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

"I Can Talk" is the only song of which no score is heard elsewhere in the film.

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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

[Wilbur is eyeing Charlotte's egg sac]
Charlotte: I'm versatile.
Wilbur: Does versatile mean full of eggs?
Charlotte: [chuckling] Certainly not. Versatile means I can change with ease from one thing to another.

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Connections

Spoofed in The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror XIII (2002)

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Soundtracks

"We've Got Lots In Common"
Written by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman
Performed by Henry Gibson, Debbie Reynolds, Dave Madden, and Chorus

User Reviews

Screenplay adaptation remains true to the book

This animated version of the E.B. White children's classic is short on spectacular animation but long on heart and boasts a wonderful cast of voice talents. Earl Hamner, Jr., of "The Waltons" fame, creates a seamless plot which retains the true flavor of the book while cleverly rearranging the order of events and giving some of the better lines to different characters. The story of Wilbur, the runt pig saved by Fern Arable and later shipped to her Uncle Zuckerman's farm, only to discover that he's slated for the butcher's knife, is lively and fun. Charlotte, the wise and well-spoken spider played wonderfully by Debbie Reynolds, devises a scheme to save Wilbur's life. Henry Gibson is right on as the naive and nervous but generally happy Wilbur. Agnes Moorhead shines as the haughty and stuttering goose: "I'm no flibberty-ibbity gibbet!" Paul Lynde easily steals the show as Templeton, the smarmy barn rat; his late-night gorge-fest at the fair is a hilarious highlight of the movie. The songs written for the movie are a bit on the syrupy side, but Debbie Reynolds' sweet singing voice and some clever, funny lyrics make them bearable to adults.