Sounds Like Fun Starring Gerald McBoing Boing [VHS]

Gerald McBoing-Boing, the endearing cartoon kid from the early '50s who could only speak in sound effects, has left an indelible mark on fans that remember him fondly from their youth. Gerald was the unique creation of Dr. Seuss, brought to life by United Productions of America as an animated cartoon. Though short-lived, the show was wildly popular and earned an Academy Award in 1951 for Best Animated Short Subject. With a nod to nostalgia, Gerald's back with this best-of collection of cartoons in classic colors and Seussian-style rhyme, ready to delight a new generation of youngsters. Four episodes ("Gerald McBoing-Boing," "Gerald McBoing-Boing's Symphony," How Now McBoing-Boing" and "Gerald McBoing-Boing on the Planet Moo"), directed by Robert Cannon with artwork by Mel Crawford, will fill in all the details of this sweet lad's life and his speech idiosyncrasy. "They say it all started when Gerald was 2/ The age kids start talking, at least most of them do/ Well when he started talking, you know what he said?/ He didn't talk words, he went BOING BOING instead!" Gerald's father is outraged, school children are curious, and poor Gerald is forlorn and ready to run away. Yet, our oddities can often become our greatest assets, which Gerald learns when he is hired to provide sound effects for the BONG BONG BONG radio station and then goes on to greater acclaim when he performs a one-man symphony. In another story, fans who remember the one-liner, "How Now Brown Cow" will relish the return of Professor Joyce, a speech specialist who attempts to find Gerald's voice with the help of an unscrambling machine from the telephone company. And finally, an alien planet seeks to do business with Earth, so they transport Gerald to Planet Moo so he can teach them our earthly language, Boing Boing! For many, this will be a sweet walk down memory lane--deliciously vintage Seuss. --Lynn Gibson