Scrap Happy Daffy

Americans were asked to do their part by saving up and donating anything metal. It was a just war but it also shows the terrible waste that war entails. That aside, Daffy Duck is the chosen one to organize scrap metal drives to the Nth degree. At one point he doesn't think he can do it and he is accosted by a series of American patriots. Pretty well done for its type.

A great piece of war propaganda, and really funny too. Along with Clampett, Tashlin was an espouser of the Warner Bros. "Rowdyism." This cartoon is filled with many sharply-timed great gags. It also has the signature Tashlin montage scene. Shot in black and white, the backgrounds employ beautifully stark graphic designs. The Tashlin color cartoons never used this for some reason. There is also some UPA-like stylized animation of Daffy's ancestors in one scene. The Daffy here is the emotionally exuberant Daffy of the early forties. In cartoons from this period he was sometimes used as a hero to thwart the Nazis, which is what happens here. Specifically, a nazi goat sent over to eat his scrap pile. This was a humorous way to remind people on the homefront to help pitch in the war effort and recycle their junk. It is rarely shown on t.v. and hard to find on video, but if you get a chance I recommend you watch it.

One of the many WW2 looney tunes that don't air on TV.

This is a black and white short of Daffy Duck telling every one to recycle anything that's alumna, metal, tin, for the war.

His job is to be sure the USA gets all that Scrap Metal to win the war.

But when it comes to Nazis and Metal Eating Goats that can be a problem.

It's up to Daffy Duck to save all that Scrap Metal.

If you like Daffy Commandos, you'll like this one as well.

It's a real fine treat from the WW2 era.

Even has Hitler acting crazy.

This cartoon, appropriately and effectively in black and white, is a World War II patriotic short, with Daffy needing to protect his scrap pile (for the war effort) from a very hungry Nazi goat. The pep rally conducted by Daffy's ancestors is a highlight of the short and the ending is marvelous. Well worth the time and effort to find. Most highly recommended.

Scrap Happy Daffy (1943)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Here's another product of its time, which of course was World War II. The short is basically telling people to scrap metal for the war effort so Hitler gets concerned that Daffy's scrap is too much so he sends a metal-eating goat to destroy it.

SCRAP HAPPY DAFFY is a pretty interesting film for a number of reasons. For starters, it was filmed in B&W since it wasn't meant for a wide release. The images are actually a lot more striking in B&W and especially the scenes of Hitler ranting and raving. Another thing that separates this is that it's not all that "kid friendly" like so many of the other Daffy shorts. For the most part this here is extremely entertaining and I especially liked the middle finger it was giving to Hitler. There are some very good action scenes and just an overall high level of fun.