Top 5 World War II related WB Toons

[all41]

Wanted to solicit advice about a tape I am making. My daughter’s 8th grade class has been studying World War II and I am going to make a tape of “WWII” related cartoons for them to watch in history class. I have all the WB shorts in varying quality (LD to old faded copies on VHS). I think I would exclude the SNAFU shorts but am open to suggestions about them as well.

As a reflection of the times and attitudes during WWII, what would the TOP FIVE WB WWII shorts be?

[lislebartman]

My choices:

"The Weakly Reporter" - while not funny today, it definitely shows what sacrifices Americans went thru during that period...

"Bugs Bunny Nips The Nips" - if you decide to show this, you must make sure that they watch this film in its proper historical context.

"Daffy - The Commando" - just so they can see Daffy clobber Hitler with a mallet!

"Plane Daffy" - to explain about the Axis spies that polluted and infiltrated some of our ranks. Mata Hari, anyone?

"Russian "Rhapsody" - to explain about the 'gremlin' forklore.

Any other suggestions, guys?

[rodney]

I only have WB cartoons, and I know there are bunches of other ones that people will suggest. Here's what I can think of though.

Daffy - The Commando
Herr Meets Hare
The Weakly Reporter (not a good cartoon, but topical)
Fifth Column Mouse

That's all I can think of offhand.

[Thad Komorowski]

I'd also put "Herr Meets Hare" and "Brother Brat" on the list. Other great non-WB WWII cartoons: "All Out for V" (Terrytoons), "Slay it with Flowers" (Columbia), "Ration Bored" (Lantz), and of course... "Der Fuhrer's Face" (Disney).




Thad K

[laugh4me]

I think they'd enjoy "Scrap Happy Daffy". I consider it Daffy's best wartime effort and it covers wartime themes like shortages and American patriotism. Plus, it has a catchy song that my kids like... ;)

I know you said that you were planning to exclude the Snafu shorts, but "Spies" has a Dr. Seuss cadence to the script that makes even listening to it fun for the kids.

:bosko:

[rodney]

Originally posted by Thad K
"Slay it with Flowers" (Columbia)
"Der Fuhrer's Face" (Disney).


I had thought of these, but I don't have Der Fuhrer's Face and I haven't watched Slay it with Flowers, though I do have it.

[all41]

I do have "Der Fuhrer's Face" (Disney) which will probably be the only non-WB one that I include.
Might also include a "SNAFU" as I think about it.

[Tintin]

My top 5:

5. Herr Meets Hare
4. Daffy the Commando
3. Scrap Happy Daffy
2. Fifth Column Mouse
1. Russian Rhapsody

[Patrick McCart]

My top 5:

1. Russian Rhapsody (tie)
1. Scrap Happy Daffy (tie)
3. Plane Daffy
4. Herr Meets Hare
5. Blitz Wolf

[BobChief]

Originally posted by laugh4me
I know you said that you were planning to exclude the Snafu shorts, but "Spies" has a Dr. Seuss cadence to the script that makes even listening to it fun for the kids.

Well, Mr Geisel was a writer of Snafu's...:)

[Pilmedium]

I do not think "Fifth Column Mouse" should be included.

[laugh4me]

Originally posted by BobChief


Well, Mr Geisel was a writer of Snafu's...:)
Yup, that's why I didn't say it was a "Dr Seuss-like" cadence. It was the real thing... ;)

[Thad Komorowski]

Originally posted by Pilmedium
I do not think "Fifth Column Mouse" should be included.


Ummmm, any reason why??? :confused:



Thad K

[Pilmedium]

Ummmm, any reason why???

To me, it seems like that cartoon would take a lot of explaining with little purpose.

[backdoc425]

Don't forget "The Ducktators" or "Any Bonds Today".

Also "Confusions of a Nutzy Spy"

Maybe "Tokio Jokio" but that's probably going a bit too far on the WWII stereotyping of the Japanese.

Also any of the Mr. Hook 'toons such as "The Good Egg", "The Return of Mr. Hook", or "Tokyo Woes" dealing with the purchase of War Bonds.

As far as Disney goes you've got "Reason and Emotion", "Commando Duck", "Education for Death" (kinda dark n' grim), "The Seven Wise Dwarfs" (bonds), "The Spirit of '43" (more bonds).

How 'bout a Popeye? "Seein' Red White and Blue"

Hope this helps...

[all41]

Any Bonds Today is a good suggestion that I hadn't thought about.
I think the Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips will cover the stereotypes well enough so I'll skip Tokio Jokio.

Don't have those Disney shorts but do have Der Fuhrer's Face which I'll probably include.

[backdoc425]

Originally posted by all41
Don't have those Disney shorts but do have Der Fuhrer's Face which I'll probably include.

If you'd like, I'd be happy to send 'em to you.

[Larry T]

You want to capture the whole essence of the public's mentality of the War, but not have to do a lot of explaining about the stereotypes, then my suggestions would be:

1. Der Feuhrer's Face / Education For Death - Disney (take your pick)
2. Blitz Wolf - MGM
3. Scrap Happy Daffy / Weakly Reporter - WB (take your pick)
4. Spinach Fer Britain - Paramount
5. Peace on Earth - MGM

You'll pretty well convey the jist of what was going on with these.

[Glenn]

I would like to put Coal Black and De Sebben Dwarfs on the list.

[Cartman]

My suggestions:


SCRAP HAPPY DAFFY
HERR MEETS HARE
BUGS BUNNY NIPS THE NIPS
YOU'RE A SAP, MR. JAP
DER FUEHER'S FACE
EDUCATION FOR DEATH
ANY BONDS TODAY?
THE BLITZ WOLF
OUT OF THE FRYING PAN, INTO THE FIRING LINE

[Pietro]

My choices for the top five:

"Der Fuhrer's Face" (Disney)
"The Ducktators" (WB)
"Daffy the Commando" (WB)
"Slay it with Flowers" (Columbia)
"Ration Bored" (Lantz)
PLUS, if there's time,
"Any Bonds Today?" (WB)

-Pietro:D

[all41]

I can see the value in the SNAFU shorts but they really weren't "general circulation" shorts, were they? From what I understand, they were shown exclusively to military personel. Not that they don't have value, but I think I would emphasize what the "public" was watching more than internal edu-tainment features for a segment of the population.

[Larry T]

A couple more to add to the list, not necessarily too racist for younger audiences:

The Eleventh Hour - Paramount (Superman)
Wolf Chases Pigs - Columbia
War Dogs - MGM
When G.I. Johnny Comes Marching Home - Lantz

[Pilmedium]

"Any Bonds Today" is a good choice. It covers that part of the topic very well.

[Nelson]

This Would be mine...

Bugs Bunny Nips The Nips (WB)
Yankee Doodle Mouse (MGM)
The Last Round Up (Terrytoons/Fox Film Corp.)
Der Fueher's Face (Disney)
The Blitz Wolf (MGM)
Seein, Red White And Blue (Par/Famous Studios)
Education For Death (Disney)
All Out For "V" (Terrytoons/Fox Film Corp.)
The Ducktators (WB)
Coal Black And De Sebben Dwarfs (WB)
You're A Sap Mr. Jap (Par/Famous Studios)
Russian Rhapsody (WB)
War Dogs (MGM)
The Commando Duck (Disney)
Sham Battle Shennigans (Terrytoons/Fox Film Corp)
Slay It With Flowers (Columbia)
Daffy The Commando (WB)
Reason And Emotion (Disney)
Doing Their Bit (Terrytoons/Fox Film Corp.)
$21.00 Once A Day, Once A Month (Universal)

[Joe Tully]

My 5 suggestions:

-Bugs Bunny Nips The Nips - anti-Japanese

-Russian Rhapsody - anti-Hitler, pro-Russia

-Scrap Happy Daffy - shows shortages of the time. Also, these first three are hilarious cartoons!

-Der Fuhrer's Face - classic

-Eleventh Hour - I think this offers diversity from the other "funny" cartoons. This might work better just before Scrap Happy, so we can see Superman before seeing Daffy as Super Duck. :) It could also be used to break up the funny cartoons, sort of a "palet-cleanser," I guess.

[all41]

Thanks for all the suggestions. While I appreciate the non-WB ideas, those aren't shorts that I have (with a few exceptions) so my final list is based on source (laserdisc or good VHS copy) and recommendations here.

This is what I'm going to do:

Russian Rhapsody
Daffy The Commando
Any Bonds Today
Herr Meets Hare
Der Fuhrer's Face
Scrap Happy Daffy

With "Any Bonds Today" being relatively short, squeezed it in as 5 1/2 total.

[vitaphone]

Hmm..... Very interesting.


Originally posted by Nelson
This Would be mine...

Bugs Bunny Nips The Nips (WB)
Yankee Doodle Mouse (MGM)
The Last Round Up (Terrytoons/Fox Film Corp.)
Der Fueher's Face (Disney)
The Blitz Wolf (MGM)
Seein, Red White And Blue (Par/Famous Studios)
Education For Death (Disney)
All Out For "V" (Terrytoons/Fox Film Corp.)
The Ducktators (WB)
Coal Black And De Sebben Dwarfs (WB)
You're A Sap Mr. Jap (Par/Famous Studios)
Russian Rhapsody (WB)
War Dogs (MGM)
The Commando Duck (Disney)
Sham Battle Shennigans (Terrytoons/Fox Film Corp)
Slay It With Flowers (Columbia)
Daffy The Commando (WB)
Reason And Emotion (Disney)
Doing Their Bit (Terrytoons/Fox Film Corp.)
$21.00 Once A Day, Once A Month (Universal)

[laugh4me]

Originally posted by all41
This is what I'm going to do:

Russian Rhapsody
Daffy The Commando
Any Bonds Today
Herr Meets Hare
Der Fuhrer's Face
Scrap Happy Daffy


A great list of films! I wish somebody had shown us these when I was in 8th grade... :bosko: