Charlotte's Web (1973)

A gentle and wise grey spider with a flair for promotion pledges to save a young pig from slaughter for dinner food.

Directors:

Charles A. Nichols (as Charles Nichols), Iwao Takamoto

Writers:

E.B. White (book), Earl Hamner Jr. (story)

Stars:

Debbie Reynolds, Henry Gibson, Paul Lynde

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Debbie Reynolds	...	Charlotte (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	...	Edith Zuckerman / Mrs. Fussy (voice)
Bob Holt	...	Homer Zuckerman (voice) (as Robert Holt)
John Stephenson	...	Mr. Arable / Parking Officer (voice)
William B. White	...	Henry Fussy (voice)

Storyline

Based on the beloved children's novel by E.B. White, this is the story of a little pig named Wilbur who was born a runt. Mr. Arable decides to kill him for dinner food but his daughter Fern begs him to let him live. On greater maturity, Wilbut is sold to Fern's uncle, Homer L. Zuckerman, in whose barnyard he's left yearning for friendship, but is snubbed by other barn animals. Wilbur 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 gentle and wise grey spider that lives in his pen, to ensure that this will never happen.

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Plot Keywords:

pig | spiderweb | based on novel | character name in title | title spoken by character | 

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Taglines:

The all-time best selling novel is now a captivating motion picture.

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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

Box Office

Gross USA:

$5,232,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hanna-Barbera Productions, Sagittarius Productions, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording) Mono (1939 re-release) Mono (1935 re-release) Mono (MovieTone) Mono Mono (Mono)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to the 2007 DVD director's commentary for the 2006 live-action/CG remake Charlotte's Web (2006), the sequence with Templeton's feasting at the fair had to be expanded because a test audience commented that they missed the Sherman brothers' song, "A Veritable Smorgasbord," they remembered from this film.

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Goofs

Near the end when Wilbur is giving names to three of Charlotte's children, Wilbur's medal hanging over the doorway disappears and reappears between shots.

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Quotes

Narrator: [we hear a rooster crow and a cow moo]
[first lines]
Narrator: This old world is filled with wonders, but to me there is no place more wonderful than a farm in springtime, when the sun is just lifting from the sky line. The air is so sweet and everywhere you look, little miracles are happening. Buds swell into blossoms, eggs hatch, young are born.
[shows duck and ducklings swimming in puddle]
Narrator: Everything's off to a fresh start, and life is good and busy and brand new.
[hen and chicks pass by]
Narrator: Around the ...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

There are two German dubs of this film: one made for theatrical release and another made for the DVD release. In the older dub, all the songs are translated and re-performed by its respective actors. The new version re-dubs the dialogue but the songs are kept in English. The old dub can be found on the 1987 VHS.

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Connections

Referenced in Grimm: Tarantella (2012)

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Soundtracks

Zuckerman's Famous Pig
Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman

User Reviews

Animated Movie Magic For All Ages!

When Farmer Zuckerman was going to "do away with" the runt of his pig's litter, his daughter tearfully convinces him to allow her the responsibility of raising "Wilbur". Wilbur turns into the barnyard joy, and eventually wins not only first prize at the fair, but because of the wisdom of the old spider, Charlotte, becomes a famed attraction.

This classic children's story deals with the life cycle and explains, through the farm animals' eyes, that birth, life and eventual death are all natural, and nothing to fear. After a life of work, Charlotte dies, but all are reminded of her "magic" when her little baby spiders hatch and go on into the world to live their lives.

Debbie Reynold lends her voice to Charlotte, and several beautiful songs envelop this delightful story. This one is right up there with animated Disney Classics, a film every child should enjoy, one of the very best in its class.