DUCK TALES THE MOVIE, TREASURE OF THE LOST LAMP

US, 1990, 74 minutes, Colour.
Voices of Alan Young, Christopher Lloyd, Richard Libertini.
Directed by Bob Hathcock.

Duck Tales The Movie, Treasure of the Lost Lamp, is an attempt at the end of the '80s by the Disney Studios to revive the popular cartoons with such characters as Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse with their emphasis on verbal humour and slapstick.

The opening of the film is obviously a play on the Indiana Jones stories. When Uncle Scrooge and the family move back to Duckburg (New York), the film is a variation on Aladdin and his lamp, genie and all.

The film is done in the familiar style of the old cartoons with the contemporary sophistication. The actors contributing their voice talents are very good: Alan Young as Scrooge, Richard Libertini as the servant, Christopher Lloyd as the villain.

The film is brief, designed for the younger audiences - and an amusing feature-length old-style cartoon.

1. Enjoyable Disney cartoon? The traditions of Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse? A '90s version?

2. The quality of the animation, the drawing, the action? Layouts? Humour? Slapstick? Verbal jokes?

3. The contribution of the voices and their styles, characters, comedy?

4. The influence of Indiana Jones stories? Aladdin and his lamp?

5. The opening adventure - Launch Pad and his dangerous flying, the collapse of the monuments? Scrooge and his nephews, and Webby? Their search? Digging out the pyramid? Being watched by Merlock? Dijon as the servant? The discovery of the treasure - and the Indiana Jones adventures: traps, dangers, scorpions, bridges etc? Merlock and his pursuit? Dijon and the money? Their losing the money, Webby with the lamp? Scrooge and his enterprise - with the touch of scrooginess about money? Huey, Dewey and Louey in the comic tradition? The return to Duckburg? Discovering the genie? The possibility of having all wishes fulfilled - children style? Scrooge and his life back in Duckburg, his reputation? The pursuit of Merlock, Dijon? Getting of the lamp? The genie and his emergence, the children hiding him? His wanting to be a normal duck? The comeuppance of Merlock and Dijon and happy ever after?

6. The presentation of the action adventures in the style of Indiana Jones in the'80s?

7. Merlock as villain, changing shapes, hold over Dijon, the dangers? Menace in the city? The traditional villain?

8. Dijon, the servant, his fears, greed, wheedling? His gaining the lamp and control? Always a thief?

9. Popular animation, popular characters - designed for a young audience?