Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Nice effects though.

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Huey, Duey and Louie wants to get their hands on their allowance, kept in a little bank by Donald Duck, so they could go buy a cigar box for their uncle's birthday. But, when Donald catches them, he thinks they are out smoking them for themselves.It has its funny moments, especially when Donald catches his nephews' hands on the bank and tells them to put it back. Very comical but it does show Donald being a bit of a jerk, as he jumps to conclusions and didn't realize the surprise gift his nephews are planning for them. But, of course, only Donald Duck is stuck with the bad luck.Not the best Donald cartoon, but still a little funny.Grade B-

Huey, Duey, and Louie work hard in Donald's garden in order to make enough money to spoil him for his birthday (March 13th). Donald thinks their crazy but pays them nonetheless, though he insists that they stick the money in the bank for their future. Desperate to get the dough they need the triplets resort to hijinks and eventually manage to purchase a box of cigars (I guess tobacco laws were not so strict in 1949).Donald thinks that the stogies are for the kids and makes them smoke the whole box. The final gag of Donald learning the truth makes him shrink to a couple of inches tall. Well, at least for once he knew he was in the wrong.A nicely animated cartoon that is quick and concise with enough laughs to make it worthwhile.

There are funnier Donald and nephews shorts around, and more crisply paced ones. But these don't stop Donald's Happy Birthday from being an interesting short. I don't think Donald's Happy Birthday is all that routine. Most Donald and nephews shorts have the theme of the nephews causing trouble or playing cruel tricks on Donald getting him frustrated easily. Here Donald's nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie had good intentions and Donald is a jerk while feeling guilty when it's not all what it seems(though I do think he loves his nephews and has their interests at heart but doesn't go about it the right way). The very end I did find somewhat dark and touching. The animation is wonderful, very crisp and colourful, and the music is beautifully orchestrated and paced in a characterful manner as ever. All the characters are on top form even with the change of pace, and Clarence Nash's voice work is impeccable. All in all, a very good short. 8/10 Bethany Cox

This is a VERY unusual Disney cartoon because it's apparently accidentally slipped into the public domain and can be downloaded for free from archive.org. It's especially surprising because it's one of the better Donald Duck cartoons.Huey, Dewey and Louie want to buy a gift for Uncle Donald for his birthday. They decide to buy him a box of cigars but need money. So, they go to Donald to collect payment for all the chores they've been doing. He pays them but then insists they put it in the piggy bank. Later, they sneak the money. Donald finds out...and finds out they bought a box of cigars. He stupidly thinks the boys are smoking and instead of asking about the cigars, he decides to punish them by making them smoke them. Later, he discovers why they bought them and he feels like a total jerk.My guess is that the smoking theme is why Disney didn't renew the copyright on this one. Kids buying cigars and smoking them, while a great plot for 1949, became unacceptable in the more health-conscious 60s and 70s and especially today. Still, I think the film is well worth seeing as it's unusually sweet and poignant for a Donald Duck cartoon.