Modern Inventions

Modern Inventions
Directed by	Jack King
Produced by	Walt Disney
Studio(s)	Walt Disney Productions
Distributor	United Artists
Released	May 29, 1937
Language	English
Preceded by	Mickey's Amateurs (MM) Don Donald (DD)
Followed by	Hawaiian Holiday (MM) Donald's Ostrich (DD)

Modern Inventions is a cartoon directed by Jack King that was released on May 29, 1937. It was branded as part of the Mickey Mouse series on its initial release, and later branded as part of the Donald Duck series when it was re-released.

Plot

Donald visits "The Museum of Modern Marvels", which showcases various futuristic electronic appliances and inventions. In the museum, Donald encounters and struggles with many strange and whimsical machines, all of which seem to be against him. A running gag throughout the picture has the Robot Butler appearing to take away Donald's hat, with the words "Your Hat, Sir." After encountering a robotic hitch-hiker, a wrapping machine and a fully-automated baby carriage, the short ends when Donald attempts to scam a robotic barber chair and winds up getting a haircut on his behind and a shoe-shined bill.

The Machines

Donald struggles with various inventions and robots throughout the cartoon, including:

• Robot Butler
• Hitch-Hiker's Aid
• Automatic Bundle-Wrapper
• Robot Nurse Maid
• Mechanical Barber Chair

The Hats

Throughout the cartoon, Donald magically pulls hats out of thin air to replace those taken by the Robot Butler (often followed by "So!"). These include:

• Top hat
• Napoleonic officer hat
• Civil War kepi (however, the Robot Butler picks up on this one almost immediately after Donald puts it on and starts to give chase)
• Baby bonnet (he puts this one on whilst testing the Robot Nurse Maid)
• Bowler hat

Voice Cast

• Billy Bletcher - Robot Butler
• Adriana Caselotti - Robot Nurse Maid
• Cliff Edwards - Mechanical Barber Chair
• Clarence Nash - Donald Duck

Trivia

• This is the third and final cartoon to be originally released under Mickey Mouse's name, despite Mickey himself not appearing. The first was Donald and Pluto and the second was Don Donald.
• The scene where Donald's tail feather cut by the mechanical barber chair is mentioned in the House of Mouse episode "Everybody Loves Mickey", with Goofy and Minnie talking about it and Mickey mentioning the actual episode.
• Matt Groening stated in its corresponding audio commentary that this cartoon was the inspiration for the suicide booths in the pilot of Futurama.
• The climax with the mechanical barber is the first notable story contribution to Donald Duck by future comic writer (and major Donald and Duck influence) Carl Barks.

Releases

Television

• The Mickey Mouse Club, February 6, 1958
• The New Mickey Mouse Club, March 4, 1977
• Good Morning, Mickey, episode #15
• Mickey's Mouse Tracks, episode #7
• Donald's Quack Attack, episode #30

Home video

• Walt Disney Cartoon Classics: The Continuing Adventures of Chip 'n' Dale featuring Donald Duck (VHS)
• Donald's Greatest Hits (VHS)
• Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Volume One (DVD)
• Walt Disney's Fables: Volume 3

Gallery

The Robot Butler takes Donald's first hat

Donald is held by the Bundle Wrapper

Donald tries out the Robot Nurse Maid.

The barber chair brushes Donald's head

v - e - d

1930s The Wise Little Hen • Donald and Pluto • Don Donald • Modern Inventions • Donald's Ostrich • Self Control • Donald's Better Self • Donald's Nephews • Good Scouts • Donald's Golf Game • Mother Goose Goes Hollywood • Donald's Lucky Day • The Hockey Champ • Donald's Cousin Gus • Beach Picnic • Sea Scouts • Donald's Penguin • The Autograph Hound • Officer Duck • The Fox Hunt (co-starring Goofy) • Polar Trappers (co-starring Goofy) 1940s The Riveter • Donald's Dog Laundry • Mr. Duck Steps Out • Put-Put Troubles • Donald's Vacation • The Volunteer Worker • Window Cleaners • The Fire Chief • Timber • The Golden Eggs • A Good Time for a Dime • Early to Bed • Truant Officer Donald • Old MacDonald Duck • Donald's Camera • Chef Donald • Donald's Decision • The Village Smithy • The New Spirit • Donald's Snow Fight • Donald Gets Drafted • Donald's Garden • Donald's Gold Mine • Sky Trooper • Bellboy Donald • Der Fuehrer's Face • The Spirit of '43 • Donald's Tire Trouble • Lake Titicaca • Aquarela do Brazil • The Flying Jalopy • Fall Out-Fall In • The Old Army Game • Home Defense • Trombone Trouble • Donald Duck and the Gorilla • Contrary Condor • Commando Duck • The Plastics Inventor • Donald's Off Day • The Clock Watcher • The Eyes Have It • Donald's Crime • Duck Pimples • Cured Duck • Old Sequoia • Donald's Double Trouble • Wet Paint • Dumbell of the Yukon • Lighthouse Keeping • Straight Shooters • Sleepy Time Donald • Clown of the Jungle • Donald's Dilemma • Bootle Beetle • Wide Open Spaces • Chip an' Dale • Drip Dippy Donald • Daddy Duck • Donald's Dream Voice • Blame It on the Samba • The Trial of Donald Duck • Inferior Decorator • Soup's On • Three for Breakfast • Tea for Two Hundred • Donald's Happy Birthday • Sea Salts • Winter Storage • Honey Harvester • All in a Nutshell • The Greener Yard • Slide, Donald, Slide • Toy Tinkers • Billposters (co-starring Goofy) • No Sail (co-starring Goofy) • Frank Duck Brings 'em Back Alive (co-starring Goofy) • Crazy with the Heat (co-starring Goofy) 1950s Lion Around • Crazy Over Daisy • Trailer Horn • Hook, Lion and Sinker • Bee at the Beach • Out on a Limb • Dude Duck • Corn Chips • Test Pilot Donald • Lucky Number • Out of Scale • Bee on Guard • Donald Applecore • Let's Stick Together • Uncle Donald's Ants • Trick or Treat • Don's Fountain of Youth • The New Neighbor • Rugged Bear • Working for Peanuts • Canvas Back Duck • Spare the Rod • Donald's Diary • Dragon Around • Grin and Bear It • The Flying Squirrel • Grand Canyonscope • No Hunting • Bearly Asleep • Beezy Bear • Up a Tree • Chips Ahoy 1960s The Litterbug Educational Shorts How to Have an Accident in the Home • How to Have an Accident at Work • Donald in Mathmagic Land • Donald and the Wheel • Steel and America • Donald's Fire Survival Plan • Family Planning Songs Donald Duck See Also DuckTales (1987 series) • Donald's Quack Attack • Quack Pack • Pomp and Circumstance • DuckTales (2017 series)