I loved that cartoon! I sometimes remember how he mistook a walrus for his mustachioed friend. And the time he poured gasoline through a funnel, thinking it was wine and that the funnel a glass. The fluid went right through, he raised the funnel to his lips and got nothing.
Thanks Kathleen. It is crazy how animation (and society) have moved together. Thanks as ever for reading and commenting. Liked to ‘cool focus’ part on a character with poor focus 😂
Originally, the live film producers were going to go with Bob Hoskins as Magoo- which would have worked better since Hoskins resembled him more closely.
Magoo at first seems to be a nearsighted old jerk, but the fact that he is an old man who does not allow his obvious disability to deter him from living life on his own terms makes him enduring- even if that creates comic complications for him! Backus was very well-cast in the part, so much so that every other actor who has taken up the role since his death seems miscast.
"Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" inspired NBC to schedule him in a regular program, making him one of the first prime-time animated stars. "The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo" had him amusingly cast in the lead role of many literary classics: Don Quixote (an appropriate choice), Dr. Watson, Ishmael in "Moby Dick", Gunga Din, and all seven of Snow White's dwarf friends! Alas, the show didn't last long on the air....
In the 1990s, Disney tried to revive him as a live-action character, with Leslie Nielsen portraying him, but the film flopped.
Great response. Indeed the film always a real flop which can often happen when it moves from animation to live action. Thanks as ever David for your insights.
I loved that cartoon! I sometimes remember how he mistook a walrus for his mustachioed friend. And the time he poured gasoline through a funnel, thinking it was wine and that the funnel a glass. The fluid went right through, he raised the funnel to his lips and got nothing.
"Dry. Real dry."
A real Classic of its time for sure. Thanks for reading.
I don't recall this one, but enjoyed learning more about it. Thanks! :)
Great choices! Thanks for reading
So fascinating the way we respond to animation as a culture (“people weren’t popular then” etc). Cool focus and thorough investigation. Thanks Jon!
Thanks Kathleen. It is crazy how animation (and society) have moved together. Thanks as ever for reading and commenting. Liked to ‘cool focus’ part on a character with poor focus 😂
Haha good one!
Asa 70s/80s kid, Mister Magoo was a fave! Right up there with Space Ghost and The Herculoids. Thanks for sharing this.
Originally, the live film producers were going to go with Bob Hoskins as Magoo- which would have worked better since Hoskins resembled him more closely.
Very true, I think Bob Hoskins is very English (London) though so it would have been interesting to see how that would have gone
Magoo at first seems to be a nearsighted old jerk, but the fact that he is an old man who does not allow his obvious disability to deter him from living life on his own terms makes him enduring- even if that creates comic complications for him! Backus was very well-cast in the part, so much so that every other actor who has taken up the role since his death seems miscast.
"Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" inspired NBC to schedule him in a regular program, making him one of the first prime-time animated stars. "The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo" had him amusingly cast in the lead role of many literary classics: Don Quixote (an appropriate choice), Dr. Watson, Ishmael in "Moby Dick", Gunga Din, and all seven of Snow White's dwarf friends! Alas, the show didn't last long on the air....
In the 1990s, Disney tried to revive him as a live-action character, with Leslie Nielsen portraying him, but the film flopped.
Great response. Indeed the film always a real flop which can often happen when it moves from animation to live action. Thanks as ever David for your insights.
David:
It was the live-action character which introduced me to the Magoo concept.