A young boy lets the animals out of their cages at the Zoo, to set them free, but the animals start taking over the town.A young boy lets the animals out of their cages at the Zoo, to set them free, but the animals start taking over the town.A young boy lets the animals out of their cages at the Zoo, to set them free, but the animals start taking over the town.
Tristram Coffin
- Councilman Lawrence
- (as Tris Coffin)
Merritt Bohn
- Chief of Police
- (as Merrit Bohnt)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
This is the first movie I ever saw in a theatre (with my brother and cousins). I was about five or six years old, and I remember laughing 'til I cried. I went home and told Mom all about the funniest moments. Also, that huge screen up there, glowing bright and the people so big: it was all magical! Nowadays, I see this movie on the video store shelf and I refuse to rent it: apparently this movie is not very good, and I don't want the realization of its mediocrity to obliterate my magical childhood memory. We need to keep those memories intact: we retain them as little nuggets of magic, optimism and fun in our jaded adult hearts. If this wasn't YOUR first movie, rent it for your kids today (though I'd rather they see it on the big screen, of course!).
Has some fleeting interest for cast trivia buffs: Robert Lowery looking rather handsome and Clark Gable-ish in his one scene as a big game hunter; Jon Lormer in his customary role as the judge; Percy Helton, Tris Coffin, Vince Barnett
Of course the film is actually designed to appeal mainly to those juveniles who love animal antics. Alas, for all its wealth of animalia, it's shot in an extremely pedestrian style. Not only is every jest and gag situation milked thoroughly dry, but the obvious plot is unraveled at the pace of a tortoise. In addition, Tors employs a relentlessly close-up after close-up, television method of shooting and even falls back on such jaded devices as speeded-up action. There's even a long storyboard introduction with the words of the hokey title song displayed for our edification.
Unflatteringly photographed Martin Miller makes a rather wet hero. The girls don't impress either, while Andy Devine looks far too old even for a sinecure job as head keeper at the zoo. His fans, however, will be glad to find he has a major role, not a fleeting part or a cameo. Young Jay North registers mildly and occasionally even manages to surmount the impossible script.
Production values are firmly on the el cheapo side. As well as a bit of stock footage, Tors even treats us to a generous excerpt of Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel in their famous encounter with Lupe Velez in "Hollywood Party". This turns out to be the funniest scene in the whole movie!
Of course the film is actually designed to appeal mainly to those juveniles who love animal antics. Alas, for all its wealth of animalia, it's shot in an extremely pedestrian style. Not only is every jest and gag situation milked thoroughly dry, but the obvious plot is unraveled at the pace of a tortoise. In addition, Tors employs a relentlessly close-up after close-up, television method of shooting and even falls back on such jaded devices as speeded-up action. There's even a long storyboard introduction with the words of the hokey title song displayed for our edification.
Unflatteringly photographed Martin Miller makes a rather wet hero. The girls don't impress either, while Andy Devine looks far too old even for a sinecure job as head keeper at the zoo. His fans, however, will be glad to find he has a major role, not a fleeting part or a cameo. Young Jay North registers mildly and occasionally even manages to surmount the impossible script.
Production values are firmly on the el cheapo side. As well as a bit of stock footage, Tors even treats us to a generous excerpt of Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel in their famous encounter with Lupe Velez in "Hollywood Party". This turns out to be the funniest scene in the whole movie!
Was really taken aback by the number of people who recall it as their first movie.However weird and made up it may sound,it was one of my first movies as well.My friends had it on home video and I remember laughing hard and having a really good "childhood" time with my buddies.The memories are very faint,but there was some sequence where they show a big key or something.And its a miracle that I recall the name!Seeing the rating I guess the movie must be pretty crappy,but I would still buy the movie,even though my friends back then are only memories now.I have to see the movie now to make a more critical comment,but for now I just want to reminisce the memories...
This was the first film I saw at the cinema too,the film came out in 1965 ,but I saw it in about 1973. It was in South Africa and back then our parents never came in with us they just dropped us off I was about 10 and my brother was about 7. We really loved it it was so hilarious ,I never thought of trying to rent it now ,but I would love to show it to my daughter and niece's. The cinema was a riot of unruly kids chucking sweets popcorn etc..what fun !! I remember coming home with a half chewed up toffee stuck in the back of my hair.. ahhh those were the days . Rent it for the kids they will love it ,I may watch it again too ..
I enjoyed this film very much. Jay North does a fine job as a child who has raised a mountain lion from birth but because he has to move with this family to the city, the mountain lion has to be put in a zoo that is poorly funded and with tiny cages. As a result, Jay North's character frees all the animals there 45 minutes into the film. The middle part then is more comedic as the animals enjoy their time away from the cages. Longtime character actor Andy Levine and Martin Milner are wonderful in their roles as the zoo caretaker and zoo director, respectively. Now zoos are more animal-friendly but when this film was made, many zoos were like jails with cramped cages and the rights of animals was an afterthought in zoos. This film enlightens the public in that regard and does so in an entertaining and heartfelt way.
Did you know
- TriviaUncredited actor Eddie Quillan is seen watching a clip from Hollywood Party (1934), in which he himself had a featured role 31 years earlier.
- GoofsDuring the filming, Jay North had braces put on his bottom row of teeth. There are scenes where his close ups show him, pre-braces with his front teeth crooked. Other times it is clear in closeups that he is wearing braces.
- ConnectionsFeatured in MGM 40th Anniversary (1964)
- SoundtracksZebra in the Kitchen
Music by Hal Hopper
Lyrics by Hal Hopper
Performed by The Standells
[Theme song played before the opening title and credits]
Details
- Runtime1 hour 32 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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