Charlotte's Web (1973)

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:

Originally Tony Randall was hired to do the voice of Templeton the rat. When Randall tried to use his usual cultured, sophisticated voice for the character, the director told him that he wanted something more "nasal". Randall told him that if he wanted a nasal voice, they should have hired Paul Lynde, who ultimately replaced Randall in the role.

Goofs:

Continuity: 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.

Quotes:

Narrator: Wilbur's stomach was empty and his mind was full, and when your stomach is empty and your mind is full, It's hard to fall asleep. But eventually, sleep and Wilbur found each other.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "I Love the '70s" (2003)

Soundtrack:

A Fair is a Veritable Schmorgasboard-orgasboard-orgasboard

Terrific!

This film didn't completely capture the magic of the beloved E.B. White book I remembered from childhood, but it's head and shoulders above most of the animated fare of its time. The beautiful and poignant book suffers a little under the ham-handed treatment of Earl Hamner Jr. and the obligatory songs, fine as far as songs go, should mostly be gone.

All in all, this is a thoroughly enjoyable film, overflowing with the voices of some of the best talent of its time, some of the best animation Hanna Barbera ever did, and a story that never gets old.