To Duck or Not To Duck

Infobox Hollywood cartoon
cartoon_name = To Duck or Not to Duck
series = Looney Tunes/Daffy Duck/Elmer Fudd


caption =
director = Charles M. Jones
story_artist =
animator = Robert Cannon
voice_actor = Mel Blanc
Arthur Q. Bryan
(uncredited)
musician = Carl W. Stalling
producer = Leon Schlesinger
distributor = Warner Bros. Pictures
release_date = March 6, 1943
color_process =
runtime = 6 min
movie_language = English
imdb_id = 0036444

To Duck or Not to Duck is a Warner Bros. cartoon released in theatres in 1943, directed by Chuck Jones and featuring Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd. The film initially is set by a lake but concludes at a boxing match. Mel Blanc provides the voice of Daffy, while Arthur Q. Bryan, who is not credited in the title card, provides the voice of Elmer.

The cartoon has fallen into the public domain, as United Artists (successor-in-interest to Associated Artists Productions) failed to renew the copyright in time. It is found on many VHS tapes of public domain cartoons, with very badly faded colors (and the a.a.p. logo intact). It will be fully restored on the "".

Plot summary

Elmer Fudd is hunting ducks with his dog Larimore. He shoots Daffy Duck from the sky and apologizes saying that he is "a great sportsman." Daffy says he wouldn't be so tough without his hunting equipment and challenges Elmer to a "fair" fight.

Elmer is unaware that he is led to a boxing ring surrounded by many duck spectators. The referee of the fight is also a duck. The odds are clearly against Elmer since the referee laughs while announcing his name followed by booes from the crowd. The referee also refers to Daffy as "Daffy "Good to His Mother" Duck."

Before the match starts, the referee declares that there is to be "no rough stuff," but Daffy pulls several sucker punches and clobbers Elmer with a hammer as the bell is rung. Elmer falls to the mat and the referee provides a quick ten-count. He declares Daffy the winner and new champion. Perplexed, Elmer confronts Daffy and the referee and beats them up.

Cultural references

*The film title is a reference to the line in William Shakespeare's "Hamlet", "to be or not to be".

*At the beginning of the film "Morning Mood" from Edvard Grieg's "Peer Gynt" suite is heard in the background score. This indicates that the time is early morning.

*Daffy challenges Elmer to a fight under Marquess of Queensberry rules.

ee also

*List of cartoons featuring Daffy Duck
*List of cartoons featuring Elmer Fudd

References