Release Date:

September 16, 1944

Main Character(s):

Daffy Duck

Summary:

All of the carrier pigeons have been unable to complete their missions of delivering military secrets due to falling into the charms of sexy Nazi spy bird Hatta Mari. The squadron’s “woman hater” Daffy Duck volunteers to go on the next mission and must evade Hatta Mari’s charms.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The production number is 8-14, the 8th Looney Tune in the 14th release season.

This is the first cartoon to use the Daffy headshot that would be used on all Daffy cartoons without Porky that were released as Looney Tunes up until 1952, with the exception of “Book Revue” (1946).

The cartoon is in the 100 Greatest Looney Tunes Cartoons book.

According to animation historian Greg Ford’s commentary for this cartoon on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 4 DVD set, Hatta Mari’s blonde hair and over the top body figure would end up becoming a reality via actress Jayne Mansfield who appeared in two live action films Tashlin directed, “The Girl Can’t Help It” and “Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?”

The title is a pun for “plain daffy”.

Some of the pigeons’ names are references to the Warner cartoon staff: Warren Pigeon (Warren Foster), Tubby Pigeon (Melvin Millar), Dick Pigeon (Richard Bickenbach), Leon Pigeon (Leon Schlesinger; this cartoon was in production before he left), Ray Pigeon (Ray Katz), Ace Pigeon (effects animator AC Gamer), and Cal Pigeon (Cal Dalton). There is also a Walter Pigeon, which is a reference to Hollywood actor Walter Pidgeon.

Notably, the opening narration is told in rhyme. Freleng’s “Three Little Bops” (1957) would also be sung in rhyme. Incidentally, both cartoons were written by Warren Foster.

This is the last wartime cartoon to use “We Did It Before and We Can Do It Again”, which plays when Daffy volunteers to go out on the next mission. The only time this tune would be used again was in Jones’ “Forward March Hare” (1953) where Bugs is mistakenly drafted into the Army.

What I Like About This One:

“That his buddies are worried is really a shame because Pigeon 13’s AWOL with a dame”, where he is shown relaxed on a couch with Hatta Mari twirling the feathers on his head like hair. “Not doing his duty, 13 relaxes with a gal who’s a spy for the enemy Axis”. Despite talking in a dopey voice, Homer refuses to tell her any secrets, so she slips him a Mickey and pours it into his open mouth, where he starts blurting out random facts (animated by Arthur Davis) as Hatta Mari turns on a television with Hitler listening (animated by Izzy Ellis). Realizing he’s “poured information in an enemy ear”, Homer briefly forms into a “jack-ass” (animated by Davis).

Ashamed, Homer asks Hatta Mari for a pistol to shoot himself but is told “now that’s an idea, you little souse. But do it outside, I’ve just cleaned the house” (animated by Davis). Homer does so outside, but he misses the first time (animated by Cal Dalton).

The captain of the carrier pigeons realizing how many of their troops have been done in by Hatta Mari’s attractiveness: “That’s 28 men and 28 tries, it looks like the work of the Queen of the Spies”, to which he pulls out a pin up of Hatta Mari, causing all of the carrier pigeons to wolf whistle and then swoon like screaming bobbysoxers! (animated by Dalton)

“In this moment of crisis, from out of the ruck, steps the squadron woman hater, Daffy Duck” (animated by Dalton). Daffy heroically declares, “I’ll do the job! I’m a woman hater! She won’t get to first base, this Hatta Mari tomater!” (animated by George Cannata).

Daffy forgetting to take the military secret out with him before coming back and taking one (animated by Ellis).

Daffy doesn’t let the elements stop him (animated by Cannata), but despite his earlier claim, he is immediately attracted by Hatta Mari sticking her sexy leg out of her door (animated by Ellis).

After she has brought Daffy inside, Hatta Mari gives him a kiss that drives Daffy so wild that it electrifies him, and causes him to melt into a puddle of goop that slinks into a crack in the floor. Noticing Daffy’s satchel, she attempts to take a peek at the military secret, but Daffy immediately slinks back up and grabs it, “Give me that document! Do you think I’m a Benedict who’s-it or something!?” She just simply coos, “Don’t be like that” in a sexy voice and attempts to kiss Daffy again, but he gives her the electrifying kiss this time as he quotes Jerry Colonna’s catchphrase, “Ah, something new has been added!” (animated by Davis)

Daffy running so fast he becomes a blur except for when he daintily tiptoes up and down the stairs (animated by Ellis).

Attempting to escape out a door, Daffy finds Hatta Mari behind it with a dagger. She is also in the dumbwaiter with a machine gun and in the basement with an artillery cannon (animated by Dalton).

Daffy then hides in a narrow umbrella stand which Hatta Mari shoots into. Daffy hoo-hoo’s “Missed me!” (animated by Ellis)

Daffy retreating outside but immediately changing his mind. “Let’s go back inside! It’s scary out there!” (animated by Dalton)

Hiding in the fridge, Daffy discovers, “Well, what do you know? The little light, it stays on!” (animated by Dalton)

Cornered by Hatta Mari and with her gun pinning him against the wall (animated by Dalton), Daffy heavily sweats in fear and looks like he’s about to surrender the secret over to Hatta Mari but he swallows it at the last second and taunts, “I regret that I have but one secret to swallow for my country!” (animated by Ellis)

Hatta Mari then straps Daffy to an X-ray machine, and broadcasts this secret to Hitler, Goering, and Goebbels (animated by Davis). The X-ray reveals the secret: “Hitler Is a Stinker” (animated by Dalton). Furious, Hitler fumes, “Hitler is a stinker!? That’s no military secret!” Goering and Goebbels reply, “Yah, everybody knows that!” When they realize they just insulted their leader, they shoot and kill themselves (animated by Davis). Daffy laughs, “Hoo-hoo, they lose more darn Nazis that way!” (animated by Ellis)

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕