Scrap Happy Daffy (1943)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Frank Tashlin

Writer:

Don Christensen (story)

Release Date:

21 August 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | War | Short | Comedy

Plot:

Daffy takes on a goat sent by Hitler to eat up his scrap pile.

Plot Keywords:

Goat | Submarine | Dream | Junkyard | Hitler

Cast

Mel Blanc

...

Daffy Duck / Hitler / Nazi Soldiers / Submarine Captain / Billy Goat / Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Uncle Dillingham Duck / Minuteman Duck / Pioneer Duck / Admiral Duck / Lincoln Duck / Daffy's Ancestors (voice) (uncredited)

Runtime:

8 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (MPPDA #9084)

Company:

Leon Schlesinger Studios

Quotes:

Daffy Duck: How do you like that, Schicklgruber?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Behind the Tunes: Tish Tash - The Animated World of Frank Tashlin (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Rienzi

Daffy Is One 'Scrappy' & Patriotic American!

As others have explained here, this cartoon was made as part of the film industry's bid to help the U.S. and Allies with the World War II effort. The message in this one, with Daffy Duck providing the message with laughs, was to encourage people to save scrap so that it could be converted to weapons and ammo.

Signs like "Get that lead out! (along with iron, brass, tin, etc.) are at Daffy's Scrap Heap, where he does his bit to help win the war. Any question that this cartoon is anything but that is erased in his first scene when we see him with an air-raid helmet on and he's singing, "We're in to win, turn in your tin......To our nation's call every rubber ball, Goes to conquer freedom's foe." You get the idea: this is more of a patriotic message instead of the normal wacky Looney Tunes effort. However, that's not to say you won't laugh with Daffy in here, or enjoy the inventive artwork and direction by Frank Tashin.

Much of the story tells of Hitler hearing about Daffy's scrap pile and he sends a billy goat (don't ask) to destroy it. The German leader is shown, it's safe to say, in a very unflattering light! No objections there, from anyone I've hear, and none from me. It's ironic that our foes in WWII were depicted so negatively but Hollywood doesn't say one word today about the Islamic terrorists trying to destroy the U.S. Today, as I write this, there are several anti- American military films that are being shown and nothing which makes the enemies look bad. Over 3,000 citizens are murdered in the World Trade Center buildings and today's Hollywood only makes films mocking our soldiers? Unbelievable! Think about it. Watching this cartoon really makes the contrast really stand out, especially at the end when Daffy Duck is transformed into "SuperAmerican." .