Christopher Crumpet (1953)

Through drawings, an illustrator tells his dog the story of a boy named Christopher Crumpet. Christopher can at will change himself from a little boy into a chicken. He threatens to do so ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Cannon

Writers:

T. Hee (story), Robert Cannon (story)

Stars:

Marvin Miller, Marian Richman

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Credited cast:
Marvin Miller	...	Various (voice)
Marian Richman	...	Various (voice)

Storyline

Through drawings, an illustrator tells his dog the story of a boy named Christopher Crumpet. Christopher can at will change himself from a little boy into a chicken. He threatens to do so if his father, Marvin, won't buy him a rocket ship. Marvin doesn't want a chicken for a son, so he does whatever he can to appease Christopher. But time after time as Marvin fails to come through with the real new rocket ship that Christopher wants, Christopher turns himself into a chicken. Bilgewater, Marvin's co-worker, upon seeing Christopher change himself from a boy to a chicken, thinks he can take advantage of the situation. But Marvin does whatever he possibly can to thwart Bilgewater's plans if only because he wants a human boy as a son instead of a chicken. The illustrator has a specific reason for telling his dog Christopher's story.

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Plot Keywords:

rocket ship | bet | jolly frolics | boy | brat | 

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Genres:

Animation | Short

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 June 1953 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

United Productions of America (UPA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

6 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Included in the 3-disc DVD set "UPA: The Jolly Frolics Collection," released 15 March 2012 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

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Connections

Followed by Christopher Crumpet's Playmate (1955)

User Reviews

Strange but amusing

Animated short starts off with a guy talking to his dog and drawing him a story about Christopher Crumpet. He's an energetic little kid who has a temper. When he doesn't get his way he turns into a chicken. (Hey--it's a cartoon). One day he makes it clear he wants a rocket ship. His dad says no--so he becomes a chicken. He refuses to change back into a boy and his dad is a nervous wreck on what to do. Nothing can persuade the kid to remain a kid. It leads to a very clever ending.

The animation itself isn't Disney. It's kind of messy actually but it fits the story. Also there are many funny visual jokes all throughout the short. Well worth catching. I have nothing more to say but we need ten lines to get a review published so...