's Golf Game (1938) Good Scouts (1938) Donald's Nephews (1938) The Autograph Hound (1939) Donald's Penguin (1939) Donald's Cousin Gus (1939) The Hockey Champ (1939) Donald's Lucky Day (1939) Fire Chief (1940) Window Cleaners (1940) Donald's Vacation (1940) Mr. Duck Steps Out (1940) Donald's Dog Laundry (1940) Chef Donald (1941) Old MacDonald Duck (1941) Truant Officer Donald (1941) Early to Bed (1941) Timber (1941) Bellboy Donald (1942) Sky Trooper (1942) The Vanishing Private (1942) Out of the Frying Pan into the Firing Line (1942) Donald Gets Drafted (1942) Donald's Snow Fight (1942) Home Defense (1943) The Old Army Game (1943) Fall Out Fall In (1943) The Spirit of '43 (1943) The Plastics Inventor (1944) Commando Duck (1944) Contrary Condor (1944) Donald Duck and the Gorilla (1944) Trombone Trouble (1944) Old Sequoia (1945) Cured Duck (1945) Donald's Crime (1945) The Clock Watcher (1945) Defense Against Invasion (1946) Dumb Bell of the Yukon (1946) Wet Paint (1946) Donald's Double Trouble (1946) Wide Open Spaces (1947) Donald's Dilemma (1947) Sleepy Time Donald (1947) The Trial of Donald Duck (1948) Donald's Dream Voice (1948) Drip Dippy Donald (1948)

Films directed by Jack King

Viva Buddy (1934)
Buddy's Circus (1934)
Buddy the Woodsman (1934)
Buddy the Detective (1934)
Buddy's Bearcats (1934)
Hollywood Capers (1935)
A Cartoonist's Nightmare (1935)
Buddy the Gee Man (1935)
Buddy Steps Out (1935)
Buddy's Bug Hunt (1935)
Buddy's Lost World (1935)
The Phantom Ship (1936)
Boom Boom (1936)
The Fire Alarm (1936)
Alpine Antics (1936)
Westward Whoa (1936)
Fish Tales (1936)
Shanghaied Shipmates (1936)
Porky's Pet (1936)
Porky's Moving Day (1936)
Modern Inventions (1937)
Donald's Ostrich (1937)
Self Control (1938)
Donald's Better Self (1938)
Donald's Golf Game (1938)
Good Scouts (1938)
Donald's Nephews (1938)
The Autograph Hound (1939)
Donald's Penguin (1939)
Donald's Cousin Gus (1939)
The Hockey Champ (1939)
Donald's Lucky Day (1939)
Fire Chief (1940)
Window Cleaners (1940)
Donald's Vacation (1940)
Mr. Duck Steps Out (1940)
Donald's Dog Laundry (1940)
Chef Donald (1941)
Old MacDonald Duck (1941)
Truant Officer Donald (1941)
Early to Bed (1941)
Timber (1941)
Bellboy Donald (1942)
Sky Trooper (1942)
The Vanishing Private (1942)
Out of the Frying Pan into the Firing Line (1942)
Donald Gets Drafted (1942)
Donald's Snow Fight (1942)
Home Defense (1943)
The Old Army Game (1943)
Fall Out Fall In (1943)
The Spirit of '43 (1943)
The Plastics Inventor (1944)
Commando Duck (1944)
Contrary Condor (1944)
Donald Duck and the Gorilla (1944)
Trombone Trouble (1944)
Old Sequoia (1945)
Cured Duck (1945)
Donald's Crime (1945)
The Clock Watcher (1945)
Defense Against Invasion (1946)
Dumb Bell of the Yukon (1946)
Wet Paint (1946)
Donald's Double Trouble (1946)
Wide Open Spaces (1947)
Donald's Dilemma (1947)
Sleepy Time Donald (1947)
The Trial of Donald Duck (1948)
Donald's Dream Voice (1948)
Drip Dippy Donald (1948)

v t e Scrooge McDuck in animation
Short films and featurettes	Scrooge McDuck and Money (1967) Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) Sport Goofy in Soccermania (1987) Once Upon a Studio (2023; cameo)
Feature films	DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp (1990) Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999) Mickey's Magical Christmas (2001; archive footage) Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas (2004) Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022; cameo)
TV series	The Mickey Mouse Club (1955–1959) DuckTales (1987–1990) Raw Toonage (1992) Mickey Mouse Works (1999) House of Mouse (2002) Mickey Mouse (2015–2018) DuckTales (2017–2021) Chibi Tiny Tales (2021)
TV specials	The Wonderful Summer of Mickey Mouse (2020)
Related	The Spirit of '43 (1943)

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