The Cat in the Hat (TV special)
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The Cat in the Hat is a 1971 animated musical television special, based on the children's book of the same name, produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises (the studio famous for The Pink Panther titles and shorts). The special loosely follows the shell of the book's plot, but throws in some new material to fill out the show's 26-minute time slot.
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[edit] Plot
After the Cat makes his entrance and fools around a bit, the kids request that he leave. He does so, but then comes back in, claiming that his "moss-covered three-handled family grudunza" has been stolen, and he accuses the Fish, who is given the name Karlos K. Krinklebein in the special. The Cat sings a ballad about the loss of his treasured keepsake and then tries to describe it to the kids, even though they don't understand what he's talking about. The Cat then leads the kids on a search through the house, using his method of "Calculatus Eliminatus," which involves writing marks on every place they've already checked. This makes a mess of everything, and Mr. Krinklebein demands that the Cat leave, but it only prompts the Cat to sing another song, this one about feeling negative and self-loathing. Then he proceeds to put the cynical fish to sleep by singing a lullaby. Once that's done, he brings out Thing One and Thing Two, singing to the kids that "anything under the sun", all the while the Things play sports using Mr. Krinklebein's fishbowl as the ball/puck. (According to them, every house they visit has a pessimist fish.) Mr. Krinklebein then accuses the Cat of not being a real Cat ("Who ever heard of a 6 foot cat?!"), and his hat of not being a real hat. This cues arguably the wackiest song in the special, where the Cat sings out his name in practically every other language ("In French, chat chapeau/In Spanish, el gato en un sombrero."). The song becomes so catchy that everyone, even Krinklebein, joins in and contributes alternative translations for languages like Eskimo and Russian (the languages used throughout the song are English, French, Spanish, German, Eskimo and Russian). Just as they finish up the song, though, they hear the mother coming home. The Cat then proceeds to clean up the house, just like in the book. Just as he leaves, the mother returns, telling the kids that she just saw a Cat in a Hat "going down the street with a moss-covered three-handled family grudunza." Given that it was his only other possession at the time he walked into the house (hats, boxes and other nicknacks appearing out of thin air aside), it's assumed the that grudunza was actually the Cat's umbrella, which he had never lost at all - however, it may be the strange vehicle the Cat used to clean up the house.
[edit] DVD Release
The special is currently available on DVD (it was originally on VHS via CBS-Fox Video's Playhouse division). While the special faded somewhat into obscurity after its initial transmission, it was re-issued to coincide with the live action adaptation of the book. Since then it has gained a new-found appreciation, helped in no small part by the poor reception of the live action version.
[edit] Other Starring roles
Although the original book's sequel did not receive an animated adaptation, the Cat went on to appear in several more Dr. Seuss specials. In 1973, there came Dr. Seuss on the Loose, where Allan Sherman reprised his role as The Cat in the Hat. Here, The Cat in the Hat appeared in bridging sequences where he introduced animated adaptations of three other Seuss stories: The Sneetches, The Zax, and Green Eggs and Ham. Then, in 1982, there came The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat, where The Cat in the Hat, now voiced by Mason Adams, meets the title character of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and sets out to reform his new green adversary. Later, in 1995, the Cat appeared again, this time with the voice of Henry Gibson, to narrate Daisy - Head Mayzie, a special based on one of Dr. Seuss' lost works. Most recently, in 1996, he starred on the Muppet-like kids' show The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, where he was voiced and puppeteered by Bruce Lanoil.
[edit] Credits
[edit] Cast
- Allan Sherman as the voice of The Cat in the Hat
- Daws Butler as the voice of Karlos K. Krinklebein
- Tony Frazier as the voice of Conrad
- Pamelyn Ferdin as the voice of Sally
- Gloria Camacho as the voice of The boss
- Thurl Ravenscroft as the voice of Thing One
- Lewis Morford as the voice of Thing Two
[edit] Crew
- Music by: Dean Elliott
- Production Design by: Maurice Noble
- Directed by: Hawley Pratt
- Produced by: Chuck Jones and Ted Geisel
- Executive Producers: David H. DePatie and Friz Freleng
- Animation: Hal Ambro, Warren Batchelder, Manny Gould, George Nicholas, Manny Perez, Phil Roman, Robert Taylor, Don Williams
- Layout: Robert Givens, Dick Ung
- Background: Richard H. Thomas
- Camera: John Burton Jr., Ray Lee
- Film Editing: Lee Gunther, Roger Donley
- Production Supervision: Jim Foss
- Production Coordinator: Harry Love
- Music by: Dean Elliott, Lyrics by: Dr. Seuss
- Music Conducted by: Eric Rogers
- Music Recording Engineer: Eric A. Thomlinson
- Storyboard by: Chuck Jones
- Teleplay by: Dr. Seuss
[edit] Suess Debut
- This was the first DePatie Freleng/Dr.Seuss special for television and also the first for CBS.
[edit] External links
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