Gerald McBoing Boing
From Columbia and UPA films, Gerald McBoing Boing was an Academy Award Winner in 1951. For such a highly regarded short, it is not rated high at BCDB. What do you think, is this worthy of an Oscar, or is the BCDB rating justified?
Gerald, who doesn’t speak words but goes “boing boing” instead, finds his talents unappreciated by family and friends, and so he runs away from home. However, a kindly radio station boss is quick to spot his potential…
At age 2, the little boy, instead of starting to talk, produces sound effects. The desperate father calls on Dr. Malone, who, after examining Gerald, declares that there’s nothing he can do. The parents are constantly being scared by Gerald, so they send him to school, hoping that he’ll learn words, but he’s sent home. When he tries to play with boys and girls, he’s rejected.
Depressed, Gerald runs away from home, but he’s found by a radio program producer, who hires him to do sound effects for his programs. As the announcer describes the action, Gerald produces the appropriate sound effects, using a script. He becomes a big hit, signing autographs for his fans, and his now-proud parents accompany him in a gigantic new car.
In 1995, Gerald McBoing Boing was one of 25 films added by the Library of Congress’ National Film Preservation Board to the National Film Registry.
European title: “The Boing-Boing Boy in Planet Moo.”
