12. Private Snafu was used to train soldiers in how to spend their time off too
The Private Snafu films were also used to help rectify the lack of experience in dealing with situations where some people attempted to take advantage of the young American soldiers being sent to locations all over the world. In most of the films Snafu is voiced by Mel Blanc. In the film Payday, released in 1944, Snafu encounters the Technical Fairy at a bazaar somewhere in North Africa. When the Fairy shows him his perfect future in which he was to be allowed to invest, Snafu is tempted by a devil, who convinces him to go to another shop and spend his money on souvenirs. As the hapless soldier spends his money the picture of the perfect future returns, but changes as the car promised gradually is reduced to roller skates.
Snafu then appears in the Caribbean, where he again encounters the Technical Fairy, who warns him about saving his money, but is instead lured into a bar and his money vanishes in drinks. As it does, the picture of the future returns again, with its former perfection seriously degraded. The final scenario features Snafu in the Arctic, where his paycheck goes to gambling, and as he loses the perfect picture worsens further. Eventually, Snafu loses even his clothes and the perfect future vanishes. The message to the trainees – save your money – was further reinforced by the admonishment following the film to buy War Bonds, which was a request made of all servicemen every payday, wherever they were in the world.