Charlotte's Web (1973)

A spider with a flair for promotion pledges to save a young pig from slaughter.

Directors:

Charles A. Nichols, Iwao Takamoto

Writers:

E.B. White (book), Earl Hamner Jr. (story)

Stars:

Debbie Reynolds, Paul Lynde, Henry Gibson

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Debbie Reynolds	...	Charlotte A. Cavatica (voice)
Paul Lynde	...	Templeton (voice)
Henry Gibson	...	Wilbur (voice)
Rex Allen	...	Narrator (voice)
Martha Scott	...	Mrs. Arable (voice)
Dave Madden	...	Ram (voice)
Danny Bonaduce	...	Avery Arable (voice)
Don Messick	...	Jeffrey (voice)
Herb Vigran	...	Lurvy (voice)
Agnes Moorehead	...	The Goose (voice)
Pamelyn Ferdin	...	Fern Arable (voice) (as Pam Ferdin)
Joan Gerber	...	Mrs. Zuckerman / Mrs. Fussy (voice)
Bob Holt	...	Homer Zuckerman (voice) (as Robert Holt)
John Stephenson	...	Farmer Arable (voice)
William B. White	...	Henry Fussy (voice)

Storyline

Wilbur the pig is scared of the end of the season, because he knows that come that time, he will end up on the dinner table. He hatches a plan with Charlotte, a spider that lives in his pen, to ensure that this will never happen.

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Plot Keywords:

pig | spider | farm | runt | spiderweb | 

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Taglines:

That humble radiant terrific book is now a humble radiant terrific movie.

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Genres:

Animation | Family | Musical

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 March 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

E.B. White's Charlotte's Web

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hanna-Barbera Productions, Paramount Pictures, Sagittarius Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

CASTLE THUNDER: This classic Hanna-Barbera thunderclap is heard throughout the lightning storm that frightened Wilbur on his first night in a doghouse, used for him.

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Goofs

When Fern's brother Avery sits down for pancakes, his plate is empty. In the next shot (when his frog pops out of his jacket for a second) his plate has a stack of pancakes complete with butter and syrup. In the shot after that his plate is empty again and he is reaching for some pancakes.

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Quotes

Narrator: Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.

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Connections

Referenced in I Love the '70s (2003)

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Soundtracks

"Mother Earth and Father Time"
Written by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman
Performed by Debbie Reynolds

User Reviews

great kids' movie; not obnoxious for adults

I just rented this for my kids (ages 4 & 6) and had completely forgotten that adults can enjoy it, too. I'm quite weary of the obnoxious Disney-fication of most kids movies these days. (Spare me any more simpering princess stories.) The story of the clever spider who tries to save a pig from becoming breakfast meat is a familiar one and can be appreciated by many. The voice talent here is so superb that the movie doesn't make you rue the day they decided to animate the book. The songs aren't overly saccharine and are actually quite catchy. The movie is worth it alone for Templeton's trip to the fair and "a fair is a veritable smorgasbord-orgasbord-orgasbord" song. Debbie Reynolds' Charlotte is warm and wise, Wilber is naive and friendly, and Templeton provides the perfect foil as a spoiled rat who's just in it for himself. Agnes Moorehead as the goose became a sort of comedic extra to make the little ones laugh in the face of the rather adult plot about life and death. Overall, it's a movie for the whole family.