Ducking the Devil (1957) Plot Summary & Timeline

Spoilers ahead

1. 1

   Taz escapes his cage at the zoo

   A Tasmanian Devil confined in a zoo cage breaks free, plunging the facility into chaos. He runs amok and scares away visitors and staff as the escape unfolds. The scene sets up the chase that will drive the rest of the story.

   Where:Zoo

2. 2

   Daffy learns of the escape and the reward

   Daffy Duck is at his duck pond when he reads a newspaper report about Taz's escape. The article also mentions a $5,000 reward for Taz's return and notes that Taz becomes docile when exposed to music. This news sets Daffy's plan in motion.

   Where:Daffy’s pond

3. 3

   Taz finds Daffy and gives chase

   Taz locates Daffy and starts pursuing him through the countryside toward the pond. Daffy flees ahead, using every available route to escape the hungry devil. The chase escalates into a slippery cat-and-mouse sequence.

   Where:Daffy’s pond vicinity

4. 4

   Daffy's first failed music attempts

   Daffy tries using a radio to calm Taz, but the extension cord falls short and powers out of reach. He next tries a trombone, but accidentally loses the slide during the scramble. These failed attempts show Daffy's desperation to outsmart the beast with sound.

   Where:Chase route vicinity

5. 5

   Daffy tries bagpipes and a new strategy

   Daffy pulls out bagpipes, which happen to be the one music Taz cannot tolerate. The raucous sound proves ineffective as Taz snarls and remains unfazed. The moment reinforces the need for a different approach.

   Where:Chase route vicinity

6. 6

   Daffy discovers singing can calm Taz

   Realizing that conventional noise weapons fail, Daffy decides to try his own voice. He discovers that singing can soothe the Tasmanian Devil instead of startling him. The idea becomes a risky plan to keep Taz docile long enough to escape.

   Where:Throughout the chase

7. 7

   The serenade begins and leads the chase

   Daffy begins serenading Taz, guiding him away from the flock and toward a safer path. He conducts a long, steady song that calms the beast enough to resist attacking. The performance spans a significant distance as they move away from the zoo.

   Where:Along the chase route

8. 8

   Daffy leads Taz toward the cage

   With the devil calmed by song, Daffy maneuvers him toward his cage, intending to contain the beast once and for all. The serenade continues as they approach the gate where Taz would be trapped. Daffy's voice begins to fade as the distance grows.

   Where:Near the cage location

9. 9

   The reward money slips from the ground

   As they near the cage, a portion of Daffy's reward money slips to the ground and is snatched by Taz. The theft introduces a new petty desire that could undermine the plan. The moment adds a final obstacle before containment.

   Where:Ground near the cage

10. 10

    Daffy dives into the cage

    Daffy rushes into the cage just as the singing ends, slamming the door to trap Taz inside. He shouts, 'It's mine! Mine, all mine!' while the crowd watches the final act of the caper. The trap relies on the timing of his last note and his own bravery.

    Where:Tasmanian Devil's cage at the zoo

11. 11

    Daffy defeats Taz and claims the reward

    Inside the cage, Daffy delivers a beatdown to the restrained Tasmanian Devil. He recovers the reward money he had been pursuing and asserts his victory. The moment emphasizes his greed even in the face of danger.

    Where:Taz's cage / inside the cage

12. 12

    Ending line: greedy little coward

    Daffy proclaims the famous line, reminding everyone that he may be a coward but is also a greedy little coward. The moment caps the cartoon's joke by mixing bravado with self-interest, leaving Taz contained and the crowd laughing at Daffy’s double-edged victory.

    Where:Zoo/cage vicinity

• 

  Daffy Duck (Mel Blanc)

  Played by Mel Blanc

  A cowardly, self-preserving duck who fumbles through the Tasmanian Devil crisis yet uses cunning to eventually recapture him. He is driven by a greedy desire for reward money, and his bravado often masks his underlying fear. He improvises by serenading the beast, showing both resourcefulness and self-interest.

  • 🦆 Main character
  • 💰 Greedy
  • 🎶 Musical improviser
• 

  Tasmanian Devil (Mel Blanc)

  Played by Mel Blanc

  A wild, energetic creature who escapes his cage and creates chaos around the zoo. He becomes docile when exposed to music, which Daffy exploits as a tool to corral him. His rampage serves as the catalyst for the chase and the ensuing scheme.

  • 🌀 Chaotic
  • 🐾 Rampaging
  • 🎵 Calmed by music

1. 01 💰

   Greed vs Cowardice

   The plot pits Daffy’s cowardly pragmatism against his greed for the reward money. The pursuit of cash drives much of the action, encouraging risky choices and improvisation. Yet his cowardice is repeatedly exposed, making his later bravado feel opportunistic.

2. 02 🎶

   Music as Tamer

   The Tasmanian Devil is calmed by music, a device that reframes danger as a solvable problem. Daffy attempts several musical options before finding a song that pacifies the beast for the finale. The scene emphasizes artful restraint and timing over brute force.

3. 03 🌀

   Clever Escape

   Daffy’s schemes showcase a clever, if self-serving wit, turning a dangerous chase into a game of patience and improvisation. The pursuit weaves through the zoo and the home pond as Daffy edges closer to containment and reward. The capstone is a last-minute flip that secures his victory, albeit through greed and luck.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by