Charlotte's Web (1973)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Directors:

Charles A. Nichols
Iwao Takamoto

Writers:

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

Release Date:

1 March 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Family | Musical

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Pig | Spider | Farm | Runt | Barn

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Debbie Reynolds	...	Charlotte A. Cavatica (voice)
Paul Lynde	...	Templeton (voice)
Henry Gibson	...	Wilbur (voice)
Rex Allen	...	Himself - 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)

Also Known As:

E.B. White's Charlotte's Web (USA) (promotional title)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Germany:o.Al. (VHS rating) | Australia:G | Canada:G | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:G

Company:

Hanna-Barbera Productions

Trivia:

CASTLE THUNDER: This classic Hanna-Barbera thunderclap is heard throughout the lightning storm that frightens Wilbur on his first night in the doghouse.

Goofs:

Continuity: The pocket in Mr. Zuckerman's overalls disappears in close-up shots when he announces that Wilbur will go to the county fair, and again when Mrs. Zuckerman discusses giving Wilbur a buttermilk bath.

Quotes:

[when Templeton sees all the food on the ground at the fair]
Templeton: The goose was right, this fair is rat's paradise. Bye-bye my humble Wilbur. Fare thee well Charlotte you old schemer. This will be a night to remember!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Family Guy: Mother Tucker (#5.2)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Deep In the Dark

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.