Horton the Elephant (amiably voiced by Hans Conried) discovers a microscopic community called Whoville living in a speck of dust. Alas, Horton can't convince the other skeptical animals in the jungle that Whoville really exists. The second TV special team-up by master animator Chuck Jones and renowned children's book author Dr. Seuss (the first was the terrific yuletide classic "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"), this program offers a great deal of infectiously offbeat and imaginative fun for the whole family. The catchy rhymes, the bright, colorful animation, Eugene Poddany's jaunty, merry score, the charming songs, the engagingly quirky characters, the constant zippy pace, the warm, upbeat tone, the heartening conclusion, a strong moral about the power of free speech and democracy, and the nice central message about how there's much more to life than just the obvious and what you already know all make this tale an absolute joy to watch. Moreover, Conried makes for a pleasingly folksy narrator, June Foray does double duty as the haughty Jane Kangaroo and the adorable Cindy Lou Who, and Thurl Ravenscroft lends his great rumbling deep voice as one of the evil singing gorilla Wickersham Brothers. A real treat.
Review of Horton Hears a Who!
Horton Hears a Who!
(1970 TV Movie)
A very charming and delightful show
3 January 2008
Warning: Spoilers