Zuckermann's Farm – Wilbur im Glück (1973)

Zuckermann’s Farm – Wilbur im Glück: Directed by Charles A. Nichols, Iwao Takamoto. With Debbie Reynolds, Paul Lynde, Henry Gibson, Rex Allen. Wilbur is a farm pig who’s terrified that he’ll end up on the dinner table. His friend Charlotte, a charming spider, comes to his rescue. She weaves words into her web, convincing the farmer that Wilbur is too special a pig to kill.

“I was surprised to find that other reviewers here, especially an admirer of other Sherman u0026amp; Sherman songs such as those in Mary Poppins, would find the songs in Charlotteu0026#39;s Web to be u0026quot;inaneu0026quot;, u0026quot;not well writtenu0026quot;, u0026quot;worst songs ever penned for a movieu0026quot;, etc.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ePerhaps itu0026#39;s largely because the first song, u0026quot;You and Meu0026quot; (6:37) really is unpleasantly syrupy sweet and in the worst early 1970u0026#39;s sort of way, and one of the last ones, u0026quot;Some Pigu0026quot; (1:19:40), is a somewhat annoying marching band song that only a small child could really enjoy.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSome of the others arenu0026#39;t great either — u0026quot;Charlotteu0026#39;s Webu0026quot; (38:15) and u0026quot;Mother Earth and Father Timeu0026quot; (54:27, and reprised at 1:25:35) are both on the cloying side and unrewarding, and for adults require either patience or the fast-forward button.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut good musicals are measured by their best songs, not their worst. Bearing in mind that this is a childrenu0026#39;s movie, u0026quot;Chin Upu0026quot; (22:36) is absolutely magnificent and easily ranks with Sherman u0026amp; Shermanu0026#39;s best work. u0026quot;I Can Talku0026quot; (15:12) and u0026quot;Lots in Commonu0026quot; (30:50) are both excellent and timeless. u0026quot;Veritable Smorgasbordu0026quot; (58:50, and reprised at 1:11:36) is a lot of fun, though its fun depends a lot on the story, animation, and Lyndeu0026#39;s hysterical singing; it wouldnu0026#39;t stand on its own quite as well as the others.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSome of them are compromised to varying degrees by the goofy farmyard animal voices singing the songs, but only the most brain-dead Philistine would let that get in the way of enjoying a great childrenu0026#39;s song.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFor those reviewers who disliked the songs, it would be interesting to watch their faces while listening to u0026quot;Chin Upu0026quot; a couple times in a room full of children (after all, this is a childrenu0026#39;s movie), and then listen to them read their own words. I donu0026#39;t know how they could keep a straight face.”