Chuck Jones's 'Spies' is one of the best Private Snafu cartoons made for the military. Used to instruct soldiers against certain behaviour by using Snafu to epitomise it, the Snafu cartoons were known for their bawdier nature inserted to keep the soldiers' attention. So 'Spies' features some prominent breast-based recording equipment, then-risqué use of the word "Hell" and a great horse's ass joke. Directed with great flair by Jones, 'Spies' main trump card is a cracking, witty script entirely in rhyme written by none other than the great Dr. Suess. Suess and Jones were a match made in heaven, as the classic 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' would later attest, and this early collaboration between the two is a worthy forerunner. Though it only lasts about three minutes in total, 'Spies' packs in plenty of laughs and sneaks its message in amongst them so that the audience doesn't feel it has been crammed down their throats at the end.
15 Reviews
Real-Life Justifiable WWII Paranoia In Cartoon Form
ccthemovieman-11 July 2007
This was my first look at a "Private Snafu" cartoon. All I know is I first see some nerdy- looking private walking around the Army camp and saying in rhyme, "I just a learned a secret; it's a honey, it's a pip, but the enemy is listening so I won't let it slip."
After that I thought this was going to be very corny and stupid, but it was anything but. Afterward, when I saw Theodore Geisel, a.k.a. "Dr. Seuss" wrote it and Mel Blanc did the voicing, I wasn't surprised it was entertaining.
Spies are everywhere, following Pvt. Snafu, even to the telephone in the town drugstore where our hero goes to call him mom. The German and Japanese stereotypes were typical of the day, so anyone who is offended watching today should not be. The Allies were not exactly fond of Germans and Japanese in 1943!
It wasn't just verses that were clever. If you look close, you see some quick sight gags like two moose heads on the wall crossing antlers making the Nazi insignia. There's also a good message about how liquor loosens up our "zipped" lips. The main message was for everyone watching this in the theaters during a very tense time in the world's history: be careful what you say, that one careless word could leave to many people getting killed.
This was a "From The Vaults" feature on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume Three.
After that I thought this was going to be very corny and stupid, but it was anything but. Afterward, when I saw Theodore Geisel, a.k.a. "Dr. Seuss" wrote it and Mel Blanc did the voicing, I wasn't surprised it was entertaining.
Spies are everywhere, following Pvt. Snafu, even to the telephone in the town drugstore where our hero goes to call him mom. The German and Japanese stereotypes were typical of the day, so anyone who is offended watching today should not be. The Allies were not exactly fond of Germans and Japanese in 1943!
It wasn't just verses that were clever. If you look close, you see some quick sight gags like two moose heads on the wall crossing antlers making the Nazi insignia. There's also a good message about how liquor loosens up our "zipped" lips. The main message was for everyone watching this in the theaters during a very tense time in the world's history: be careful what you say, that one careless word could leave to many people getting killed.
This was a "From The Vaults" feature on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume Three.
One of the most famous and best Snafu shorts
Horst_In_Translation14 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"Spies" runs for 3.5 minutes, is in black-and-white, directed by Chuck Jones and voice acting comes from Mel Blanc. This one shows us how Snafu cannot keep a secret and enemies have their eyes and ears everywhere, so they know all about Snafu's plans. This was a pretty entertaining watch, packed with nice political references and we seven see Hitler as Satan in the end. I can totally see why this Snafu cartoon is more popular than most of the others. It is better in terms of humor, but also more relevant in terms of political context. And it actually tells an important message to soldiers. Be quiet about what you know if you talk to people that you cannot 100% trust. This somehow applies today as well. A very entertaining film and I very much recommend it. My favorite Snafu.
Snafu goes to....well, you'll see
utgard1418 September 2015
One of the best Private Snafu shorts. These cartoons were made for use by the U.S. Army during WWII as instructional films for soldiers. The hope was the grunts would learn what to do (and not to do) by watching buffoonish Snafu make mistakes in humorous fashion. Directed by Chuck Jones with a rhyming script from Dr. Seuss himself. Typically fine voice work from Mel Blanc. Nice black & white animation. The subject for this short is, as you can guess by the title, espionage. Specifically that soldiers should be aware that enemy spies are all around and not to be blabbing military secrets in public. To illustrate this, the short starts with Snafu bragging about having a secret that he can't tell. It doesn't take long before Snafu winds up telling the secret to a beautiful Nazi secret agent. This has disastrous consequences for the American fleet, which leads to a hilariously dark ending for Snafu.
"The soldier's got a secret, but I bet we find it out!"
slymusic28 November 2006
Warning: Spoilers
"Spies" is one of a handful of clandestine Warner Bros. cartoons that were made for all the American servicemen who were involved in World War II. This film features Private Snafu, a rather stupid soldier who does everything wrong, and of all the Private Snafu cartoons I have seen thus far, I strongly feel that "Spies" is by far the funniest. Snafu has a military secret that he is determined not to reveal to anyone, but as expected, he fouls up and inadvertently tips off a lot of German and Japanese eavesdroppers.
My favorite moments from "Spies" include the following (but please do yourself a favor and watch this cartoon first before reading any further). Two of the spies are German moose heads whose antlers form a swastika. Field Marshal Goering (hilariously voiced by Mel Blanc) opens a secret panel and reports to Hitler, "Heil! The troop ship bound for Africa pulls out at half past four!" And at the end, Snafu gets torpedoed and winds up in a cooking pot in Hades; after angrily inquiring the audience as to who could have blown his secret, Snafu receives his answer from Hitler (appearing as Satan) and four other Nazi devils!
"Spies" is a cartoon that was understandably quite offensive toward the Germans and the Japanese. Perhaps the most vulgar scene in this cartoon is that of a female Nazi spy who woos the drunken Snafu into chatting with her and ultimately blowing his secret; a swastika appears on both of the woman's breasts, which serve as a type of radar! But what makes this cartoon especially funny is the fact that the dialogue, created by Theodore Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss), is almost entirely in rhyme. (Some might find it odd that Dr. Seuss, much more well-known for his children's books, would take part in such offensive material.) To conclude, the moral lesson in "Spies" is quite obvious: DO NOT under any circumstances discuss military matters in public!
My favorite moments from "Spies" include the following (but please do yourself a favor and watch this cartoon first before reading any further). Two of the spies are German moose heads whose antlers form a swastika. Field Marshal Goering (hilariously voiced by Mel Blanc) opens a secret panel and reports to Hitler, "Heil! The troop ship bound for Africa pulls out at half past four!" And at the end, Snafu gets torpedoed and winds up in a cooking pot in Hades; after angrily inquiring the audience as to who could have blown his secret, Snafu receives his answer from Hitler (appearing as Satan) and four other Nazi devils!
"Spies" is a cartoon that was understandably quite offensive toward the Germans and the Japanese. Perhaps the most vulgar scene in this cartoon is that of a female Nazi spy who woos the drunken Snafu into chatting with her and ultimately blowing his secret; a swastika appears on both of the woman's breasts, which serve as a type of radar! But what makes this cartoon especially funny is the fact that the dialogue, created by Theodore Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss), is almost entirely in rhyme. (Some might find it odd that Dr. Seuss, much more well-known for his children's books, would take part in such offensive material.) To conclude, the moral lesson in "Spies" is quite obvious: DO NOT under any circumstances discuss military matters in public!
Frenetic snafu short is racist propaganda, far from PC but funny if you can forgive a bit
OldAle116 January 2009
I have no idea if this is typical of the Snafu series, many directed by Jones and written by Dr. Seuss, but I certainly want to see more even if this does not show either master at his very best. Here our private in question blabs his orders to anybody and everybody after vowing to keep it all secret, and of course all the voluptuous babes, bartenders, and even a little guy inside the telephone box end up being broadly caricatured Japanese, German and Italian spies. It all ends quite literally with a big bang and a trip to Hell. Propaganda at it's finest, if awfully frenetic and short.
The copy I watched was from "Treasures of American Cinema", volume I, a four-disc set of mostly early shorts and features, all beautifully restored and remastered, with excellent notes and music - an essential set for anyone who wants to better know the history of the American film.
The copy I watched was from "Treasures of American Cinema", volume I, a four-disc set of mostly early shorts and features, all beautifully restored and remastered, with excellent notes and music - an essential set for anyone who wants to better know the history of the American film.
The unmistakable rhythms of Dr. Seuss are part of the charms of this exceptional short!
llltdesq5 December 2003
For several of the shorts in this series, Theodore Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) scripted and the speech patterns here reflect his quite familiar cadence. It's great! Private Snafu really screws up royally here, which was the point, as the series was meant to show soldiers what not to do and what the consequences could be. These are not balanced and fair cartoons-there was a war on at the time and Germany and Japan were the ENEMY, so the caricatures are not nice. If you are easily offended, you likely won't like these. The series is great and well worth watching. Recommended.
loose lips sink fools
lee_eisenberg27 June 2007
True, "Spies" is a WWII propaganda film, so it portrays the Germans and Japanese - and maybe the Italians; I couldn't quite tell whether or not the cartoon portrayed them - mercilessly. But other than that, it's a real hoot, as that quintessential idiot soldier Private Snafu has a secret and tries to keep it hidden but accidentally spills it, leading to an attack by the Axis Powers.
So as long as we understand what it shows, then we can really enjoy it. I guess that if nothing else, the cartoon does bring up the question of whom we can trust during wartime. But it's worth seeing just to hear the Dr. Seuss rhythm in it. Pretty funny.
So as long as we understand what it shows, then we can really enjoy it. I guess that if nothing else, the cartoon does bring up the question of whom we can trust during wartime. But it's worth seeing just to hear the Dr. Seuss rhythm in it. Pretty funny.
In the correct context, this is a wonderful little film
planktonrules29 October 2006
This film must be understood in the context for which it was made. While this is a film made by talent from Warner Brothers (with voice work by Mel Blanc and production by the folks at Looney Toons), it was NOT intended for general release--but was meant to be shown to soldiers to illustrate the importance of keeping troop activities secret. You can tell this is the case for several reasons--the cartoon is black and white (when Looney Toons had just recently switched to color), the guy at the newspaper stand is reading a magazine entitled "SEX" and the female Nazi spy has a radio hidden in her boobs. This was certainly NOT intended to be seen by the kids! So, with it's more adult humor designed to appeal to those in combat, the movie did a wonderful job of conveying its central message in a cute way--using great animation and a crazy rhyming style that is very, very catchy. Even today, this film is worth seeing--not just by history teachers but by anyone wanting a good laugh or wanting to see what life was like during the war.
One of the best Private Snafu cartoons if not for the easily offended
TheLittleSongbird20 August 2014
The Private Snafu cartoons generally are a lot of fun, and Spies is no exception. In fact, I do consider Spies one of the best Snafu cartoons despite that it does feel a little too short, being only about 3 minutes long, and there will be people who'll take offence at the caricatures of the Germans and Japanese(considering though that Spies was made during the war where the Germans and the Japanese were the enemy it was somewhat inevitable that they would be targeted). The animation is very beautifully done, with the drawing far from scrappy, the backgrounds show lots of detail and for black and white the colours are fluid and have atmosphere and warmth. The music is characterful and dynamically orchestrated in a way that is unmistakable of Carl Stalling, it accompanies the action brilliantly, matches the expressions and gestures equally as well and the use of pre-existing tunes are fun to spot. As well as one of the best of the Private Snafu cartoons Spies is also one of the funniest and cleverest. The horse's ass joke and the wonderfully devilish ending fare the best of the gags(which like all the cartoons revolves around how not to do things and their consequences but never does it feel predictable) but the joy is the cracking script that style and structure-wise has Dr.Seuss' style written all over it. A lot of the Private Snafu cartoons are risqué and quite ahead of their time and Spies is among the most daring. Snafu is an endearing and hilarious character, and the rest of the characters are just as colourful, yes including in a way the caricatures. Mel Blanc's- as usual in multiple roles- voice work typically is faultless. Overall, while it is easy for people to be offended by it Spies is a clever and extremely cartoon that is among the best of the series. 9/10 Bethany Cox
One of my favorite Snafu shorts
emasterslake29 August 2005
The flow of the story and gags work perfectly in this one.
All has to do with Snafu trying not to reveal a secret to the spies that are following him.
This was made back when Germany and Japan was the enemy of America. So allot of the spies are mostly German, Japanese or just some sneaky looking fellas.
what also cool is it's the only Snafu cartoon with a cartoon version of Hitler himself.
Please note that this film is banned along with other Snafu shorts due to it having racist stuff on the Japanese.
So I won't recommend showing this to anyone who is Japanese or German to prevent any offending.
besides that it is a great WW2 short.
All has to do with Snafu trying not to reveal a secret to the spies that are following him.
This was made back when Germany and Japan was the enemy of America. So allot of the spies are mostly German, Japanese or just some sneaky looking fellas.
what also cool is it's the only Snafu cartoon with a cartoon version of Hitler himself.
Please note that this film is banned along with other Snafu shorts due to it having racist stuff on the Japanese.
So I won't recommend showing this to anyone who is Japanese or German to prevent any offending.
besides that it is a great WW2 short.
More war-time brilliance from Chuck Jones
Kieran_Kenney12 August 2003
Warning: Spoilers
THERE ARE PROBABLY "SPOILERS" IN HERE. If you don't wish to learn more than you so desire about this film, please DON'T READ THIS REVIEW!
A brilliant Private Snafu cartoon in which the lovably thick-minded anti-hero gets a Situation Normal All F***ed Up. And boy does he f*** up in this one, making friends with a pretty (indeed, very pretty) blonde who turns out to be sending messages to Der Fuhrer's radio personel via two floral microphones concealed in the young madchen's hefty bosom. The delightful riming dialogue and inventive sight gags are among the movie's highlights, which also include talking moose heads, "chain and paddellock" diagrams of the private's rather small brain, a news-stand salesman reading a magazine with "SEX" on the cover, a group of u-boats rising in swastika formation, and a whole barrage of disgustingly racist stereotypes add to the zaniness. The final climactic moments, in which Snafu is (WARNING, ANOTHER SPOILER AHEAD) literally blown to Hell and taunted by the demonized Hitler while seated in a near-boiling cauldron, is totally priceless, the stuff great movie moments are made of.
A brilliant Private Snafu cartoon in which the lovably thick-minded anti-hero gets a Situation Normal All F***ed Up. And boy does he f*** up in this one, making friends with a pretty (indeed, very pretty) blonde who turns out to be sending messages to Der Fuhrer's radio personel via two floral microphones concealed in the young madchen's hefty bosom. The delightful riming dialogue and inventive sight gags are among the movie's highlights, which also include talking moose heads, "chain and paddellock" diagrams of the private's rather small brain, a news-stand salesman reading a magazine with "SEX" on the cover, a group of u-boats rising in swastika formation, and a whole barrage of disgustingly racist stereotypes add to the zaniness. The final climactic moments, in which Snafu is (WARNING, ANOTHER SPOILER AHEAD) literally blown to Hell and taunted by the demonized Hitler while seated in a near-boiling cauldron, is totally priceless, the stuff great movie moments are made of.
Who let his secret out
dtucker8622 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Private Snafu is at it again. Even though this cartoon was made eighty years ago its main message is still just as important as ever for our service people in harms way the message is that loose lips sink ships. Private Snafu is singing a Doctor Suess ditty in the opening about the secret he holds and how he will never let it out but little by little he foolishly does pouring all he knows into enemy ears until the plans for his troopships mission wind up on Hitler's desk. In the end Snafu is blown into a literal hell and realizes in the end too little too late that he is the one who let the secret out.
Before two fish was blue fish . . .
oscaralbert2 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
. . . before there was a cat in the hat . . . before Horton heard a Who or the Grinch stole their Christmas, Dr. Seuss . . . was busy defeating Hitler! While many Millennials believe that Hitler is a character from AMER!CAN PIE, he actually was a Grimm Fairy Tale type who stuffed everyone in ovens if they lacked traditional Aryan names such as "Hansel" or "Gretl" (who should buy a vowel!). Spelling was no laughing matter in the 1940s, as the Nazi Enigma Code was broken because they ended every message with a "Heil Hitler," which is an Anagram for "Hire the ill"! hardly a winning formula. When Dr. Seuss pictures Pvt. Snafu in SPIES staring at a Snatch Magazine at a newsstand, the physician realizes that this individual has a sick mind. So he rewires Snafu's brain to attract all of the Nazi armament to himself, as Thomas Pynchon later recounted in HIS children's story, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW. Does this mean that Slothrop is plagiarizing Snafu? Can Mrs. Trump the Third change her spots?
Spies (1943)
Michael_Elliott7 September 2015
Spies (1943)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
The third film in the War Department's attempt to teach soldiers certainly lessons. Sprivate Snafu is trained on what one shouldn't do because you never know where spies might be listening. As with the first two films, this clocks in under four minutes so there's certainly no major plot or character development. The only thing you really need to know is that the Snafu character was an idiot who constantly did the wrong thing. This includes giving small hints that someone could put together to find out important information. The War Department must have known a dunk soldier is the worst thing as that's the main focus here. Overall there's certainly nothing great or awful about this picture. It's certainly entertaining but at the same time it doesn't have anything special that makes it a classic. It's certainly interesting since it was an education tool during WWII.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
The third film in the War Department's attempt to teach soldiers certainly lessons. Sprivate Snafu is trained on what one shouldn't do because you never know where spies might be listening. As with the first two films, this clocks in under four minutes so there's certainly no major plot or character development. The only thing you really need to know is that the Snafu character was an idiot who constantly did the wrong thing. This includes giving small hints that someone could put together to find out important information. The War Department must have known a dunk soldier is the worst thing as that's the main focus here. Overall there's certainly nothing great or awful about this picture. It's certainly entertaining but at the same time it doesn't have anything special that makes it a classic. It's certainly interesting since it was an education tool during WWII.
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