ccthemovieman-1
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." .
MartinHafer
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.
theowinthrop
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.
Robert Reynolds
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.