Daffy - The Commando

This is a good cartoon, and a good example of wartime humor - which by 1943, when the war was really beginning to bite back home in the US, had quite an edge.

The phone booth gag is "Is that you, Mert?" a fossilized gag phrase from the period, taken from "Fibber McGee and Molly". It was a catch phrase that audiences of the period would react to as a conditioned response. If you like old cartoons, it helps to be familiar with old-time radio of the period, because the cartoons mined radio for gags constantly (and Mel Blanc was a star in both, as a regular on the number one-rated Jack Benny show). The cartoons are full of show catch phrases, advertising slogans, and caricatures of movie and radio stars and minor characters.

The pinup picture is startling. I remember glimpsing it on my VHS copy and grabbing the remote to rewind and slow-motion. It is quite explicit, and seems like it could have got Friz Freleng in hot water at the time. You can see on the back wall at the first appearance of "Shulz", when he marches across the bunker floor to report.

For real unvarnished Freleng/Warner Brothers wartime humor, check out the "Private Snafu" series, which were intended for distribution to the troops only.

WE'VE JUST RE-SCREENED this 1943 Warner Brothers' Looney Tunes Short. In a sense, it was our first viewing. We hadn't seen it in some time and perhaps it was being taken for granted. Such is the fate of those who rely too much on recollection.

BEING THAT THIS cartoon is now 71 years old, we feel reasonably certain that much of the goings on are now rendered not understandable to many or even most present day viewers. This was the very middle of World War II and all of Hollywood was waging war and doing its part to support the war effort. That meant that there'd certainly be plenty of 'messages' interwoven into the weekly movie fare.

IN SHORT, WE'LL call it what it is, Propaganda! NOW THAT'S A word that has taken on such narrow meaning because of its nearly always used in reference to 'the Enemy.' It is, however, a legitimately proper word to be used in regards to instruction meant to clarify or indoctrinate* one's own people in policy, procedure and purpose.

IN TODAY'S SUBJECT title, we find our favourite aquatic manic, Daffy Duck, thrust into a nightmare of a surrealist cartoon world, which is run by anthropomorphic animals. Although this is all an illusion and we know that it is being played strictly for laughs, there is always tiny tidbits of irony and truth behind each and every gag.

UNFOLDING LIKE A cross between a bad dream and copy from the daily newspapers of the day, DAFFY THE COMMANDO serves a two fold purpose. It allows the wartime movie goer to unwind a little and forget the harsh realities of the times. Secondly, it conditions our inner psyche about the serious business that we all faced.

CONSTRUCTING THE GAGS in a sort of rapid fire, machine gun approach, the Writer, Michael Maltese and Director Fritz Freleng used time tested gags. Tailoring their recycling to the War, it was merely packaged in the manner of the situations appropriate.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE have: Daffy's nonchalant and irreverent attitude to the Nazi fetish for the totalitarian, Daffy's using their searchlight for the purpose of projecting finger shadows on the sky, the Robot-like foot soldier 'Schultz' and the 'Nazi German' Vulture Officer's resemblance in caricature to either Eric von Stroheim (Rommel in FIVE GRAVES TO CAIRO), Raymond Massey (character in DESPERATE JOURNEY) and Conrad Veidt (CASABLANCA, Major Strasser).

OTHER THAN SO much topical humor, such as gag reference to "Blavkouts" and the Nazi Vulture's reference to telefon operator as being "Myrt" from Radio's FIBBER McGEE & MOLLY, we thought that the humor flowed freely and was followed by equally generous portions of laughs! FOR OUR MONEY, this is a true 'Tour de Force' for Daffy.

NOTE * 'Indoctrination', now there's yet another word with bad co native meanings!

Daffy The Commando is a Looney Tunes short starring Daffy Duck that is another in a long line of World War II propoganda cartoons made to support America during the conflict. However, while some are done to educate people with shocking images, this is one of the few that are meant to have a good laugh against our enemies.

Here, in a Nazi bunker, Commander Von Vultur, a vulture who is with the Nazis, is in trouble with his superiors (known only as the Apes of Wrath, which is clever play on The Grapes of Wrath), with his job on the line if one more commando gets through. He and his assistant, Schultz, is about to have trouble, as another commando parachutes down. And unfortunately for them, that commando happens to be Daffy Duck.

This wartime cartoon is mainly aimed more towards comedy, as Daffy basically does the slapstick Looney Tunes is known for against his two foes. The voice actors all do a good job, with Mel Blanc doing a good job voicing Von Vulur, and the ending is a classic.

Incredibly weird yet entertaining Daffy Duck cartoon, Daffy teases and annoys a German bird (representing a German fighting in the Second World War) - now we have to cheer for Daffy when THAT part comes up! However, this short is also quite disturbing - you are likely not to take it for a light comedy. Warner Brothers must have been pretty brave to make this short - ESPECIALLY while the World War was going on.

For people who are very disturbed by the prospect of WWII and for Germans - not recommended. People who love Daffy Duck and like the prospect of him teasing with the Nazis in the war, will certainly like this cartoon.

Also Daffy, as being around for only six years, is in his old crazy self - very entertaining for any fan of old Daffy Duck episodes.

Despite being slightly disturbing, this cartoon is also actually quite funny.

Enjoy "Daffy - the Commando".

I have always been a big Looney Tunes fan, and especially of Daffy. Daffy-The Commando is not quite one of my favourites, I'd personally put Duck Amuck, the Hunting Trilogy and Duck Dodgers in the 24.5 Century over this, however it is a very interesting, very funny and very bold cartoon.

The animation is beautiful, especially in the detailed backgrounds and ravishing colours. The music has energy and is fitting with the style of music at the time, the dialogue as always is fresh and funny and the gags are great with the standout being the fight over a nickel in the phone booth.

Story-wise it is exciting and interesting from a historical perspective. For its time, it is quite bold especially with the ending, which could account for why it was apparently banned, but rather than be offended by the boldness I appreciated it.

Daffy has always been one of my favourite cartoon characters due to his manic and zany persona even with some greediness creeping in in some of the cartoons but to me this didn't make him less likable, and he is on top form here. The support characters are also memorable, as well as the brilliant vocal talents of Mel Blanc.

Overall, a great cartoon. 10/10 Bethany Cox