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Escalation

  • 1968
  • 2m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
76
YOUR RATING
Escalation (1968)
Hand-Drawn AnimationSatireAnimationComedyShortWar

An anti-Vietnam War cartoon mocking U.S. President, Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson. The author showed it at film festivals, college campuses during the U.S. presidential election year in 1968, a... Read allAn anti-Vietnam War cartoon mocking U.S. President, Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson. The author showed it at film festivals, college campuses during the U.S. presidential election year in 1968, and personally gave away copies of the film to whoever was interested.An anti-Vietnam War cartoon mocking U.S. President, Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson. The author showed it at film festivals, college campuses during the U.S. presidential election year in 1968, and personally gave away copies of the film to whoever was interested.

  • Director
    • Ward Kimball
  • Writer
    • Ward Kimball
  • Star
    • Paul Frees
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    76
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ward Kimball
    • Writer
      • Ward Kimball
    • Star
      • Paul Frees
    • 1User review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Top cast1

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    Paul Frees
    Paul Frees
    • Lyndon B. Johnson
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Ward Kimball
    • Writer
      • Ward Kimball
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1

    6.276
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    Featured reviews

    10tavm

    Escalation was Ward Kimball's view of then-President Johnson's increasing involvement in the Vietnam War

    This short cartoon by Disney animator Ward Kimball begins with a dove with a branch in his beak flying upside down and backwards. Then a giant head statue of then-President Lyndon Johnson is wheeled into view while a recording of someone impersonating him saying the lyrics to the song "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory" (well, that's the title I'm using since I can't remember the actual one) is playing as his nose becomes longer before rising up (you can probably guess what it's supposed to look like when that happens) and exploding. Then flashing images of giant smoke of nuclear bombs are accompanied by various images flashing like that of the Playboy bunny, John Wayne, Doris Day, Superman, Little Orphan Annie...and lots of bare breasts. I think I'll stop there and just say how funny and then seriously somber this animated short was and how brave Mr. Kimball was making this during the election year of 1968. It probably helped that Uncle Walt had been deceased the previous two years considering how family friendly his studio was though it also helped that Ward made this on his own. P.S. I'm sure the dollar sign on Lyndon's ear was intentional...

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Connections
      References Pinocchio (1940)
    • Soundtracks
      Battle Hymn of the Republic
      (uncredited)

      Music by William Steffe

      Lyrics by Julia Ward Howe

      Performers unknown

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • 1968 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • エスカレーション
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      2 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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