Horton Hatches the Egg (film)

Horton Hatches the Egg is a 1942 American animated short film by Leon Schlesinger Productions, based on the 1940 book by Dr. Seuss, and released as part of Warner Bros.' Merrie Melodies series. The short was directed by Bob Clampett and was the first film adaptation based on a Seuss book.

Plot
Mayzie, a lazy, irresponsible bird, convinces an elephant named Horton to sit on her egg while she takes a "short break". However, free of her commitment, she relocates to Palm Beach.

As Horton sits in the nest on top of a tree, he is exposed to the elements, laughed at by his jungle friends, captured by hunters, forced to endure a terrible sea voyage, and finally placed in a traveling circus. Despite his hardships and Mayzie's clear intent not to return, Horton refuses to leave the nest because he insists on keeping his word, often repeating, "I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful, one hundred percent!"

The traveling circus arrives near Mayzie's new Palm Beach residence. She visits the circus just as the egg is due to hatch, after 51 weeks in Palm Beach, and demands that Horton return it, without offering him a reward. However, when the egg hatches, the creature that emerges is an "elephant-bird", a cross between Horton and Mayzie, and Horton and the baby are returned happily to the jungle, while Mayzie is punished for her laziness by ending up with absolutely nothing, much to her horror and anger.

Voice cast

 * Kent Rogers as Horton the Elephant / Rosebud the Mouse / Fish / Giraffe
 * Sara Berner as Mayzie the Bird / Elephant-Bird
 * Frank Graham as Narrator / Tall Hunter
 * Mel Blanc as Horton sneezing / Small Hunter
 * Bob Clampett as Medium Hunter
 * Bill Days, Max Smith, Thurl Ravenscroft, John Rarig, Paul Taylor as Vocal Singing Group

Home media

 * (1991) LaserDisc – The Golden Age of Looney Tunes, Vol. 1, Side 4: Bob Clampett
 * (1991) VHS – The Golden Age of Looney Tunes, Vol. 4: Bob Clampett
 * (1999) VHS – Looney Tunes: The Collectors Edition, Vol. 7: Welcome to Wackyland (USA 1995 Turner print)
 * (2000) VHS – The Best of Dr. Seuss (USA 1995 Turner print)
 * (2003) DVD – The Best of Dr. Seuss
 * (2008) DVD – Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 6, Disc 4
 * (2008) DVD – Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who Deluxe Edition