Theodor Geisel Movies
When a kindly elephant hears a faint cry of help from a floating speck of dust, his attempts to protect the tiny particle cause his neighbors to question his sanity in this animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss' classic 1954 children's book of the same name. Produced by Ice Age makers Blue Sky, scripted by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, and directed by Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino, Horton Hears a Who reunites Bruce Almighty co-stars Jim Carrey and Steve Carell as the eponymous elephant and the mayor of Whoville respectively. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, (more)
Horton the elephant comes to the rescue again in this video. Horton, with his sensitive hearing, is the only person who can hear the pleas for help from the microscopic world of the Whos, a world so tiny that it fits on a speck of dust. Horton's friends can't comprehend that there are living beings that small, but the Whos manage to make their cries heard just in time. Another Dr. Seuss classic is successfully adapted for the small screen. Recommended for all ages. ~ Heather M. Fierst, All Movie Guide
Chuck Jones' animated version of the classic Dr. Seuss book How the Grinch Stole Christmas originally aired on television in 1966 and has since become a holiday family favorite. Voiced by Boris Karloff (who also narrates), the Grinch lives on top of a hill overlooking Whoville with his dog, Max. Each year at Christmas time, the Grinch's hatred grows stronger toward those insufferably cheerful Whos down in Whoville. Content to exchange presents, eat large banquets, and sing songs in the town square, the Whos live in a blissful ignorance of the Grinch's contempt. One year, he gets the idea to stop Christmas from coming by dressing up as Santa Claus. He cobbles together an outfit and makes his dog drag him around on a sleigh while sneaking into the Whos' homes and stealing their presents, food, and decorations. After he has stolen every last thing, the Whos wake up on Christmas morning to sing in the town square, causing the Grinch to question the basis of his nefarious plan. Thurl Ravenscroft (the voice of kid cereal mascot Tony the Tiger) provides the vocals for the song "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." This story was remade into a live-action movie in 2000 by director Ron Howard starring Jim Carrey as the Grinch. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Boris Karloff
- 1951
The McCloy family is a seemingly normal, everyday kind of nuclear family -- a mother who sews and embroiders, a father who calmly reads the evening paper, and cute little baby, Gerald. Unfortunately, when Gerald gets to the age when he should begin speaking, he opens his mouth and, instead of words, lets forth a loud "boing! boing!" sound. His distraught father's face turns grey, and in a panic he calls in Dr. Malone, who promptly tells him there's no cure and nothing he can do about Gerald's problem. As the tyke grows older, he evinces a talent for erupting with a wide range of strange, realistic sound effects -- but still no words. His parents send him to school, but he is sent home with a note from his teacher that the school cannot do anything for or with him. Gerald is also rejected by other children his age, who taunt him and dub him "Gerald McBoing Boing." Sad and dejected, he seeks solace and comfort from his father, who doesn't know what to do and angrily sends him up to his room. Once there, Gerald ties a few belongings in a handkerchief on a stick and runs away into the blinding snow. Seeking to hop a freight train, he is stopped by a stranger who says he has been looking everywhere for him. It turns out that the stranger owns a radio station, and he employs Gerald to be his one-man sound effects team. Gerald happily accepts, and earns fame and acceptance for his unique talents. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
- 1948
This 48-minute cautionary documentary was the brainchild of Theodore S. Geisel, better known to generations of children as Dr. Seuss. An expert on Oriental history, Geisel and his wife Helen hoped to steer audiences clear of war by underlining the unheeded warning signs of WWII. Utilizing captured Japanese newsreel footage, the film theorizes that future wars can be averted by keeping power-hungry, nationalistic "racketeers" in check. In addition to Geisel himself, the film was narrated by Kent Smith, representing the Typical American, and by Hans Conried, as the personification of Japanese Militarism. Design for Death won an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hans Conried
- 1945
Your Job in Germany is a short propoganda film about post-WWII Germany. ~ All Movie Guide
