IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
A crash course on the history of Western musical instruments.A crash course on the history of Western musical instruments.A crash course on the history of Western musical instruments.
- Won 1 Oscar
- 2 wins total
The Mellowmen Quartet
- Singing Group
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Loulie Jean Norman
- Penelope Pinfeather
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Charlie Parlota
- Chorus Singer
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Bill Thompson
- Professor Owl
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
- …
Gloria Wood
- Suzy Sparrow
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis was the first animated cartoon in CinemaScope.
- Quotes
Owl: Today we're going to study about...
Boy bird: [looking at a comic book] Ancient history?
Susy Sparrow: Love and mystery?
Penelope Pinfeather: [writing on the blackboard] Mathematics?
Twin brothers: [balancing other students on their heads] Acrobatics?
Students: Readin', spellin'...
Bertie Birdbrain: Storytellin'?
Owl: No, no, no!
[bops Bertie on the head]
Owl: The study of musical instruments is the subject for today.
The Canary Sisters: [singing] The study of musical instruments is the subject for today!
- Alternate versionsBlack stereotypes have been cut from this short on the DVD version.
- SoundtracksA Toot And A Whistle And A Plunk And A Boom
Written by Sonny Burke & Jack Elliott
Featured review
I wanted to hate this film...
As I said above, I really wanted to hate this film...but I couldn't. The reason I wanted to give this film a savage review is that it represents a style of animation that I hate--the very modern and minimalistic animation that came into vogue in the 1950s and lasted through the 70s. Up until films like TOOT WHISTLE PLUNK AND BOOK and films by (uggh) UPA Studios, animation had been very detailed and higher quality. Gorgeous backgrounds and high frame-rates were the norm in the 40s and into the 50s with studios like Looney Tunes, MGM and Disney. But, with the success of very simplistic UPA films like Gerald McBoing-Boing and Mr. Magoo (beating out traditional films for Oscars AND costing a fraction to make), Disney decided to experiment with this splashier but tremendously easy style of animation. So, for the style of this film and what it represented, I wanted to hate the film.
The problem is that although I disliked the art, I couldn't help but like the film--even though it was quite educational. In fact, now that I finished the film, I am still amazed because I usually watch animation to have fun--not learn things! But, I found that I enjoyed the learning.
The film is about the basic parts of music and how all instruments fall within four broad categories--those that go 'toot', those that whistle, those that are plucked ('plunk') and those that are struck ('boom'). This may seem silly, but it really did make sense and made me understand and appreciate music a lot more. In particular, I learned why horns are all curvy and how a trumpet works--and that's really cool.
Overall, a great film to teach anyone (not just kids) about the fundamentals of music AND it does it in a way that isn't boring. Who would have thought this was possible?!
The problem is that although I disliked the art, I couldn't help but like the film--even though it was quite educational. In fact, now that I finished the film, I am still amazed because I usually watch animation to have fun--not learn things! But, I found that I enjoyed the learning.
The film is about the basic parts of music and how all instruments fall within four broad categories--those that go 'toot', those that whistle, those that are plucked ('plunk') and those that are struck ('boom'). This may seem silly, but it really did make sense and made me understand and appreciate music a lot more. In particular, I learned why horns are all curvy and how a trumpet works--and that's really cool.
Overall, a great film to teach anyone (not just kids) about the fundamentals of music AND it does it in a way that isn't boring. Who would have thought this was possible?!
- planktonrules
- Sep 17, 2009
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Toot Whistle Plunk and Boom
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime10 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom (1953) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer