The Clock Watcher

The Clock Watcher

Year: 1945

Runtime: 8 mins

Language: English

Director: Jack King

AnimationComedy

Donald takes a job as a gift wrapper in a department store.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Clock Watcher (1945)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Clock Watcher (1945). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Royal Bros. Gift Wrapping Department

The action takes place in the Royal Bros. gift-wrapping department, a bustling station on the production line. The space is filled with wrapping paper, boxes, and clattering machines that drive fast-paced work. It’s a setting built for quick repetitions, mishaps, and comic chaos as gifts flow along the line.

🏭 Factory 🎁 Gift Wrapping

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:36

Main Characters – The Clock Watcher (1945)

Meet the key characters of The Clock Watcher (1945), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Donald Duck (voice: Clarence Nash)

Donald Duck is a cantankerous yet resourceful gift wrapper who tries to game the system with quick fixes. His anxiety about underperforming triggers clever schemes that quickly spiral into chaotic scenes. He alternates between moments of fake productivity and explosive temper, embodying a frenetic, humorous energy.

🎭 Cartoon 🧠 Clever 😡 Short-tempered

Jack-in-the-box

A lively, surprise-prone Jack-in-the-box that pops out of its container and enters Donald’s chaotic world. It acts as a chaotic foil, resisting being put back and provoking a series of pratfalls and outlandish gags.

🎭 Toy 🧨 Chaotic 🤹 Prankster

Boss

The boss administers discipline and oversees production, scolding Donald for slacking and forcing him to keep working overtime. The tension between authority and mischief culminates in the quitting moment, when Donald attacks the boss and ends up breaking the speaker pipe.

💼 Authority 😠 Demanding

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:36

Major Themes – The Clock Watcher (1945)

Explore the central themes of The Clock Watcher (1945), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚙️ Chaos vs Order

The short pits the orderly, machine-driven factory pace against Donald’s improvisational whimsy. His attempts to tweak the clock, deflate a ball, and improvise solutions ripple through the line, turning routine tasks into slapstick chaos. The tension between efficiency and mischief plays out through a rapid series of gags that illuminate the fragility of a busy workplace.

🎭 Frustration and Rebellion

Donald’s temper flares when the boss complains and production lags. The cartoon uses his outbursts as a source of humor, highlighting the struggle between subservience and personal misrule. The rebellious streak culminates in the quitting moment, flipping the power dynamic with a comic sting.

🧰 Inventiveness vs. Rules

Donald relies on improvised hacks (magnet to bend time, squashing a trombone into a box, and pinning Jack-in-the-box down) to manage the job. These clever but reckless tactics underscore a theme that ingenuity can clash with rules and consequences. The clash produces a lively sequence of misadventures and physical gags.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:36

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Unlock the Full Story of The Clock Watcher

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Clock Watcher in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Clock Watcher is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Clock Watcher Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Clock Watcher, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Clock Watcher Summary

The Clock Watcher Timeline

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The Clock Watcher Timeline

More About The Clock Watcher

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More About The Clock Watcher

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