Horton Hatches the Egg

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Horton Hatches the Egg

Directed By: Bob Clampett Produced By: Leon Schlesinger Henry Binder (uncredited) Released: April 11, 1942 Series: Merrie Melodies Story: Michael Maltese (story) Dr. Seuss (book) Animation: Robert McKimson Izzy Ellis Thomas McKimson Phil Monroe Virgil Ross Rod Scribner Cornett Woods Layouts: Earl Klein Backgrounds: Richard H. Thomas Film Editor: Treg Brown Voiced By: Mel Blanc Sara Berner Kent Rogers Bob Clampett Frank Graham The Sportsmen Quartet Music: Carl W. Stalling Starring: Narrator Horton Mayzie Peter Lorre Fish Baby Mouse Hunters Preceded By: Saps in Chaps Succeeded By: Dog Tired

Blue Ribbon opening

Horton Hatches The Egg is a 1942 Merrie Melodies short directed by Bob Clampett. It was adapted from the Dr. Seuss book of the same name. Horton and the Peter Lorre fish were voiced by Kent Rogers. Mayzie and the elephant bird were voiced by Sara Berner. Frank Graham narrated. Mel Blanc performed most of the other voices.

Clampett's unit didn't use the customary storyboard, but added ideas for the cartoon in Clampett's copy of Seuss' book. Among the elements they added were:

• The opening paragraph, starting with "Now once in a jungle . . ." and ending with " . . . up in her tree."
• A nonsense song of the time, "The Hut-Sut Song" by Horace Heidt - Words and music by Leo V. Killion, Ted McMichael & Jack Owens, sung by Horton and his son.
• A fish caricature of Peter Lorre who commits suicide after seeing Horton on a boat
• Mayzie's breathy Katharine Hepburn impression.
• Mayzie unsuccessfully attempts to lure Horton using sex appeal.
• Several other bits of dialogue are omitted or rewritten.

Availability

• Laserdisc - The Golden Age of Looney Tunes, Vol. 1, Side 4: Bob Clampett
• VHS - The Golden Age of Looney Tunes, Vol. 4: Bob Clampett
• VHS - Looney Tunes: The Collectors Edition, Vol. 7: Welcome to Wackyland
• DVD - Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 6, Disc 4
• DVD - The Best of Dr. Seuss (bonus, USA Turner print)

Censorship

• The scene of the Peter Lorre fish seeing Horton on the boat and asiding to the audience, "Well, now I've seen everything" and shooting himself in the head was censored when it aired on TBS, TNT, The WB, and Cartoon Network (barring a showing on The Bob Clampett Show) and is now airing censored on Boomerang.
• The version of this cartoon shown on the TNT special In Search of Dr. Seuss redubs and re-edits the entire short.

Trivia

• This is the only Looney Tunes short based on a Dr. Seuss book.
• The original titles have been found but have not yet been restored for DVD.
• The AAP print uses the 1955-56 Merrie Melodies ending card for reasons unknown.
• The LaserDisc print changes the ending title to that of a 1949 or 1953-54 season ending ring scheme plastered with the 1946-55 Looney Tunes music for reasons unknown.
• The 2000 VHS of The Best of Dr Seuss shows the Turner "dubbed" version of this Blue Ribbon re issue as recorded on a TV airing, and includes the 1947-48 red rings and blue background end title, retaining the 1941-55 MM end music intact. However, the 2003 DVD of The Best of Dr Seuss, preserves the original Blue Ribbon re issue closing with the 1946-47 blue rings and red background, also retaining the 1941-55 MM end music intact. The 2008 DVD boxset of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 6 also retains the original Blue Ribbon re issue closing. 

Video

• http://www.toontube.com/video/2822/Horton-Hatches-the-Egg-1942