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Gerald McBoing-Boing

  • 1950
  • Approved
  • 8m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
Gerald McBoing-Boing (1950)
AnimationComedyFamilyShort

The story of a little boy who would only talk in sound effects.The story of a little boy who would only talk in sound effects.The story of a little boy who would only talk in sound effects.

  • Directors
    • Robert Cannon
    • John Hubley
  • Writers
    • Dr. Seuss
    • Bill Scott
    • Phil Eastman
  • Stars
    • Marvin Miller
    • Bob Holt
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    2.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Robert Cannon
      • John Hubley
    • Writers
      • Dr. Seuss
      • Bill Scott
      • Phil Eastman
    • Stars
      • Marvin Miller
      • Bob Holt
    • 19User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 3 wins total

    Photos5

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    Top cast2

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    Marvin Miller
    Marvin Miller
    • Narrator
    • (voice)
    Bob Holt
    Bob Holt
    • Various
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Robert Cannon
      • John Hubley
    • Writers
      • Dr. Seuss
      • Bill Scott
      • Phil Eastman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews19

    7.12.1K
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    Featured reviews

    10cabless

    Great memory show from my early childhood

    I have remembered this cartoon for over 50 years - what staying power it has! It was funny and creative; I wish my children and grandchildren could have seen it. It ranks right up there with Winky Dink - another favorite. I was pleased to find out that one of the creators later worked on Rocky and Bullwinkle. These early shows had a lot going for them that todays cartoons for kids don't have. Today's cartoons seem to push the idea that one needs something special, some magic formula or talent to be able to succeed against evil or dangerous circumstances. While the early cartoons didn't address evil very much - it WAS a much gentler and safer time - they allowed us to develop our own talents and character.
    imimslim

    Adventures of a little boy who can say nothing but "Boing!"

    In my opinion, this is the best cartoon ever made. It has terrific animation and a charming story, it is witty and lively, and of course has a "moral" in that you don't have to be the same as everybody else to succeed as the title character ends up in a wonderful job, despite his "disability."
    7gavin6942

    Classic Suess

    The story of a little boy who would only talk in sound effects. With story by Dr. Seuss (and Bill Scott of Rocky and Bullwinkle fame) this cartoon won the Oscar for best short subject (animated) for 1950.

    Some people seem to give this short a hard time. And I suppose the animation is not that incredibly amazing. But keep in mind this is 1950, making it one of the earliest (if not the first) Dr. Suess cartoon. And there is no denying the rhyme and story are quite original and clever.

    This is no Pixar or anything too deep. But worth checking out if you area fan of Dr. Suess, because this story gets overlooked compared to the Grinch or Cat in the Hat.
    10pauldbevan

    A beautiful cartoon

    This is a witty and delightful adaptation of the Dr Seuss book, brilliantly animated by UPA's finest and thoroughly deserving of its Academy Award. Special mention should be made of the superb music score and sound effects, which are an integral element in helping to make this such a memorable and enjoyable cartoon. Later episodes in the series (of which there were four in total) were not actually based on original Dr Seuss material, although all but the last continued to use his familiar rhyming style. The three sequels were: Gerald McBoing Boing's Symphony (1953); How Now Boing Boing (1954); Gerald McBoing Boing On Planet Moo (1956) - although he also appeared in a later episode of Mr Magoo.
    10johnl3d

    great show of my early years

    MCBOING BOING is one of the cartoons that have stuck in my head over the years and finally decided to look into it as was pleasantly surprised and was also surprised on the people involved with the production. If I remember correctly we had to watch it on a UHF station and this meant using a converter in those days UHF not part of regular TV to tune in the local station to watch the cartoon a big deal in those days which made the show even more mysterious. I remember all the sound effects that Gerald used to talk. A great memory from 50+ years ago. I'll have to see what other memories might be hiding on the web. By the way I try to do computer animation thats where the johnl3d comes into the picture

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    Related interests

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    Animation
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
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    Short

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      In a 1994 poll of animators, film historians and directors (conducted by the animation historian Jerry Beck), this film was rated the ninth greatest cartoon short of all time.
    • Goofs
      At about five minutes the man from the radio station plays the three note NBC theme on a set of chime bars with three notes. When he strikes the bells, he goes from high to low in descending order, rather than playing the lowest, then the highest followed by the center bell. He repeats this about fifteen seconds later.
    • Quotes

      Narrator: This is the story of Gerald McCloy, and the strange thing that happened to that little boy. They say it all started when Gerald was two. That's the age kids start talking, least most of them do. Well, when he started talking, you know what he said? He didn't talk words, he went...

      [boing, boing]

      Narrator: ... instead.

    • Connections
      Edited into Columbia Pictures Cartoons: Volume 3 Gerald McBoing-Boing (1983)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • November 2, 1950 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Gerald McBoing Boing
    • Production company
      • United Productions of America (UPA)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 8m
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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