Hoppity Goes to Town (1941)
"Mr. Bug Goes to Town" (original title)

The happy tranquility of Buggsville is shattered when the populace learns that a colossal skyscraper is to be built over their tiny town.

Director:

Dave Fleischer

Writers:

Dave Fleischer (original story), Dan Gordon (original story),

Stars:

Kenny Gardner, Gwen Williams, Jack Mercer

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Kenny Gardner	...	Dick (voice)
Gwen Williams	...	Mary (voice)
Jack Mercer	...	Mr. Bumble / Swat (voice)
Tedd Pierce	...	C. Bagley Beetle (voice) (as Ted Pierce)
Carl Meyer	...	Smack (voice)
Stan Freed	...	Hoppity (voice)
Pauline Loth	...	Honey (voice)
The Four Marshals	...	Chorus Interpretations (voice)
The Royal Guards	...	Chorus Interpretations (voice)

Storyline

In a vacant corner lot off Broadway (by about a yard) is a place called the Lowlands by the tiny community that lives there. Bugs and insects are neighbors and hang out at the Honey Shop of old Mr. Bumble the bee and his daughter Honey. Hoppity the grasshopper arrives to be with Honey, his sweetie. This bugs the crooked C. Bagley Beetle, so do his bunglers Smack the Mosquito and Swat the Fly. The Beetle wants Honey and the Lowlands for himself. But the Human Ones, with their littering and carelessness, pose a threat of destruction to every Lowland home of bug and beetle alike. Despite the doomsaying of Mr. Creeper, the snail, Hoppity finds hope of a new home behind the house of two Human Ones: Mary, who cares for a beautiful garden; and Dick, a struggling songwriter who puts his own hope on a Broadway hit to save his home.

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Plot Keywords:

bug | skyscraper | songwriter | snail | garden | 

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Taglines:

THE SCREEN'S FIRST FULL-LENGTH MUSICAL COMEDY CARTOON! (original posters-all caps)

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Musical

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 December 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bugville

Filming Locations:

Max Fleischer Studios Inc., Miami, Florida, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fleischer Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min 74 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Much of this movie's financial failure is blamed on the fact that it was released on 5 December 1941, only two days before Pearl Harbor was bombed.

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Quotes

Mr. Creeper: It's no use to go, and don't forget I told you so!

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Connections

Referenced in Antz (1998)

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Soundtracks

"Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)"
(1850) (uncredited)
from "Lohengrin"
Written by Richard Wagner
Sung by Jack Mercer and played at the wedding
Reprised by him with modified lyrics

User Reviews

Forgotten Pioneer

Although never received well critically, this is a truly beautifully animated movie. This film, made at the outbreak of WW2 was one of the first 5 full length animated films ever made, and displays superb animation. Excellent too is the way human castoffs are used by the insects. Unfortunately the character of the principal villain is weak and two dimensional, and the story suffers as a result. The songs, however, are among the best I can recall in any animated film, and "Castle in the air" has to be one of my all time favorites. Unfortunately Max Fleisher was not as independent as Walt Disney, and as a result was never given an opportunity by Paramount to make another animated feature. However, the two that Fleisher was able to release will continue entertaining us for generations to come.