The History and Filmology of Scrooge McDuck

Scrooge McDuck is a fictional character created by artist and storywriter, Carl Barks for the Walt Disney Company. He was created in 1947 and modeled after a character that appeared in a 1943 Disney Propaganda short for the war about being thrifty and supporting the war with your tax dollars.

Scrooge McDuck officially began his career in Fall of 1947 when Carl Barks while working for Disney created an Antagonistic uncle for popular Disney character, Donald Duck for a comic book entitled Christmas at Bear Mountain.

Scrooge was originally named after the penny-pinching character from Charles Dicken’s 1843 book, A Christmas Carol. He is described as an elderly thrifty, tightwad and unfriendly, but over the years some of those qualities have been down-played. He was originally considered generous and kind, but the attack of enemies caused him to become more grouchy.

He is usually found wearing a blue or red top coat and spats with Pince-nez glasses perched at the middle of his peak. He is portrayed as a Scotsmen with an accent.

He is a wealthy business man and an "adventure capitalist. He was the son of Fergus McDuck and Downy O' Drake and brother to  Matilda McDuck and Hortense McDuck (Donald and Della Ducks' Mother) making him Donald and Della's maternal uncle and the great uncle of Huey, Dewy and Louie Duck.

He is considered the richest person in the universe and has been listed in Forbes Magazine as one of the Top 15 richest fictional character in the World.

He also goes by the nicknames... Uncle Scrooge (by Donald Duck and his nephews), Mr. McDee (by Launchpad McQuack), and Scroogy (by his enemy, Flintheart Glamgold).

1943-01-07 ~ Theatrical Feature ~ The Spirit of 43

A Donald Duck propaganda film for promoting the payment of income taxes to help with the war effort. This Scrooge like character appears of Donald’s conservative conscience. Directed by Jack King. Scrooge-like character is voiced by the narrator, Fred Shields.

1983-12-16 ~ Theatrical Feature ~ Mickey’s Christmas Carol

An animated adaption of Charles Dicken’s classic book, A Carol Carol with Scrooge McDuck playing the part of Ebenezer Scrooge. Directed by Burny Mattinson and Scrooge voiced by actor, Alan Young.

1990-08-03 ~ Theatrical Feature ~ Duck Tales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp

Based on the popular cartoon series DUCK TALES, this movie finds Scrooge traveling to the Middle East in search of a treasure chest. Directed by Bob Hathcock and Scrooge voiced by actor, Alan Young.

1999-11-09 ~ Video Release ~ Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas

This trilogy of shorts around the theme of Christmas include “Mickey and Minnie’s Gift of the Magi (the toy sleigh); A Very Goofy Christmas (the teddy) and Donald Duck Stuck on Christmas (the toy boat)Directed by Alex Mann, Bradley Raymond, Jun Falkenberg, Bill Speers, Toby Shelton and George Evelyn. Scrooge is voiced by actor, Alan Young.

2004-11-09 ~ Video Release ~ Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas

This collection of 5 short stories around the theme of Christmas is much like its predecessor, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas. The five shorts include “Belles on Ice”; “Christmas Impossible”; Christmas Maximus”; “Donald’s Gift” and “Mickey’s Dog-Gone Christmas”. Scrooge stars in the second story involving Huey, Dewey and Louie celebrating Christmas at the McDuck Mansion in Duckburg. Directed by Matthew O’Callaghan and Scrooge is voiced by Alan Young.

1954-00-00 ~ Donald Scrooge Opus

An unproduced script for an animation short that was never filmed. Carl Barks was asked to produce a 7-minute Donald Duck short introducing the character of Scrooge McDuck to the world. The script went unused because Disney decided to concentrate on TV programming instead. No voice was used.

1967-03-23 ~ Scrooge McDuck and Money

An animated cartoon short featuring Scrooge McDuck. Scrooge gives a lesson on the history of money to his nephews when they want to deposit their money into a bank.  Directed by Hamilton Luske and voiced by Bill Thompson. It also features the Mellowmen.

1987-05-27 ~ Sport Goofy in Soccermania

In this animated cartoon short, Scrooge McDuck is asked to sponsor his nephew’s soccer team and donate a trophy. The Beagle Boys decide to steal the trophy that they believe is worth millions. Directed by Matthew O’Callaghan and Darrek Van Citters and Scrooge is voiced by Will Ryan.

2001-11-06 ~ Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse

In this animated cartoon short produced for the House of Mouse program, Mickey Mouse throws a Christmas Eve party for his friends when a snowstorm prevents them all from traveling home safely. Scrooge appears as a non-speaking cameo. Scrooge is voiced by Alan Young.

1947-12-00 ~ Christmas on Bear Mountain ~ Written by Carl Barks.

His first appearance was in the 1947 Dell Comic book # 178 called “Christmas on Bear Mountain”, where he appeared as a scruffy, bearded, semi-rich hermit wearing Pince-nez glasses, who hated everyone. He also sported a Scottish accent portraying the false stereotype that Scottish people were stingy. He lived in a mansion and walked with a cane.  In this comic, Donald invites his Uncle Scrooge to Christmas. This character was based on a previously used character that Donald Duck portrayed in a 1943 propaganda short called  The Spirit of 43. 

1948-06-00 ~ The Old Castle’s Secret  ~ Story by Carl Barks.

Scrooge's second appearance, in June of 1948 was in “The Old Castle’s Secret”.In this Four Color Comics edition #189, Scrooge is recruiting his nephews to search for a family treasure hidden in Dismal Downs, which is the McDuck family's ancestral castle, built in the middle of Rannoch Moor in Scotland.

1949-08-00 ~ Voodoo Hoodoo ~ Story by Carl Barks.

Voodoo Hoodoo was first published in Dell's Four Color Comics #238. It was the first story to hint at Scrooge's past. Donald deals with stories of zombies and witch doctors

1951-03-00 ~ Osogood Silver Polish ~ Art and script by Carl Barks.

 A salesman for Osogood Silver Polish volunteers to polish Scrooge's coins.

1951-03-00 ~ Soupline Eight ~ Art and script by Carl Barks.

Scrooge decides to "take a chance" on the Soupline Eight car.

1951-03-00 ~ Only A Poor Old Man ~ Art and script by Carl Barks. 

When the Beagle Boys erect a building next to Scrooge's money bin, with plans to puncture the bin and drain out the money, Scrooge secretly transfers his money to an old reservoir, where he hides it underwater. 

1952-03-00 ~ Coffee For Two ~ Art and script by Carl Barks. 

Scrooge takes a bum to a diner for a "free" cup of coffee.

1953-03-01 ~ Fare Delay ~ Art and script by Carl Barks. 

Scrooge waits for the traffic light to change before getting into a cab.

1952-10-16 ~ The Money Ladder ~ Art and script by Carl Barks. 

1952-09-18 ~ Back to the Klondike ~ Art and script by Carl Barks. 

Scrooge suffers from amnesia and a new medication brings back thoughts of his adventures to the Klondike and the love of his life Goldie O’Gilt.

1952-10-16 ~ The Checker Game ~ Art and script by Carl Barks. 

1953-03-00 ~ Somethin’ Fishy Here - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1953-09-00 ~ The Round Money Bin - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1953-09-00 ~ Barber College - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1953-09-00 ~ Follow the Rainbow - Art by Carl Barks. Scriptwriter unknown.

1953-02-26 ~ The Horseradish Story - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1953-02-26 ~ Itching to Share - Art by Carl Barks. Scriptwriter unknown.

1953-12-00 ~ Bum Steer - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1953-12-00 ~ The Menehune Mystery - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1953-12-00 ~ The Cheapest Weigh - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1953-12-00 ~ Ballet Evasions - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1954-03-00 ~ Hospitality Week - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1954-03-00 ~ Slippery Sipper - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1954-03-00 ~ The Secrets of Atlantis - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1954-03-00 ~ McDuck Takes a Dive - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1954-06-00 ~ Tralla La - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1954-06-00 ~ Mental Fee - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1954-06-00 ~ Outfoxed Fox - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1954-06-00 ~ Oil the News - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1954-06-00 ~ Dig It - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1954-09-00 ~ The Seven Cities of Cibola - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1954-09-00 ~ Diner Dilemma - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1954-09-00 ~ Billion Dollar Pigeon - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1954-09-00 ~ Temper Tampering - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1954-09-00 ~ Wrong Number - Art by Carl Barks. Scriptwriter unknown.

1954-12-00 ~ A Campaign of Note - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1954-12-00 ~ Cash on the Brain - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1954-12-00 ~ Classy Taxi - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1954-12-00 ~ The Mysterious Stone Ray - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1954-12-00 ~ Blanket Investment - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1955-03-00 ~ The Lemming with the Locket - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1955-03-00 ~ Cast of Thousands - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1955-03-00 ~ The Tuckered Tiger - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1955-03-00 ~ Easy Mowing - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1955-03-00 ~ Ski Lift Letdown - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1955-06-00 ~ Heirloom Watch - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1955-06-00 ~ Deep Decision - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1955-06-00 ~ Smash Success - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1955-06-00 ~ The Fabulous Philosopher’s Stone - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1955-09-00 ~ The Great Steamboat Race - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1955-09-00 ~ Roundabout Handout - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1955-09-00 ~ Riches, Riches, Everywhere - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1955-09-00 ~ Come As You Are - Art and script by Carl Barks

1955-12-00 ~ The Golden Fleecing - Art and script by Carl Barks

1955-12-00 ~ Doughnut Dare - Art and script by Carl Barks

1955-12-00 ~ Watt an Occasion - Art and script by Carl Barks

1955-12-00 ~ A Sweat Deal - Art and script by Carl Barks

1956-03-00 ~ The Art of Security - Art and script by Carl Barks

1956-03-00 ~ Fashion Forecast - Art and script by Carl Barks

1956-03-00 ~ Land Beneath the Ground - Art and scripts by Carl Barks.

1956-03-00 ~ Uncle Scrooge - Art and script by Carl Barks

1956-06-00 ~ Faulty Fortune - Art and script by Carl Barks

1956-06-00 ~ The Last Crown of Genghis Khan - Art and scrip by Carl Barks

1956-06-00 ~ Gold Rush - Art and script by Carl Barks

1956-06-00 ~ Fireflies are Free - Art and script by Carl Barks

1956-06-00 ~ Luncheon Lament ~ Art and script by Carl Barks

1956-09-00 ~ The Second Richest Duck ~ Art and script by Carl Barks

1956-09-00 ~ Pound for Sound ~ Art and script by Carl Barks.

1956-09-00 ~ Buffo or Bust ~ Art and script by Carl Barks.

1956-09-00 ~ Migrating Millions - Art and script by Carl Barks. Scrooge, told his money bin is in the way of a new turnpike, moves it first to a valley and then to a hilltop, but can't escape "progress."

1956-12-00 ~ The Colossalest Surprise Quiz Show - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1956-12-00 ~ Back to Long Ago! - Art and script by Carl Barks

1956-12-00 ~ Backyard Bonanza - Art and script by Carl Barks

1956-12-00 ~ Fertile Assets - Art and script by Carl Barks

1957-03-00 ~ Early to Build - Art and script by Carl Barks

1957-03-00 ~ The Eyes Have It - Art and script by Carl Barks

1957-03-00 ~ A Cold Bargain - Art and script by Carl Barks

1957-03-00 ~ China Shop Shakeup - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1957-06-00 ~ Net Worth - Art and script by Carl Barks

1957-06-00 ~ Relative Reaction - Art and script by by Carl Barks

1957-06-00 ~ Land of the Pygmy Indians - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1957-08-00 ~ The Fantastic River Race - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1957-09-00 ~ History Tossed - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1957-09-00 ~ The Mines of King Solomon - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1957-12-00 ~ Rescue Enhancement - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1957-12-00 ~ The City of Golden Roofs - Art and script by Carl Barks

1957-12-00 ~ September Scrimmage - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1958-03-00 ~ Windfall of the Mind - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1958-03-00 ~ Dogged Determination - Art and script by Carl Barks

1958-03-00 ~ The Money Well - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1958-03-00 ~ Forgotten Precaution - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1958-06-00 ~ Going to Pieces - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1958-06-00 ~ High Rider - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1958-06-00 ~ The Golden River - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1958-06-00 ~ That Sinking Feeling - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1958-06-17 ~ Blinder Gag - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1958-09-00 ~ Lights Out - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1958-09-00 ~ Moola on the Move - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1958-09-00 ~ The Fabulous Tycoon - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1958-09-00 ~ The Strange Shipwrecks - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1958-09-00 ~ All Choked Up - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1958-10-00 ~ The Forbidden Money Bin - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1958-12-00 ~ The Magic Ink - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1958-12-00 ~ The Twenty-four Carat Moon - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1959-03-00 ~ News from Africa - Art and script by Carl Barks.

1959-03-00 ~ Immoveable Miser - art and script by Carl Barks.

1959-03-00 ~ Pyramid Scheme - art and script by Carl Barks.

1959-03-00 ~ Kitty Go Round - art and script by Carl Barks.

1959-03-00 ~ The Flying Dutchman - art and script by Carl Barks.

1959-03-00 ~ Bill Wind - art and script by Carl Barks.

1959-06-00 ~  The Prize of Pizarro - art and script by Carl Barks.

1959-06-00 ~ Return to Pizen Bluff - art and script by Carl Barks.

1959-09-00 ~ His Handy Andy - art and script by Carl Barks.

1959-09-00 ~  The Money Champ - art and script by Carl Barks.

1959-09-00 ~ Crawls for Cash - art and script by Carl Barks.

1959-12-00 ~ The Witching Stick - art and script by Carl Barks.

1959-12-00 ~ The Paul Bunyan Machine - art and script by Carl Barks.

1959-12-00 ~ The Money Hat - art and script by Carl Barks.

1960-03-00 ~ Island in the Sky - art and script by Carl Barks.

1960-03-00 ~ Hound of the Whiskervilles - art and script by Carl Barks.

1960-06-00 ~ Yoicks! The Fox - art and script by Carl Barks.

1960-06-00 ~  Pipeline to Danger - art and script by Carl Barks.

1960-09-00 ~ All at Sea - art and script by Carl Barks.

1960-09-00~ The Secret Book - art and script by Carl Barks.

1960-09-00 ~  The Balmy Swami - art and script by Carl Barks.

1960-09-00 ~ Two-Way Luck - art and script by Carl Barks.

1960-12-00 ~ Turnabout - art by Carl Barks. Scriptwriter unknown.

1960-12-00 ~ That’s No Fable - art and script by Carl Barks.

1960-12-00 ~ The Homey Touch - art and script by Carl Barks.

1960-12-00 ~ A Thrift Gift - art and script by Carl Barks.

1960-12-00 ~ Clothes Make the Duck - art and script by Carl Barks.

1961-03-00 ~ Billions in the Hole - art and script by Carl Barks.

1961-03-00 ~ The Big Bobber - art and script by Carl Barks.

1961-03-00 ~ Thumbs Up - art and script by Carl Barks.

1961-03-00 ~ Tree Trick - art and script by Carl Barks.

1961-03-00 ~ Bongo on the Congo - art and script by Carl Barks.

1961-06-00 ~  Chugwagon Derby - art and script by Carl Barks.

1961-06-00 ~ Mystic Mystery - Art and script by Carl Barks. Uncle Scrooge, Donald and his nephews find themselves on a wandering planetoid called Vulcan that is coming closer to Earth.

1961-09-00 ~ Gift Lion - art and script by Carl Barks.

1961-09-00 ~ The Gold Nugget Boat - art and script by Carl Barks.

1961-12-00 ~ The Midas Touch - art and script by Carl Barks.

1961-12-00 ~ Money Bag Goat - art and script by Carl Barks.

1962-01-00 ~ The Sleepies - art and script by Carl Barks.

1962-03-00 ~ The Windy Story - art and script by Carl Barks.

1962-03-00 ~ Deep Down Doings - art and script by Carl Barks.

1962-03-00 ~ Cave of Ali Baba - art and script by Carl Barks.

1962-06-00 ~ Monkey Business - art and script by Carl Barks.

1962-06-00 ~ Much Luck McDuck - art and script by Carl Barks.

1962-06-00 ~ Playmates - art and script by Carl Barks.

1962-06-00 ~ The Unsafe Safe - art and script by Carl Barks.

1962-06-00 ~ Collection Day - art and script by Carl Barks.

1962-06-00 ~ Seeing is Believing - art and script by Carl Barks.

1962-07-00 ~ Rags to Riches - art and script by Carl Barks.

1962-09-00 ~ Tricky Experiment - art and script by Carl Barks.

1962-09-00 ~ A Spicy Tale - art and script by Carl Barks.

1962-09-00 ~ Art Appreciation - art and script by Carl Barks.

1962-09-00 ~ Nest Egg Collector - art and script by Carl Barks.

1962-09-00 ~ Getting the Bird - art and script by Carl Barks.

1963-01-00 ~ Oddball Odyssey - art and script by Carl Barks.

1963-03-00 ~ The Status Seeker - art and script by Carl Barks.

1963-05-00 ~ The Case of the Sticky Money - art and script by Carl Barks.

1963-05-00 ~ Wishful Excess - art and script by Carl Barks.

1963-05-00 ~ Dueling Tycoons - art and script by Carl Barks.

1963-05-00 ~ Sidewalk of the Mind - art and script by Carl Barks.

1963-07-00 ~ For Old Dime’s Sake - art and script by Carl Barks.

1963-08-00 ~ Crown of the Mayas - art and script by Carl Barks.

1963-08-00 ~ The Invisible Intruder - art by Carl Barks. Script by Vic Lockman.

1963-10-00 ~ Isle of Golden Geese - art and script by Carl Barks.

1960-10-00 ~ The Travel Tightwad - art by Carl Barks. Script by Vic Lockman.

1963-12-00 ~ The Lemonade Fling - art by Carl Barks. Script by Vic Lockman.

1963-12-00 ~ Lost Beneath the Sea - art and script by Carl Barks.

1963-12-00 ~ Fireman Scrooge - art and script by Carl Barks.

1964-02-00 ~ The Thrifty Spendthrift - art and script by Carl Barks.

1964-02-00 ~ Up and At All - art and script by Carl Barks.

1964-02-00 ~ No Bargain - art and script by Carl Barks.

1964-03-00 ~ The Many Faces of Magica De Spell - art and script by Carl Barks.

1964-05-00 ~ The Loony Lunar Gold Rush - art and script by Carl Barks.

1964-07-00 ~ Rug Riders in the Sky - art and script by Carl Barks.

1964-08-00 ~ How Green was My Lettuce - art and script by Carl Barks.

1964-09-00 ~ The Great Wig Mystery - art and script by Carl Barks.

1964-10-00 ~ Interplanetary Postman - art and script by Carl Barks.

1964-12-00 ~ Flowers are Flowers - art and script by Carl Barks.

1964-12-00 ~ The Billion Dollar Safari - art and script by Carl Barks.

1964-12-00 ~ Saved by the Bag - art and script by Carl Barks.

1965-02-00 ~ Ticking Detector - art and script by Carl Barks.

1965-02-00 ~ McDuck of Arabia - art and script by Carl Barks.

1965-03-00 ~ Mystery of the Ghost Town Railroad - art and script by Carl Barks.

1965-05-00 ~ The Bigger the Beggar - art and script by Carl Barks.

1965-05-00 ~ Plummeting with Precision - art and script by Carl Barks.

1965-05-00 ~ The Swamp of No Return - art and script by Carl Barks.

1965-05-00 ~ Snake Take - art and script by Carl Barks.

1965-05-00 ~ The Lock Out - art and script by Carl Barks.

1965-06-00 ~ Million Dollar Shower - art and script by Carl Barks.

1965-07-00 ~ The Giant Robot Robbers - art and script by Carl Barks.

1965-07-00 ~ Laundry for Less - Art by Carl Barks. Scriptwriter is unknown.

1965-07-00 ~ Long Distance Collision - Art by Carl Barks. Scriptwriter is unknown.

1965-09-00 ~ North of the Yukon - art and script by Carl Barks.

1965-09-00 ~ The Phantom of Notre Duck - art and script by Carl Barks.

1966-01-00 ~ Wasted Words - Art by Carl Barks. Scriptwriter is unknown.

1966-01-00 ~ Top Wages - Art by Carl Barks. Scriptwriter is unknown.

1966-01-00 ~ So Far and No Safari - art and script by Carl Barks.

1966-01-00 ~ It Happened One Winter - art and script by Carl Barks.

1966-01-00 ~ Down for the Count - Art by Carl Barks. Scriptwriter is unknown.

1966-01-00 ~ The Queen of the Wild Dog Pack - art and script by Carl Barks.

1966-05-00 ~ House of Haunts - art and script by Carl Barks.

1966-07-00 ~ Treasure of Marco Polo - art and script by Carl Barks.

1966-09-00 ~ Micro Ducks from Outer Space - art and script by Carl Barks.

1966-11-00 ~The Heedless Horseman - art and script by Carl Barks.

1967-03-00 ~ Hall of the Mermaid Queen - art and script by Carl Barks.

1967-05-00 ~ The Cattle King - art and script by Carl Barks.

1967-07-00 ~ The Doom Diamond - art and script by Carl Barks.

1967-10-00 ~ King Scrooge the First - art by Tony Strobl. Script by Carl Barks.

1984-04-28 ~ Go Slowly, Sands of Time - art by Vicar. Script by Carl Barks & Tom Anderson.

1994-10-00 ~ Horsing Around with History - art by William Van Horn. Script by Carl Barks.