The Time Machine (1960), starring Rod Taylor, Alan Young, Yvette Mimieux, by George Pal
In this adaptation of H.G. Wells’ classic novel, The Time Machine, a scientist in 1880s Victorian England builds a vehicle to transport him through time. He first travels to 1917 and the horror of World War I. Next, he sets his destination for 1940 and the start of World War II. From there he travels to a future London when he barely escapes nuclear holocaust. Finally, he sets his destination for the year 802,701 C.E., when he meets an innocent race of people living in an idyllic land … but this future may be the most dangerous of all his journeys in The Time Machine.
Here Comes Peter Cottontail (1971) starring Casey Kasem, Danny Kaye
Here Comes Peter Cottontail is the classic Rankin-Bass animated TV special that you likely remember from your childhood. It’s the story of young Peter Cottontail (Casey Kasem) who wants to be the new Chief Easter Bunny. He’s young, irresponsible, and prone to fibbing …. But he has a good heart, and with a little maturity, he will make a fine chief Easter Bunny. Unless the villainous Irontail (Vincent Price) can stop it!
The Man Called Flintstone(1966) starring the voice talents of Alan Reed, Mel Blanc, Harvey Korman
One of my favorite childhood movies was The Man Called Flintstone. Released after the end of the original TV series, it uses the well-worn plot line of Fred being an identical duplicate of some “important” person. In this case, secret agent Rock Slagg. Slagg’s boss, Chief Mountmore, decides to use Fred to complete Slagg’s mission. To capture of the evil criminal genius, the Green Goose (voiced with glee by Harvey Korman) …. Before he can take over the world.
Gay Purr-ee (1962) starring Judy Garland, Robert Goulet, Red Buttons, Paul Frees
Gay Purr-ee is often remembered as the animated cartoon with the voice of Judy Garland …. But it’s quite frankly a lot more than that. It takes a simple story: The farm girl who runs away to the big city in search of happiness, only to find that she was truly happy back home after all. And tells it in the setting of a musical, with the main characters all being cats.
Here Comes Peter Cottontail (1971), starring Danny Kaye, Vincent Price, Paul Frees
Editorial review of Here Comes Peter Cottontail courtesy of Amazon.com
Have you ever wished for a classic Easter special to show your kids? Here Comes Peter Cottontail is a Rankin & Bass production that bears a marked similarity to the beloved Santa Claus Is Coming to Town. Narrator Seymour S. Sassafrass, voiced and sung by Danny Kaye, takes young viewers on a tour of the mythical April Valley and relates the story of how Peter Cottontail almost failed in his quest to become Chief Easter Bunny. Sassafrass peers into his magic egg, and viewers are introduced to Peter Cottontail–a spunky, ingenious young rabbit who is boastful, is prone to fibbing, and lacks a sense of responsibility.
In order to become Chief Easter Bunny, Peter Cottontail must defeat the evil Irontail (Vincent Price) in a contest to deliver the most eggs on Easter Sunday. Through his trials, Peter Cottontail discovers the value of ingenuity, the importance of placing duty before pleasure, and the folly of self-conceit. Here Comes Peter Cottontail features catchy songs, great 1970s stop-motion animation, and a fun Easter tale. Parents will find themselves reminiscing over holidays gone by or wondering how they missed this show in their own childhood. The 2 and up crowd will be begging for another showing long after the Easter candy is a distant memory
