The Lorax (1972) (TV)

Director:

Hawley Pratt

Writer:

Dr. Seuss (teleplay)

Release Date:

14 February 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Short | Family

Plot:

A ruined industrialist tells his tale of his environmentally self destructive greed despite the warnings of an old forest creature.

Plot Keywords:

Industrialist | Greed | Tree | Water Pollution | Dr Seuss

Cast

Eddie Albert	...	Narrator (voice)
Bob Holt	...	The Lorax / The Once-ler (voice)
Athena Lorde	...	(voice)
Harlen Carraher	...	Boy (voice)

Runtime:

25 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-G | Australia:G | UK:Uc (video rating) (1986)

Company:

The Cat in the Hat Productions

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: [sung] At the far end of town where the grickle grass grows/and the wind smells slow and sour when it blows/and no birds ever sing, excepting old crows/is the street of the lifted Lorax.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Episode 4: Dangeresque 3 - The Criminal Projective (2008) (VG)

Consider this movie's place in history.

Well, of course it's good for kids--it's Dr. Seuss! Of course, he's for all ages, but that should have been a clue. I suppose adults can get something from Barney the Dinosaur (to use an extreme example) but it isn't really created for adults, is it.

I'm curious: how old is the poster to whom I am replying? I ask because I sense that without a real understanding of the concerns of the '70s, this film might appear just a piece of outdated animation.

While this film might seem simplistic, its timing was impeccable. It premiered at the moment that the original ecology movement had begun to touch the general populace, and it began with baby seals . . . and serious deforestation of US land. The true-life events and fears of that time were exactly as presented; in fact, this movie aired only that once (until decades later) because the lumber industry was powerful enough at the time to have it hidden on a back shelf. Imagine: they were that scared of the power of this message that Dr. Seuss created (ostensibly) for children.

In any case, I was thrilled to find access to the movie as it is one of those pieces that defined my childhood in its era. Enjoy it for what it is or spend some time really watching it, but don't dismiss it so easily.