In 1938 Barks wrote the script for Donald's
Lucky Day, a story in which Donald acts as a
messenger boy who, unwittingly, transports a bomb to an
address in the other part of town. The short goes on to
show Donald's trouble on the way while the suspense is
building up; will he avoid being blasted sky-high? Trivia:
The plot takes place on the supposedly unluckiest day of
a year, namely Friday, the 13th., and Disney's made sure
that the cartoon was released Friday, the 13th of January
1939!
Below you are presented with the first 6 scenes of Barks'
script enabling you to get an idea on how a film script
was made in those days:
Characters: Two shadowy gangsters,
Donald, black cat.
Locale: Waterfront (ramshackle house, pier, boats, etc.).
Time: A few minutes before midnight, up to midnight.
Mood: The beginning will have a mysterious, sinister
feeling.
Type of story: A 'plot' story built on a situation
involving Donald as a messenger boy delivering a time
bomb - delayed by a black cat. Superstition theme.
App. footage: 680 feet.
Subtitle of the picture contains
the title of the picture 'Donald's Lucky Day'
with a faint design of calendar showing the date, 'Friday,
the 13th'.
Iris in:
SCENE 1:
On a dark and sinister waterfront scene.
A wisp of fog animated running through the scene. A
street lamp throws its eerie reflections on the water. In
the background is a ramshackle old building with one
light, or a single window lit.
We truck down on the lit window and cross dissolve:
SCENE 2:
Interior, medium close-ups - silhouettes of two gangsters
(Boss and Stooge).
Bending over an infernal machine which the Stooge is just
finishing tinkering with. The Boss, leaning over the time
bomb from the left with a burning cigar in his mouth and
a derby on his head, is interestedly watching the Stooge,
who straightens up, points at the bomb, says:
D'bomb's ready, Boss.
Cut to:
SCENE 3:
Close-up of time bomb on top of table.
This is the usual newspaper-cartoon type of a ball-shaped
bomb. It has a fuse coiled from the top that attaches
behind a Big Ben alarm clock. The clock is beside the
bomb and facing toward audience. The hands read ten to
twelve o'clock. The bomb and clock are attached to a
wooden form. One hand of the Stooge is holding the form
while the other hand reaches in behind the clock, as the
Boss says:
Swell, set it fer midnight.
SCENE 4:
Close-up. alarm dial of clock.
Stooge says:
O.K., Boss.
and the hand indicator of dial turns straight up to
twelve o'clock.
SCENE 5:
Medium close-up. Silhouettes of Boss and Stooge in same
field and set-up as previous scene.
The Boss leans down toward bomb, lifts up on side of bomb
contraption, looks at it closely and says:
Cheez ... Wot a Valentine for Scarpuss, d'rat!
Stooge answers:
Yeah! ... It'll be a swell blowout! ... Did Yah send
fer a messenger?
The Boss sets bomb down, looks at Stooge and motions over
his shoulder with thumb, saying:
Soitingly, d'dope's on his way now!
Stooge says:
Gee ... s'pose it goes off too soon, Boss?
Boss answers:
Haw-haw! ... Den we get a new messenger boy ... see!
Stooge laughs with Boss at the joke.
SCENE 6:
Long shot of victim, Donald Duck.
He is coming up street in messenger uniform riding a
bicycle. He is holding out his arms, snapping fingers and
singing
This is my lucky day
in a very cocky manner to the tune of a radio on his
handlebars, with not a care in the world.
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