Scrap Happy Daffy (1943) User Reviews

Daffy Is One 'Scrappy' & Patriotic American!

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 13 November 2007]

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." .

This and Daffy Commandos are the best WW2 Daffy Cartoons.

[emasterslake · 8/10 · 10 October 2005]

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.

Daffy and the scrap metal war effort

[theowinthrop · 7/10 · 25 April 2007]

Another of the long forgotten Warner propaganda cartoons - like THE DUCKTATORS it is black and white, not in color. However, it is more concentrated in story line (oddly enough) than THE DUCKTATORS. Daffy is in charge of the scrap metal collection, and has a mountain of tin and iron and copper and the rest (from a distance it looks like the Statue of Liberty). A headline shows that Daffy claims it helped unseat Mussolini (in 1943 Il Duce was thrown out of his job as "Prime Minister" of Italy, and imprisoned - subsequently the Nazis freed him for awhile, but in 1945 he'd be killed by partisans). Hitler reads that Daffy claims it will do the same to Hitler. So the Fuhrer orders the destruction of Daffy's junk piles. We see the order sent through several layers of German officials (the second is the fat, broad front of Herman Goering - but we don't see his face). A special U-boat is sent to "torpedo" the pile. The torpedo contains a secret weapon - a goat!

The goat does damage, and when Daffy tries to confront it he knocks the duck about. Daffy is about to give in when he is confronted by various historical ancestors (Pilgrim, Revolutionary Soldier, Frontiersman, an "Abe Lincoln" clone, a "John Paul Jones" clone) restore his self respect - he turns into super-duck and destroys the goat and the submarine...or he thinks he did when he wakes up from a nap. Did it happen or not? I leave that for you to find out.

A Tashlin Gem

[Markc65 · 10/10 · 28 June 2001]

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.

you deserve a metal

[lee_eisenberg · 10/10 · 27 June 2007]

Having seen "Daffy - the Commando" and "Scrap Happy Daffy", I think that it's safe to say that that crazy duck was one of the best characters to fight the Nazis (obviously, there was also Bugs). In this case, he collects scrap metal to contribute to the war effort, but Hitler sends a goat after him. If absolutely nothing else, it's just a total hoot to see what Daffy does to the goat.

The idea of collecting scrap metal also brings up the point that in WWII, the government encouraged people to save resources as much as possible. I don't see any of that nowadays. In the future, they're not going to look kindly upon this.

But anyway, it's a really funny cartoon. Definitely worth seeing. And just be careful what you dream about next time.

An amazing and interesting piece of history

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 18 June 2007]

This was a public service film designed to encourage Americans to save scrap for the war effort. While the cartoon was made by Looney Toons and featured Daffy Duck, since it wasn't an official release and wasn't intended as a money-maker, it was made in black and white (a common practice at the time). Despite it not being in color, the cartoon is high quality--with excellent writing and animation.

Daffy's scrap drive is making Hitler nervous, so he sends orders that this pile must be destroyed. It all looks bad for poor Daffy when he's attacked--at which time he makes a very funny remark about how he wished he had a can of spinach (a reference to Popeye). But, in the end, Super-Daffy comes to the rescue and the world is made safe from Nazi tyranny! Huzzah! As a cartoon, it's pretty good. But as a public service announcement intended to encourage Americans to help with the war effort it is stellar, as it's very effective yet not preachy or dull.

Daffy protects his scrap pile, with a bit of encouragement

[llltdesq · 10/10 · 26 October 2002]

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.

Daffy Takes on Hitler

[Michael_Elliott · 29 March 2016]

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.

We're in to win...so let's begin...

[haildevilman · 10/10 · 13 May 2006]

Another propaganda gem!

This is dated beyond belief, which makes it easier to watch.

This harped on recycling before it became the norm. Speaking of which, I think it was "Norm" McCabe (rimshot) behind this one too. Tashlin gets deserved credit too.

The Nazi stereotypes gave a laugh to everyone who saw this at my place that night. I have a DVD chock full of animation like this.

Just remember that this is a propaganda cartoon from a long time ago. There's no need to get uptight about it anymore.

That said, the animation itself is limited. But it's still worth a look or three.

Warner Bros. teaches us that "Schickelgruber" was the name on . . .

[oscaralbert · 8/10 · 12 November 2016]

. . . would-be Austrian World-Destroyer Adolph Hitler's birth certificate (just as "Marion Mitchell Morrison" was the actual, once-revised baby name for the actor Latterly known as John "Il Duce" Wayne) during this Looney Tune, SCRAP HAPPY DAFFY. Some film historians see SCRAP as a spoof of the documentary made by Hitler's personal Videographer, Leni Riefenstahl, titled in English as TRIUMPH OF THE WILL. However, most Warnologists (those who specialize in showing how the Looney Tunes beat BOTH Nostradamus and Astrology when it comes to predicting the Future for 21st Century America) zoom in on the fact that between 2:04 and 2:05 of this animated short, a close-up of a horse's behind (obviously meant to foretell Putin's Puppet, Rump) transforms into Hitler's head! Earlier, Daffy's mirror image marching in his "Salvage Warden" outfit transforms into three visuals--Mussolini Daffy, Hitler Daffy, and Hirohito Daffy (representing the leaders of the three "Axis Powers" out to annihilate the U.S. during World War Two) as the song lyrics mention "Freedom's Foes." This is Warner's way of warning We of the 21st Century that just because someone's on the U.S. Presidential Ballot does NOT preclude the likelihood that he's a Russian KGB operative subject to Blackmail due to $100 million plus paid to him by Russian Mafia Go-Betweens for "Naming Rights," as documented by Disney's Nightline Program drilling down into the Real Life Manchurian Candidate Nov. 10, 2016.

Thanks a lot, Daffy, for helping our troops!

[slymusic · 16 June 2010]

"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.

Daffy Does His Part

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 29 March 2019]

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.

Super American Duck!

[JohnHowardReid · 9/10 · 10 March 2018]

CAST: Daffy Duck, Nazi Goat.

Director: FRANK TASHLIN. Story: Don Christensen. Animator: Arthur Davis. Music director: Carl W. Stalling. Voice characterizations: Mel Blanc. Producer: Leon Schlesinger.

Not copyrighted. A Warner Bros Looney Tunes cartoon. U.S. release: 21 August 1943. 1 reel. 8 minutes.

COMMENT: I've alays wanted to view one of Frank Tashlin's cartoons, and this most inventively drawn and stylized entry has all the characteristics of inventiveness and whimsy we expect of Frank Tashlin at his best.

Despite the fact that the primary reason for the cartoon's existence is its blatant propaganda message, Tashlin's approach is so appealing it still wins out over the script's simple-minded jingoism.

And I just love Daffy's transformation into Super American Duck!

Daffy Duck and Hitler

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 7 September 2017]

Daffy Duck is one of Looney Tunes' best, most interesting in personality and most iconic characters and one of my favourites in animation. His best cartoons are cartoon masterpieces and there is good reason as to why Daffy is used frequently.

'Scrap Happy Daffy' is not one of his very finest cartoons, but it is still great and an interesting piece of history. It is not subtle in its treatment of Hitler, clearly intentional and not objectionable (if slightly too unsubtle for a cartoon), and paints him in the very opposite of a positive light (then again when was he never not?). Few people are going to object to this portrayal, it is widely acknowledged that Hitler was a terrible man and a cartoon portraying him in this way is for the time quite brave.

The animation as to be expected is very good. The black and white is crisp and there is meticulous background detail and smooth character drawing.

Carl Stalling to me was always the best Warner Brothers/Looney Tunes composer as well as the most consistent. 'Scrap Happy Daffy' is another example of consistent greatness, his music is lushly orchestration, cleverly synchronised, vibrant, characterful and not only fits and adds to the action but actually enhances it.

While there is a seriousness in the message it's portraying, which makes its point but never preachy, 'Scrap Happy Daffy' doesn't forget to be funny. Sometimes it is even hilarious and is timed very well. Daffy has his manic, energetic and witty persona and carries the cartoon with aplomb.

Voice acting is very good, superb in the case of Mel Blanc. 9/10 Bethany Cox