Scrap Happy Daffy (1943)

"Scrap Happy Daffy" is a fine Daffy Duck cartoon that was meant to build confidence and bolster the spirit of winning the fight for all American servicemen during World War II. Directed by Frank Tashlin, this cartoon is full of interesting camera angles and attention to detail on facial close-ups (foreshadowing Tashlin's work on live-action feature films). In this film, Daffy operates a scrap heap yard, and he shall stop at nothing in order to protect it.My favorite scenes from "Scrap Happy Daffy": Daffy opens the short with a well-sung patriotic tune, then he engages in a rapid Gilbert & Sullivan-type recitation of all the things you could contribute to his scrap pile. I also love how Daffy's eyes address the camera as he fixes an Alka-Seltzer for the billy goat ("Listen to it fizz"), as well as Daffy's eyebrow waggle after he says "I'm an American..........duck." The Hitler caricature is funny, too; voiced by Mel Blanc, he shouts mock German as he reads a newspaper headline about Daffy's scrap pile and then wildly stomps on the newspaper.If you're familiar with the screen character of Daffy Duck, you might find it difficult to envision him at the end of this cartoon as Superman, defending our country from the Axis. But I'll bet that this was exactly what our troops needed to see for their confidence to grow! Bravo to the entire Warner Bros. cartoon family for cranking out numerous funny films for all American servicemen & civilians to enjoy during the War.

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." .

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.

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.