Release Date:

August 21, 1943

Main Character(s):

Daffy Duck

Summary:

For his contribution to the war effort, Daffy Duck has a humongous scrap pile he takes great pride in. Angered by this, the Nazis send in their secret weapon: a hungry Nazi goat. Daffy later becomes inspired by his ancestors of the past (all ducks portraying American heroes).

That’s Not All, Folks:

The production number is 10-13, the 10th Looney Tune in the 13th release season.

This is the second to last black and white cartoon as well as the last black and white cartoon to feature a continuing character. The last black and white cartoon, “Puss N Booty” (also directed by Tashlin) would be a one-shot.

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

Porky is featured in the intro, despite not appearing.

In one scene, the goat marches to the tune of the music that played over the opening credits of “The Ducktators”.

This is probably the earliest usage of the “you wouldn’t hit a guy with glasses, would you?” gag.

The goat reappears in the toon meeting scene in “Space Jam”.

After being beaten by the goat and before his ancestors’ spirits boost his confidence, Daffy moans, “What I wouldn’t give for a can of spinach now!” This is of course a reference to Popeye.

Daffy’s ancestors include duck versions of George Washington, Daniel Boone, John Paul Jones, and Abraham Lincoln.

What I Like About This One:

Daffy’s instructions outside his scrap pile: “Get that tin out! Get that brass out! Get that iron out! Get that lead out!”

Daffy singing “We’re In to Win” with substitute lyrics such as “We’re in to win! So let’s begin to do the job with junk! We’re in to win! Turn in your tin! And listen to it plunk!” (animated by Izzy Ellis)

After using his warden helmet like a drum, Daffy rapidly lists everything possible that can be used as scrap for the war effort: “Pots, pans, old tin cans, pails, nails, empty jails, fats, hats, rubber mats, missing links, kitchen sinks, garbage cans, electric fans, rubber boots, bathing suits, reels, wheels, run down heels, bed springs, piston rings, metal sheers old tin ears” He stops to wolf whistle at the “bathing suit” part which is a woman in a bathing suit (animated by Arthur Davis up to here) before continuing the list with the same rapid speed: “Tires, chains, water mains, skates, plates, furnace grates, pitching forks, rubber corks, sacks, racks, railroad tracks, soles, holes, fiddle bows, plugs, rugs, bathroom rugs, collar sheets, house-made beets, rubber bands, bird cage hands, metal snips, pillow slips, locks, socks, grandpa clocks-” before panting and finishing his song, “And that’s why we’re in to win!” (animated by Ray Patin)

Upon seeing a horse’s behind (his tail resembles Hitler’s hairstyle), Daffy comments, “Well, how do you like that? Shickelgruber!” (animated by Cal Dalton) The horse’s behind then desolves into Hitler himself who is so furious over the success of Daffy’s scrap pile that he starts chewing on a rug that has instructions to “Chew along dotted line” (animated by Davis).

With all the Nazis passing the instructions “Destroy that scrap pile!” (animated by Ellis), a Nazi submarine is seen traveling underwater where they shoot a torpedo at Daffy’s scrap pile (animated by Dalton). When it gets there, the torpedo opens and out comes the goat who immediately starts eating rows of tin cans like a typewriter. Marching towards some more scrap, the goat gets the hiccups (animated by Davis).

Hearing someone hiccup (animated by Ellis), Daffy sees some eyes in the dark only to see that he’s actually looking in a mirror (animated by Patin) Seeing that the hiccups are actually coming from “a poor little sick billy goat!” (animated by Dalton), Daffy decides to give him some seltzer to cure his hiccups (animated by Ellis). It’s then that Daffy sees the goat is wearing a swastika. “Say, this tin termite is a Nazi! A folk wolf in sheep’s clothing!” (animated by Dalton) The goat then attempts to charge at Daffy (animated by Patin), only to skid to a stop when he sees Daffy wearing glasses and asking “You wouldn’t hit with a guy with glasses, would ya?” The goat attempts to charge at Daffy from behind him instead only to see that Daffy’s rear is also wearing glasses! Daffy shakes his tail as if he’s wagging a finger and taunts “Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah!” before his tail pokes the goat in the eyes (animated by Davis).

Daffy then attempts to mallet the goat but the mallet only gets stuck on the goat’s horns. The goat then thrashes Daffy around, and butts him into the distance like a golf ball with the mallet (animated by Davis).

Feeling defeated, Daffy believes “What I wouldn’t give for a can of spinach now!” Hearing a voice call out, “Shame, Daffy! Shame!” (animated by Dalton) It’s the spirit of his “Great, Great, Great, Great Uncle Dillingham Duck” (a Pilgrim) who leads a chorus to the tune of Yankee Doodle (with each duck saying out their names in the chorus): “Did I cry ‘spinach’ when I stood, a duck on Plymouth Rock? Did I hear Washington give up with Valley Forge in hock? Did Daniel Boone and me quack quits when Injuns shaved our scalp? Did John Paul Duck give up the ship or ever holler ‘help’”? (animated by Patin) An Abraham Lincoln duck then reminds Daffy, “Americans don’t give up!” (animated by Ellis) before all the ducks join in unison: “No, Americans don’t give up!” Inspired, Daffy decides, “That’s right! And I’m an American… duck!” (animated by Patin)

Daffy then becomes a super-strong version of Superman: “Super American”. Realizing he’s screwed, the goat makes a run for it, but not before Daffy head butts him a few times (animated by Patin). Attempting to shoot at Daffy from their sub, the Nazis realize this is futile when the bullets bounce off Daffy’s stomach, and then have no choice but to retreat underwater when Daffy punches all their bullets back (animated by Ellis).

The Nazis nearly make it underwater only for Daffy to grab their periscope and start tugging on it. We then fade back to the scrap yard where the periscope dissolves into a hose. Getting sprayed by the water, Daffy realizes “It was all a dream!”, only to see the Nazi sub on top of the scrap pile and for the Nazis and goat to call out, “Hey! Next time you dream, include US out!” (animated by Dalton)

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕