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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 (This scene is often edited from most televised prints in the United States, including Cartoon Network, Boomerang, TBS, TNT and The WB)
- Mayzie's breathy Katharine Hepburn impression.
- Mayzie unsuccessfully attempts to lure Horton using sex appeal.
- Several other bits of dialogue are omitted or rewritten.
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.