The Phantom Tollbooth (1970)

Milo is a boy who is bored with life. One day he comes home to find a toll booth in his room. Having nothing better to do, he gets in his toy car and drives through - only to emerge in a world full of adventure.

Directors:

Chuck Jones, Abe Levitow

Writers:

Chuck Jones (screenplay), Sam Rosen (screenplay)

Stars:

Butch Patrick, Hans Conried, Mel Blanc

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Butch Patrick	...	Milo
Mel Blanc	...	Officer Short Shrift / Dodecahedron / Demon of Insincerity (voice)
Daws Butler	...	Whether Man / Senses Taker / Terrible Trivium / Gelatinous Giant (voice)
Candy Candido	...	Awful DYNN (voice)
Hans Conried	...	King Azaz / The MathemaGician (voice)
June Foray	...	Ralph / Faintly Macabre / Princess of Pure Reason (voice)
Patti Gilbert	...	Princess of Sweet Rhyme (voice)
Shepard Menken	...	Spelling Bee / Chroma The Great (voice) (as Shep Menken)
Cliff Norton	...	Kakofonous A. Dischord / Tollbooth Speaker (voice)
Larry Thor	...	Tock The Watchdog (voice)
Les Tremayne	...	Humbug (voice)

Storyline

Milo is a boy who is bored with life. One day he comes home to find a toll booth in his room. Having nothing better to do, he gets in his toy car and drives through - only to emerge in a world full of adventure.

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Plot Keywords:

part live action | flight | child driving a car | close up of eyes | live action animated hybrid | 

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Taglines:

It's an Alphabeautiful Mathemagical New Musical Movie!

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Musical

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

Chuck Jones: In the opening segment as a man on a trolley car next to Butch Patrick.

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Goofs

When they are traveling through the numbers mine, Milo says "Golly! And I used to think that numbers weren't important or valuable." The Mathemagician responds with " Not important! Not valuable! By the 4,827,659 hairs on my head, I'll tell you what's important! " The average head has between 100,000 and 150,000 hairs. Far below the amount the Mathemagician stated.

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Quotes

Milo: [Wakes up to find himself in the Doldrums] I wonder where I am.
Lethargians: [Echoing voice] You're in the Doldrums!
Milo: The what drums?
Lethargians: [Lands on Milo's head] Welcome to the Dol... drums.
Lethargians: Allow me to introduce... ourselves.
Lethargians: [Splits into 2 more Lethargians] We are lethargians.
Milo: I'm very pleased to meet you.
Milo: Could you help me please? I think I'm lost.
Lethargians: Think? Don't say that! It's against the law to think in the doldrums!
Milo: That's ridiculous! Everybody thinks.
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits, set immediately after the prologue, revolves around Milo (Butch Patrick) walking from school into various places before he heads home. The text is white, upper-cased and hand-written, while the title itself is purple and in two lines, with the "THE" at the top-left position.

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Connections

Referenced in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: AniMat's Birthday Blowout (2019)

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Soundtracks

Word Market
(1969)
Music by Lee Pockriss
Lyrics by Norman Gimbel
Performed by Hans Conried (uncredited)

User Reviews

When I was a kid, I LOVED this movie

Growing up I thought the movie was fascinating (HELLO! He goes into another WORLD that is CARTOON!). The songs are awesome too, and the whole film is a mystery. Now that I am older I am noticing how very clever the movie is too, including the use of language (you'd have to see it to understand). I also find a bit creepy now that I'm older, it gives me the willies. May it's the old animation, I don't know, but some of the scenes are really scary! It's a good show, watch it with a ten year old...and enjoy! You could also watch it with a 7-11 year old too. Like I said, it's a great show for kids. Especially if they're at that age where they want to be a little creeped out.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

December 1972 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Phantom Tollbooth

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chuck Jones Enterprises, MGM Animation/Visual Arts, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1