Gerald McBoing-Boing (1950)

The story of a little boy who would only talk in sound effects. With story by Dr. Seuss (and Bill Scott of Rocky and Bullwinkle fame) this cartoon won the Oscar for best short subject (animated) for 1950.

Director:

Robert Cannon

Writers:

Dr. Seuss (story), Bill Scott (story),

Stars:

Marvin Miller

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Marvin Miller	...	Narrator (voice)

Storyline

At age two, Gerald McLoy should be at the age where he says his first words. But when the first "words" that come out of his mouth sound more like a broken spring - "boing boing" - his nervous father is worried that Gerald will never speak properly and keep on making these unusual sounds. After his father calls in medical help, Gerald continues to keep making these and other unusual sounds as the doctor doesn't know what to do. And later, when Gerald's father sends him to school hoping that being around other children speaking and having teachers who can teach him will make him speak properly, Gerald still can only make these sounds. Is there any hope for Gerald or his exasperated parents?

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Plot Keywords:

father | sound effect | doctor | running away from home | acceptance | 

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Genres:

Animation | Short | Comedy | Family

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 November 1950 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

United Productions of America (UPA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

8 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In a 1994 poll of animators, film historians and directors (conducted by the animation historian Jerry Beck), this film was rated the ninth greatest cartoon short of all time.

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Quotes

Narrator: [from letter] From Public School 7 to Mrs. McCloy: Your little son Gerald's a most helpless boy. We cannot accept him, for we have a rule that pupils must not go...
[cuckoo]
Narrator: ... in our school. Your boy will go...
[boing]
Narrator: ... his whole life, I'm afraid. Sincerly yours, Penny Schultz, teacher, first grade.

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Connections

References The Fallen Idol (1948)

User Reviews

Minimal animation, even for UPA, but delightful characters and script

This short, which won an Oscar, spawned two sequels and a TV cartoon show, has minimal animation but adelightful script (by Theodore Geisel aka Dr. Seuss) and aneven more memorable and enchanting main character. UPA pioneered a style of animation that even influenced Disney during the mid-1950s and produced some of the best animated shorts done in the late 1940s and the 1950s. This is on of their finest. God to have it in print. Highly recommended.