Gerald McBoing-Boing

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

2.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 1 Oscar
- 3 wins total

Top cast2

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Marvin Miller

Narrator
(voice)

Bob Holt

Various
(uncredited)

Directors
- Robert Cannon
- John Hubley
Writers
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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
Featured in The Gerald McBoing-Boing Show: A Horse of Course/The Invisible Moustache of Raoul Dufy/Miserable Pack of Wolves (1956)

This Oscar-winning adaptation of a Dr. Seuss book focuses on a boy whose speech consists entirely of sound effects. It initially looks as if the tyke is going to spend his whole life as an outcast, but there's something else in store. "Gerald McBoing-Boing" hilariously reminds us that we don't all have to be the same; even a person who "talks funny" still has value as an individual. I will say that the UPA cartoons (known for limited animation) aren't as impressive as, say, the Bugs Bunny cartoons, but on its own, this one is a fine piece of art. I wouldn't expect anything less from a Dr. Seuss book. I just hope that they don't try to butcher it with a feature adaptation like they did with "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "The Cat in the Hat".