The Wise Little Hen is a 1934 Walt Disney 's Silly Symphony cartoon , based on the fable The Little Red Hen . The cartoon features the debut of Donald Duck , dancing to " The Sailor's Hornpipe ". Donald and his friend Peter Pig try to avoid work by faking stomach aches until Mrs. Hen teaches them the value of labor.
41-620: The Wise Little Hen of the title is looking for someone to help her plant her corn for the winter. Peter Pig and Donald Duck both feign belly aches to get out of the chore, since they would rather play than work. With help from her chicks, she plants it herself. Harvest time comes; again, Peter and Donald claim belly aches, but the hen sees through this when boards of their clubhouse fall off showing their little act when they shake hands with each other for evading responsibility. Upon wising up to their ruse, she and her chicks wink at each other upon knowing what to do with Peter and Donald later. She cooks up
82-669: A cash crop . Castor oil was the preferred lubricant for rotary engines , such as the Gnome engine after that engine's widespread adoption for aviation in Europe in 1909. It was used almost universally in rotary-engined Allied aircraft in World War I . Germany had to make do with inferior ersatz oil for its rotary engines, which resulted in poor reliability. The methanol -fueled, two-cycle, glow-plug engines used for aeromodelling, since their adoption by model airplane hobbyists in
123-448: A consequence for their rugged individualism by being fed castor oil as the Hen and her chicks eat their crops. The featured song also draws upon contemporary elements as it references the "harsh weather [that] had antagonized the crises in the rural sector" across the 1933-1934 winter as the Hen seeks to grow corn "so she is 'not left short when winter comes again'". The short's end reinforces
164-462: A higher price than other seed oils. As an example, in July 2007, Indian castor oil sold for about US$ 0.90/kg ($ 0.41/lb), whereas U.S. soybean , sunflower , and canola oils sold for about $ 0.30/kg ($ 0.14/lb). Castor oil has been used orally to relieve constipation or to evacuate the bowel before intestinal surgery. The laxative effect of castor oil is attributed to ricinoleic acid , which
205-498: A lubricant in jet , diesel , and racing engines. The viscosity of castor oil at 10 °C is 2,420 centipoise , but it tends to form gums in a short time, so its usefulness is limited to engines that are regularly rebuilt, such as racing engines. Lubricant company Castrol took its name from castor oil. Castor oil has been suggested as a lubricant for bicycle pumps because it does not degrade natural rubber seals. Turkey red oil, also called sulphonated (or sulfated) castor oil,
246-459: A precursor to specialized polymer nylon 11 , and heptanal , a component in fragrances. Breakdown of castor oil in strong base gives 2-octanol , both a fragrance component and a specialized solvent, and the dicarboxylic acid sebacic acid . Hydrogenation of castor oil saturates the alkenes, giving a waxy lubricant. Castor oil may be epoxidized by reacting the OH groups with epichlorohydrin to make
287-475: A relatively high dielectric constant (4.7), highly refined and dried castor oil is sometimes used as a dielectric fluid within high-performance, high-voltage capacitors . Vegetable oils such as castor oil are typically unattractive alternatives to petroleum -derived lubricants because of their poor oxidative stability. Castor oil has better low-temperature viscosity properties and high-temperature lubrication than most vegetable oils, making it useful as
328-429: A tantalizing assortment of corn dishes, and heads over to Peter and Donald to help her eat them, but before she can open her mouth, they already fake their belly aches. Once she asks them to help her eat the corn, they snap out of their façade and are excited to eat, but all she gives them is castor oil . As the hen and her chicks eat the corn themselves, Peter and Donald repent with all their might by kicking each other in
369-542: A variety of uses. Castor oil and its derivatives are used in the manufacturing of soaps , lubricants , hydraulic and brake fluids , paints , dyes , coatings , inks , cold-resistant plastics , waxes and polishes, nylon , and perfumes . The name probably comes from a confusion between the Ricinus plant that produces it and another plant, the Vitex agnus-castus . An alternative etymology, though, suggests that it
410-490: Is also used in the food industries. In India , Pakistan , and Nepal , food grains are preserved by the application of castor oil. It stops rice , wheat , and pulses from rotting. For example, the legume pigeon pea is commonly available coated in oil for extended storage. Castor oil has been used in cosmetic products included in creams and as a moisturizer . It is often combined with zinc oxide to form an emollient and astringent , zinc and castor oil cream, which
451-613: Is commonly used to treat infants for nappy rash . According to the American Cancer Society , "available scientific evidence does not support claims that castor oil on the skin cures cancer or any other disease." There is no high-quality research proving that ingestion of castor oil results in cervical ripening or induction of labor ; there is, however, evidence that taking it causes nausea and diarrhea. A systematic review of "three trials, involving 233 women, found there has not been enough research done to show
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#1732765749217492-415: Is described as being virtually nontoxic, but has the capacity to affect people with hypersensitivity. The allergen may be neutralized by treatment with a variety of alkaline agents. The allergen is not present in the castor oil itself. Donald Duck%27s 50th Birthday Donald Duck's 50th Birthday is a television special broadcast on The Magical World of Disney on November 13, 1984 on CBS . As
533-622: Is made by adding sulfuric acid to vegetable oils, most notably castor oil. It was the first synthetic detergent after ordinary soap . It is used in formulating lubricants , softeners, and dyeing assistants . Castor oil, like currently less expensive vegetable oils, can be used as feedstock in the production of biodiesel . The resulting fuel is superior for cold winters, because of its exceptionally low cloud point and pour point . Initiatives to grow more castor for energy production, in preference to other oil crops, are motivated by social considerations. Tropical subsistence farmers would gain
574-416: Is no data on the potential toxicity of castor oil for nursing mothers. Since children commonly strongly dislike the taste of castor oil, some parents punished children with a dose of it. Physicians recommended against the practice because they did not want medicines associated with punishment. A heavy dose of castor oil could be used as a humiliating punishment for adults. Colonial officials used it in
615-400: Is produced by hydrolysis in the small intestine . Use of castor oil for simple constipation is medically discouraged because it may cause violent diarrhea . In the food industry, food-grade castor oil is used in food additives, flavorings, candy (e.g., polyglycerol polyricinoleate in chocolate ), as a mold inhibitor, and in packaging. Polyoxyethylated castor oil (e.g., Kolliphor EL )
656-528: Is reacted with an isocyanate (usually polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate ) and a cement and construction aggregate . This is applied fairly thickly as a slurry, which is self-levelling. This base is usually further coated with other systems to build a resilient floor. Castor oil is not a drying oil , meaning that it has a low reactivity with air compared with oils such as linseed oil and tung oil . However, dehydration of castor oil yields linoleic acids, which do have drying properties. In this process,
697-412: Is unusual in that it has a hydroxyl functional group on the 12th carbon atom. This functional group causes ricinoleic acid (and castor oil) to be more polar than most fats. The chemical reactivity of the alcohol group also allows chemical derivatization that is not possible with most other seed oils. Because of its ricinoleic acid content, castor oil is a valuable chemical in feedstocks, commanding
738-543: The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology stated that castor oil's physiological effect is poorly understood but "given gastrointestinal symptomatology, a prostaglandin mediation has been suggested but not confirmed." According to Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk (2008), castor oil should not be ingested or used topically by pre-term pregnant women. There
779-683: The British Raj (India) to deal with recalcitrant servants. Belgian military officials prescribed heavy doses of castor oil in Belgian Congo as a punishment for being too sick to work. Castor oil was also a tool of punishment favored by the Falangist and later Francoist Spain during and following the Spanish Civil War . Its use as a form of gendered violence to repress women was especially prominent. This began during
820-406: The humiliation of the laxative effects resulting from excessive consumption of the oil. Castor oil is used as a biobased polyol in the polyurethane industry. The average functionality (number of hydroxyl groups per triglyceride molecule) of castor oil is 2.7, so it is widely used as a rigid polyol and in coatings. One particular use is in a polyurethane concrete where a castor-oil emulsion
861-416: The triglycidyl ether of castor oil which is useful in epoxy technology. This is available commercially as Heloxy 505. The production of lithium grease consumes a significant amount of castor oil. Hydrogenation and saponification of castor oil yields 12-hydroxystearic acid, which is then reacted with lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate to give high-performance lubricant grease. Since it has
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#1732765749217902-444: The "self-sufficiency of the hen" in contrast to "Donald and Peter's laziness [which] is punished as they are left hungry". The short has been released several times on home media. The first release was in 1986 on Betamax on Donald Duck Volume 1 . It was released in 1989 on VHS, Beta, and Laserdisc on Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck Volume 2 . It was re-released on those same three formats in 1991 on Donald Duck's 50th Birthday . It
943-494: The "varnish" created by using castor oil in small percentages can improve the pneumatic seal of the sleeve valve, improving such an engine's performance over time. The castor seed contains ricin , a toxic lectin . Heating during the oil extraction process denatures and deactivates the lectin. Harvesting castor beans, though, may not be without risk. The International Castor Oil Association FAQ document states that castor beans contain an allergenic compound called CB1A. This chemical
984-488: The 1940s, have used varying percentages of castor oil as lubricants. It is highly resistant to degradation when the engine has its fuel-air mixture leaned for maximum engine speed. Gummy residues can still be a problem for aeromodelling powerplants lubricated with castor oil, however, usually requiring eventual replacement of ball bearings when the residue accumulates within the engine's bearing races. One British manufacturer of sleeve valved four-cycle model engines has stated
1025-430: The OH group on the ricinoleic acid along with a hydrogen from the next carbon atom are removed, forming a double bond which then has oxidative cross-linking properties and yields the drying oil. It is considered a vital raw material. Castor oil can react with other materials to produce other chemical compounds that have numerous applications. Transesterification followed by steam cracking gives undecylenic acid ,
1066-512: The day send Donald birthday greetings, including Ed Asner , Andy Warhol , Donna Summer and the Star Wars droids. The tour culminates in a parade in Donald's honor at Disneyland . This was the last time Clarence Nash voiced Donald Duck before his death a year later. It was rebroadcast on Disney Channel Europe on November 13, 2004 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the special plus at
1107-474: The effects of castor oil on ripening the cervix or inducing labour or compare it to other methods of induction. The review found that all women who took castor oil by mouth felt nauseous. More research is needed into the effects of castor oil to induce labour." Castor oil is still used for labor induction in environments where modern drugs are not available; a review of pharmacologic, mechanical, and " complementary " methods of labor induction published in 2024 by
1148-470: The end of the special, it has the sign: "Walt Disney 1901–1966 Clarence Nash 1904–1985". In 1984, Donald Duck (in live form) went on an international tour through Europe, Japan and parts of the United States. Some of these stops on his tour actual stage performances attended by other (live) Disney characters. Donald's arrival at airports (on his own plane depicting Donald in flight on the tailfin )
1189-480: The first appearance of Clarence Nash in a Disney production. Nash had been a performer in Chautauqua and vaudeville during the 1920s and later met Wilfred Jackson who wanted Nash to provide bird sounds for a cartoon. During the call, Nash performed a rendition of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" as a duck, and Jackson sent the music into Walt Disney's office. Disney himself proclaimed "[t]hat's our talking duck". The short
1230-725: The rump. Though distributor United Artists gave June 9, 1934 as the cartoon's release date, it was actually first shown on May 3, 1934, at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles for a benefit program , while it was later given its official debut on June 7 at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City as a short subject to its showing of Sisters Under the Skin . This cartoon featured
1271-510: The seeds of the plant Ricinus communis . The seeds are 40 to 60 percent oil. It is a colourless or pale yellow liquid with a distinct taste and odor. Its boiling point is 313 °C (595 °F) and its density is 0.961 g/cm . It includes a mixture of triglycerides in which about 90 percent of fatty acids are ricinoleates . Oleic acid and linoleic acid are the other significant components. Some 270,000–360,000 tonnes (600–800 million pounds) of castor oil are produced annually for
The Wise Little Hen - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-543: The short's narrative reflects the economic reality of the time, the Great Depression , and President Roosevelt's efforts to bolster the agricultural sector. Mollet surmises that Peter Pig and Donald Duck's actions, not helping to cultivate and harvest crops, is a rejection of "early New Deal policy of self-sufficiency in farming". The short reinforces the belief in New Deal policy by having Donald and Peter pay
1353-575: The short, "Help Me Plant My Corn" was written by Leigh Harline. The Wise Little Hen had its world premiere as the underbill to Gulliver Mickey at the Carthay Circle Theater in Los Angeles, California, on May 3, 1934. The Silly Symphony Sunday comic strip ran a three-month-long adaptation of The Wise Little Hen from September 16 to December 16, 1934. The story was adapted by Ted Osborne and Al Taliaferro , and it also
1394-561: The title suggests, it was produced to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Donald Duck character, who first appeared in the Walt Disney short The Wise Little Hen in 1934. Donald is shown in both animated and live costumed form, interacting with emcee Dick Van Dyke and other cast members. The film not only shows Donald's life, but also depicts an extensive international tour that Donald went on in 1984. Various celebrities of
1435-444: The victims. This technique was said to have been originated by Gabriele D'Annunzio or Italo Balbo . This form of torture was potentially deadly, as the administration of the castor oil was often combined with nightstick beatings, especially to the rear , so that the resulting diarrhea would not only lead to dangerous dehydration but also infect the open wounds from the beatings. However, even those victims who survived had to bear
1476-770: The war where Nationalist forces would specifically target Republican-aligned women, both troops and civilians, who lived in Republican -controlled areas. The forced drinking of castor oil occurred alongside sexual assault, rape, torture and murder of these women. Its most notorious use as punishment came in Fascist Italy under Benito Mussolini . It was a favorite tool used by the Blackshirts to intimidate and humiliate their opponents. Political dissidents were force-fed large quantities of castor oil by fascist squads so as to induce bouts of extreme diarrhea in
1517-481: Was Donald Duck's first appearance in Disney comics . The 1962 storybook Walt Disney's Story Land: 55 Favorite Stories featured an adaptation of the cartoon called "Mrs. Cackle's Corn". In this version, Clara Cluck is telling the story. By 1962, Donald Duck was thought unsuitable for a bit part in a fairy tale, so they use Daniel Duck instead. Patsy Pig was substituted for Peter Pig. Dr. Tracey Mollet suggests that
1558-426: Was animated by Art Babbitt , Dick Huemer , Clyde Geronimi , Louie Schmitt, and Frenchy de Tremaudan (with assistance from a group of junior animators headed by Ben Sharpsteen ) and directed by Wilfred Jackson . Animation on the hen was done by Wolfgang Reitherman and supervised by Ben Sharpsteen. Art Babbitt worked on Peter Pig and Donald Duck. Ward Kimball worked as an inbetweener on this short. The song featured in
1599-572: Was met with colossal crowds that kept getting bigger. There were also several parades for Donald, and not just at the Disney theme parks. In one, Donald sat in a staff car in his military uniform and was promoted to the rank of sergeant . This scene was also when he was discharged from the US Army . Donald is also shown having his footprints cast in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in May 1984. In
1640-407: Was released on December 4, 2001, on Walt Disney Treasures: Silly Symphonies - The Historic Musical Animated Classics , and on May 18, 2004, on Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Volume One: 1934-1941 . The film's copyright was renewed in 1961, so it will enter the public domain on January 1, 2030. Castor oil Castor oil is a vegetable oil pressed from castor beans ,
1681-448: Was used as a replacement for castoreum . Use of castor oil as a laxative is attested to in the c. 1550 BCE Ebers Papyrus , and it was in use several centuries earlier. Midwifery manuals from the 19th century recommended castor oil and 10 drops of laudanum for relieving "false pains." Castor oil is well known as a source of ricinoleic acid , a monounsaturated , 18-carbon fatty acid . Among fatty acids, ricinoleic acid