In Search of Dr. Seuss (1994) (TV)

Director:

Vincent Paterson

Writers:

Dr. Seuss (characters)
Keith R. Clarke (written by)

Release Date:

6 November 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Biography | Comedy | Family

Plot:

A nosy reporter wants to find out all she can about Dr. Seuss, aka Ted Geisel, and gets told the real facts by several of his characters...

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Awards:

Nominated for 7 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Kathy Najimy	...	Kathy Lane
Matt Frewer	...	The Cat in the Hat
Christopher Lloyd	...	Mr. Hunch
Graham Jarvis	...	The Farmer
Brady Bluhm	...	Marco
Andrea Martin	...	The Ad Woman
David Paymer	...	The Ad Man
J.D. Daniels	...	Marco
Patrick Stewart	...	Sgt. Mulvaney
Billy Crystal	...	The Voice of America (voice)
Andraé Crouch	...	Yertle
Maxi Anderson	...	Turtle Choir Member
Troy Burgess	...	Turtle Choir Member
Reggie Burrell	...	Turtle Choir Member
Rick Charles	...	Turtle Choir Member
Sandra Crouch	...	Turtle Choir Member
Kristle Edwards	...	Turtle Choir Member
Voncielle Faggett	...	Turtle Choir Member
David Gibson	...	Turtle Choir Member / Green Eggs and Ham Player
Tammie Gibson	...	Turtle Choir Member
Kathy Hazzard	...	Turtle Choir Member
Linda McCrary	...	Turtle Choir Member
Gene Montoya	...	Turtle Choir Member / Green Eggs and Ham Player
Kim O'Kelley	...	Turtle Choir Member
Alfie Silas	...	Turtle Choir Member
Kevin Alexander Stea	...	Turtle Choir Member (as Kevin Stea)
Bambi Swayze	...	Turtle Choir Member
Jonathan Webb	...	Turtle Choir Member
Robin Williams	...	The Father
Zelda Williams	...	Daughter
Eleanor Columbus	...	Daughter
Howie Mandel	...	Sam-I-Am (voice)
Raymond Del Barrio	...	Green Eggs and Ham Player
T.J. Espinoza	...	Green Eggs and Ham Player
Susan Lonergan	...	Green Eggs and Ham Player
Eileen Brennan	...	The Who-Villian
Terry Lindholm	...	The Onceler
Kay E. Kuter	...	Dr. Seuss (voice)
Frank Welker	...	Audience Member / Hitler Lives Narrator / Horton / Hunters / Mouse / Van Itch (voice)
Malachi Pearson	...	Additional Voice Over (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Winston Churchill	...	Himself - at Potsdam (archive footage) (uncredited)
June Foray	...	Cindy Lou Who (archive sound) (uncredited)
Rudolf Hess	...	Himself - with Hitler in Nuremberg (archive footage) (uncredited)
Adolf Hitler	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Bob Holt	...	Lorax / The Onceler (archive sound) (uncredited)
Boris Karloff	...	The Grinch (archive sound) (uncredited)
William D. Leahy	...	Himself - at Potsdam (archive footage) (uncredited)
Vyacheslav Molotov	...	Himself - at Potsdam (archive footage) (uncredited)
Dr. Seuss	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Joseph Stalin	...	Himself - at Potsdam (archive footage) (uncredited)
Julius Streicher	...	Himself - with Hitler in Nuremberg (archive footage) (uncredited)

Directed by
Vincent Paterson

Writing credits
Dr. Seuss		(characters)
Keith R. Clarke		(written by)

Produced by
Keith R. Clarke	....	associate producer
Joni Levin	....	producer
Thomas A. Walsh	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Steve Goldstein		(as Steven Goldstein)

Cinematography by
Michael Lonzo

Film Editing by
Michael Kelly

Casting by
Gary Oberst

Production Design by
Thomas A. Walsh		(as Tom Walsh)

Art Direction by
Ricardo Morin
Thomas P. Wilkins		(as Tom Wilkins)

Set Decoration by
Leslie E. Rollins		(as Leslie Rollins)

Costume Design by
Merilyn Murray-Walsh		(as Merrily Murray-Walsh)

Makeup Department
Linda Arnold	....	assistant hair stylist
Tom Brumberger	....	special makeup creator
Barney Burman	....	makeup assistant
Rob Burman	....	makeup assistant (as Robert Burman)
Vickie Coleck-Jones	....	makeup assistant (as V. Coleck)
Laura DeLuisa	....	assistant hair stylist (as Laura Deluisa)
Ed French	....	makeup assistant (as Edward French)
Michael Pachal	....	assistant hair stylist (as Michael Ross)
Darren Perks	....	prosthetics: Cat in the Hat
Michael Reitz	....	assistant hair stylist (as Michael P. Reitz)
Marlene Stoller	....	makeup assistant
Rick Stratton	....	special character makeup applied by
Danny Valencia	....	hair stylist
Marja Webster	....	makeup artist: Kathy Najimy
Erwin H. Kupitz	....	wig maker (uncredited)

Production Management
Rudy Poe	....	post-production supervisor (as Rüdiger Poe)
Rudy Poe	....	production manager (as Rudiger Poe)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rudy Poe	....	assistant director (as Rüdiger Poe)

Art Department
William Acedo	....	property master
Christy Addis	....	graphic artist (as Christian M. Addis)
Lisa Alkofer	....	assistant to production designer (as Lisa Alkofar)
Don Bateman	....	carpenter
James Betts	....	carpenter
Paul Bucciarelli	....	storyboard artist
F. Ann Colletti	....	art department production assistant
John Colletti	....	construction assistant
Satcha Congdon	....	carpenter
Larce Crawford	....	construction foreman
Steve Cruz	....	set designer (as Stephen M. Cruz)
Randy Davis	....	scenic artist
Steven De Groodt	....	scenic artist
Kerry Deco	....	sculptor
Joe Del Monte	....	construction coordinator (as Joe Delmonte)
Carl Dias	....	storyboard artist
Mary Ernst	....	construction assistant (as Mary E. Ernst)
Frank Ferguson	....	carpenter (as Frank W. Ferguson)
Lyn Gardner	....	art department coordinator (as Gina Lyn Gardner)
Michael Gooch	....	propmaker/sculptor
Robert E. Hart	....	carpenter
Kenny Hayes	....	propmaker/sculptor (as Ken L. Hayes)
Phillip A. Henry	....	propmaker/sculptor (as Philip A. Henry)
David W. Hook	....	propmaker/sculptor (as David A. Hook)
Chris Hopkins	....	propmaker/sculptor
Tim Hyde	....	propmaker/sculptor
Walter Lab	....	charge scenic artist
Ron Linden	....	scenic artist
Jay H. Long	....	prop finisher
Aaron Maddox	....	carpenter
Randy Morrison	....	sculptor
Chris Nakayama	....	carpenter
Jan Pascale	....	assistant to production designer
Ian Radford	....	construction assistant
David Rushing	....	propmaker/sculptor
Chris Santini	....	carpenter (as Christopher Santini)
Philip Slagter	....	scenic artist
Chas Smith	....	metal worker
Miguel Varon	....	propmaker/sculptor
Michael Wheelwright	....	carpenter
Tony Whyte	....	carpenter (as William Anthony Whyte)
Libby Woolems	....	assistant to production designer
Scott Wynn	....	carpenter
Christian Zingale	....	carpenter (as Christian Erik Zingale)

Sound Department
Peter Austin	....	supervising sound editor
David Beadle	....	dialogue editor (as David Mark Beadle)
Peter Bergren	....	sound effects editor
Joe Earle	....	sound effects editor (as Joseph Earle)
Ron Evans	....	dialogue editor
Jim Fitzpatrick	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dennis Gray	....	dialogue editor
James Hebenstreit	....	adr editor (as James B. Hebenstreit)
Sonya Henry	....	dialogue editor (as Sonya L. Henry)
James Jack	....	production sound mixer (as J.E. Jack)
Pamela Kahn	....	foley artist
Gary Lewis	....	dialogue editor
Albert Edmund Lord III	....	adr editor
Bruce Michaels	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gary Montgomery	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brian Thomas Nist	....	sound effects editor
Ralph Osborn	....	dialogue editor
Nancy Parker	....	foley artist (as Nancy May Parker)
Robert Perkins	....	boom operator
Adam Sawelson	....	dialogue editor
Bruce Tanis	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Chris Nakayama	....	mechanical effects

Visual Effects by
Alan Barnett	....	compositor: Sight Effects
Melissa Davies	....	compositor: Sight Effects
Peter Donen	....	visual effects supervisor
Jay Goodman	....	Mac sequences
Rob Hodgson	....	compositor: Sight Effects (as Rob Hodgeson)
Richard Lund	....	background photography
Harry Moreau	....	opening animation
Donald Pennington	....	miniatures
Carlyle O. Livingston II	....	model maker: Donald Pennington, Inc. (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Corwin A. Bibb	....	gaffer (as Corwin Bibb)
Charles Burnham	....	electrician trainee
Salvador Camacho	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Salvador B. Camacho)
Eric Clarke	....	grip trainee (as Eric Clark)
Mark Combs	....	company grip
Peter Cornford	....	best boy
Peter Donen	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Jeffrey Douglas	....	company grip
Josh Drew	....	company grip (as Josh G. Walters)
Tim Durr	....	electrician
John Emory	....	electrician (as John Lawrence Emory)
Ted H. Hauser	....	first assistant camera (as Ted Hauser)
Bob Ivanjack	....	best boy grip
Ellis M. James	....	company grip (as Ellis James)
Dan Kneece	....	Steadicam operator
Bill Marley	....	electrician
John Massaro	....	electrician
Eamon McGillicuddy	....	electrician (as Eamon McGillicaddy)
Kevin Mulvey	....	electrician
Todd Parker	....	electrician (as Todd D. Parker)
Tim Rinehart	....	company grip
Tim Soronen	....	company grip (as Tim Sorenen)
Bruce Swift	....	key grip
David Taylor	....	second assistant camera (as Dave Taylor)
Georgia Tays	....	electrician
Joseph Torres Jr.	....	camera department assistant (as Joe Torrez)
James D. Wickman	....	dolly grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kathy Arellano	....	costume first hand
Evie Betz	....	costume craftsperson
Suzanne Cranfill	....	key wardrobe/cutter
Anette Czagany	....	costume crafts stitcher
Kerry Deco	....	costume craftsperson
Susan Doepner-Senac	....	costume craftsperson (as Susan Doepner)
Nancy E. Donavan	....	stitcher
Brigitte Heichelbech	....	costume craftsperson
Anne Kemmeter	....	costume first hand
Penny Larson	....	costume shop manager
Tony Lovaglia	....	costume shop manager
Jeanne Marlette	....	stitcher
Jennifer McManus	....	costume craftsperson (as Jennifer E. McManus)
Maggie Morgan	....	assistant to costume designer
Caryn Neman	....	stitcher
Rasmus Olsson	....	costume first hand
Kristen Pondy	....	costume craftsperson (as Kristin Pondy)
Joan Powell	....	cutter
Kate Purwin-Tschernisch	....	stitcher
Matt Reitsma	....	costume painter/dyer
Karen Rivera	....	shopper
A. Jeffrey Schoenberg	....	costume crafts head
Bronwen Shirk	....	stitcher
Michael Tereschuk	....	costume first hand
Ruthi A. Yoda	....	cutter

Editorial Department
Shannon Leigh Olds	....	assistant editor (as Shannon Oles)
Arden Rynew	....	on-line editor
Bradford Scherick	....	assistant editor
Kenneth Schretzman	....	assistant editor
Karen Snyder	....	on-line editor

Music Department
Michael Aarvold	....	music mixer
Richard Bosworth	....	music mixer
Barry Ennis	....	music clearance
Nick Fryman	....	orchestrator
Stu Goldberg	....	orchestrator
Alex Wilkinson	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Sharri Dixon	....	driver

Other crew
Jeff Barrett	....	production assistant
Sharri Dixon	....	office production assistant
Lynn D. Ezelle	....	production accountant (as Lynn Ezelle)
Mike Grzwa	....	production assistant
Glenn Jansa	....	key production assistant
Kosh	....	title and graphic design
James Lave	....	production assistant
Hazel Newsom	....	assistant to producer
Vincent Paterson	....	choreographer
Nancianne Pizer	....	craft service (as Nancianne Piser)
Don Safran	....	creative consultant
Rick Simone	....	assistant: Ms. Najimy
Ross Sommers	....	studio teacher
Brenda Weisman	....	script supervisor
Merrick Wolfe	....	production coordinator
Smith Wordes	....	choreographer

Thanks
Herb Cheyette	....	special thanks
Michael K. Frith	....	special thanks (as Michael Frith)
Audrey Geisel	....	acknowledgment: additional archive materials provided by
Robert Harvey	....	special thanks: Panavision
Peggy Owens	....	acknowledgment: additional archive materials provided by

Production Companies

• Point Blank Productions
• Turner Pictures (I)

Distributors

• Turner Network Television (TNT) (1994) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Turner Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (video)

Special Effects

• Sight Effects (composites)

Other Companies

• LaserPacific  on-line editorial (as Laser-Pacific)
• Anderson Video  on-line editorial
• 525 Post Production  Mac sequences (as 525)
• Available Light  flat art and historical sequences photography (as Available Light, Ltd.)
• Todd-AO/Glen Glenn Studios  post-production mixing and sound editorial
• Dr. Seuss Enterprises  footage from "The Sneetches" and "The Lorax" provided by
• Republic Pictures (I)  footage from "And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street" Puppetoon provided by (as Republic Pictures Corporation)
• Turner Entertainment  footage from "Hitler Lives," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "The Butter Battle Book" provided by (as Turner Entertainment Company)
• Collection of Ted and Margaretha Owens  additional archive materials provided by
• Archive Films  additional archive materials provided by
• DePatie-Freleng Enterprises (DFE)  additional archive materials provided by (as Depatie-Freleng)
• Connecticut Valley Historical Museum  additional archive materials provided by
• University of California San Diego - Department of Special Collections  additional archive materials provided by
• University of California Los Angeles - Department of Special Collections  additional archive materials provided by
• Mark F. Larrow Beer and Wine Making Supplies  additional archive materials provided by
• Underwood Photo Archives  additional archive materials provided by
• Producer's Library Service  additional archive materials provided by
• Remington Arms  additional archive materials provided by
• Otto Nemenz International  additional camera equipment supplied by
• Random House  special thanks
• Grolier Enterprises  special thanks
• Pacific Studios Inc.  special thanks
• Color House  special thanks (as Color House Photo Backgrounds)
• Foam-Tec Inc.  special thanks
• Olsen Color Expansions  special thanks
• Advanced Foam  special thanks
• Warner Research  special thanks
• Harry Hatz  special thanks
• National Hair Technologies  special thanks
• Panavision  filmed with Panavision cameras and lenses courtesy of
• The Estate of Theodor S. Geisel  archive source

Also Known As:

Runtime:

90 min | Canada:115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita Studios - 25135 Anza Drive, Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company:

Point Blank Productions

Trivia:

Zelda Williams is Robin William's real life daughter who portrays his daughter in this movie. While Eleanor Columbus who portrayed the other daughter was Chris Columbus's daughter.

Movie Connections:

References The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)

Soundtrack:

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

Often silly and kiddish, but an informative film on the life of an extremely influential author

I think I saw just a bit of this made-for-TV movie on TV when I was around eight years old (around the time it was released, or shortly after), but didn't know it was called "In Search of Dr. Seuss". I remember so many Dr. Seuss stories from my childhood, both books and animated cartoons, but don't recall seeing much of this biography film. After fifteen years or so, I've finally seen the entire film on DVD. By the time that happened, I knew the lead character was played by Kathy Najimy, and knew her as the voice of Peggy Hill in "King of the Hill", and the role of Beverly "Bev" Pear in "Rat Race". I was also familiar with several other cast members. If I had seen the entire film as a kid, it probably would have been more entertaining, but it was still interesting.

Kathy Lane is a news reporter who comes to the home of the late Theodor Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss) to get as much information as possible for a report on the famous children's author, information she couldn't find anywhere else. The first character she meets turns out to be the Cat in the Hat, one of Seuss's famous characters! She then sees a book entitled, "Open a book, open your imagination," and opens it, which takes her on a magical adventure through the world of Seuss, full of surprises, with the Cat as her tour guide! Many of the author's famous stories are included on this adventure, and Kathy finds herself taking part in them! She also gradually learns about his life, career, the inspiration for some of his stories, etc. She gets some information from the Cat in the Hat, and some from other characters she meets in different places on her adventure.

There's lots of humour in this film, but it certainly didn't make me laugh much. With Christopher Lloyd, Andrea Martin, and Robin Williams all in the cast, it could have been so much funnier than it is, at least for adults. There are parts I found mildly amusing, but not many. This was the most disappointing aspect for me. For the most part, the humour is very kiddish, and it might not just be the humour, as the sets often look like they're from a low-budget kids' show, though I'm sure that was intentional. However, it is an interesting biography on Dr. Seuss, focusing on different parts of his life and sometimes showing documentary footage. There are also some pretty good presentations of Dr. Seuss stories, sometimes with edited versions of animated cartoons, and it's also good that the morals of these stories are mentioned. The author was well known for those. The film is informative in a way I've never seen before.

I don't know if I should be rating this film 8/10, and I'm definitely not doing so because of how entertaining I personally found it. I would usually have to find a movie more entertaining than this to even give it a 7. I don't think I could exactly say I found most of "In Search of Dr. Seuss" that entertaining, especially with the lack of laughs. Still, it's an interesting way of telling viewers about the life of Dr. Seuss, and to me, there is something charming about it. I'm sure many kids would like it a lot, and I'm sure the humour would probably be more appealing to them, though I don't recall liking the part of the film I saw as a kid. Also, if you're an adult who grew up with Dr. Seuss, then this is probably worth watching for information on the influential author (though you may wish it were presented in a different manner), and you could find more entertainment value than I did.