Yankee Doodle Daffy

Smeller Productions shuts it's doors early when Porky Pig stops auditions for the day in order to go and get his plane for a business appointment. However, his office is stormed by Daffy Duck - Actor's Agent, who is keen to push his young act in front of Porky.

I love Daffy Duck, but I greatly prefer him when he is crazy, in his early days - not only do I prefer his character but also the cartoons seemed to have more value placed upon them. Here I wasn't sure what to expect as the cartoon had a structure that I didn't think would lend itself to a crazy duck - how wrong was I! The plot actually allows Daffy to be crazy (or screwball as his young client points out) in a very funny way. The various acts he puts on are all very funny and work well because he is such a good character. The cartoon dips a little bit when it leaves the office but it is still worth seeing.

Daffy is brilliant. The material may not be the strongest he has ever had but it is he who uses it really well and carries the film. Porky is only really any good when he is reacting to the work of others and, for that reason, he is good here. The little act in question is a small black duck that sits silently for the majority. He is hilarious as he pulls out pictorial signs to comment on the relative sanity of his manager - it is not his fault that he is the focus of a punchline that serves as an anticlimax after such madness!

Overall this is a fantastic little short that allows Daffy to demonstrate why I always prefer him in full `crazy' mode as opposed to his later incarnations. He may be a ham, a corn and a screwball, but Daffy makes this cartoon what it is - great fun!

Under the watchful gaze of a statue of an Oscar, "Daffy" tries to extol the talents of "Sleepy Lagoon" to top casting agent "Porky". Thing is, his act just sits on the sofa sucking on a lollipop whilst it's the hugely overactive "Daffy" who does a series of turns with everything from Carmen Miranda to wartime pilot on display. Try as he might, "Porky" can't escape the relentless onslaught - and neither can we, so thankfully he agrees to let the kid try. Maybe he needed a lozenge? Anyway, it's Ok this, but the freneticism of the duck was never my favourite at the best of times, and here it's just a bit in your face and goes on too long.

Despite the the title, this has nothing to do with the 1942 film biopic of George M. Cohan or the song. The plot has pushy talent agent Daffy trying to persuade producer Porky to give Daffy's client a job. The client in question is an adorable little duck with a lollipop named Sleepy Lagoon. It's not until the end of the short that we find out if Sleepy has talent or not as most of the time is spent on Daffy himself performing. This is a funny short with early Daffy, meaning more zany and silly than the later smart-mouthed foil for Bugs. Daffy's most of the show here but Sleepy is good, too, and Porky is fine as the ever-suffering straight man. The vocal talents of Mel Blanc are, as always, wonderful. The colors, animation, and music are all great. Not one of the best Daffy & Porky shorts but a good one.

One thing that I always say about "Mister Ed", "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie", is that it sucks to be Wilbur, Darrin and Maj. Nelson, respectively. I say that because these things that they have to experience at the hands of Ed, Samantha and Jeannie, have got to be mind-numbing. In that respect, it sucks to be Porky Pig in "Yankee Doodle Daffy". In this cartoon, Porky is a talent scout to whom Daffy tries to show the skills of his nephew, Sleepy McGoof. Most of the cartoon has Daffy putting on a series of wacky skits, while Sleepy sits there sucking on a lollipops. No matter what Porky does, he can't seem to get away from them.

This one was a little bit more routine than some of the other Looney Tunes cartoons, but it's still worth seeing.

Porky Pig is the President of Smeller Productions and he's leaving for vacation. Daffy Duck interrupts his quick exit and forces him to stay. Daffy is an agent with a young prospect named Sleepy Lagoon who may not be up to auditioning. Daffy starts doing all kinds of song and dance by himself.

I assume that they are trying to introduce this Sleepy Lagoon. I don't know why. It is not a good cartoon character. This would work so much better with Daffy representing himself. It fits Daffy's nature and would make much more sense in this short. All this needs are Porky and Daffy. Sleepy just gets in the way.