The Story of Ferdinand

The Story of Ferdinand

"The Story of Ferdinand" (1936) is the best-known work written by American author Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson. The children's book tells the story of a bull who would rather smell flowers than fight in bullfights. He sits in the middle of the bull ring failing to take heed of any of the provocations of the matador and others to fight.

The book was released at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, and so was seen by many supporters of Francisco Franco as a pacifist book. It became a target of the right wing, being banned in many countries, and—perhaps because of that suppression—was promoted by many on the left. It was one of the few non-Communist books promoted in Soviet-occupied Poland.

Leaf is said to have written the story on a whim in an afternoon in 1935, largely to provide his friend, illustrator Robert Lawson (then relatively unknown) a forum in which to showcase his talents.

The story was also cited by many former critics of U.S. intervention in World War II after Pearl Harbor to explain their change of heart.

The story was adapted by Walt Disney as a short animated film entitled "Ferdinand the Bull" in 1938 , in a style similar to his "Silly Symphonies" series (and sometimes considered an unofficial part of that series). "Ferdinand the Bull" won the 1938 Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Cartoons).

Singer-songwriter Elliott Smith had a tattoo of Ferdinand the Bull, from the cover of Munro Leaf's book, on his right upper arm, which is visible on the cover of his record "either/or". The rock band Fall Out Boy named their third album "From Under The Cork Tree" after a phrase in the book. [cite web | url = http://www.thesyn.com/college/general7/fall_tracks.asp | title = Fall Out Boy—"From Under The Cork Tree" | year = 2005 | accessdate = 2007-05-14 | publisher = The Syndicate | quote = When he was a little boy, Fall Out Boy bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz enjoyed reading "Curious George," "Babar" and Richard Scarry, but his favorite children's book was "The Story of Ferdinand" by Munro Leaf. The story (...) was so inspirational to Wentz that he titled the band's breakthrough record From Under the Cork Tree.]

Richard Horvitz commented that fellow actor and friend Fred Willard performed this story as a 5th grade class play when Fred was a child.

References

External links

* [http://www.disneyshorts.org/years/1938/ferdinandthebull.html Ferdinand the Bull] , in the Encyclopedia of Disney Animated Shorts


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ferdinand the Faithful and Ferdinand the Unfaithful — is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, tale number 126. [Jacob and Wilheim Grimm, Household Tales , [http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/authors/grimms/126ferdinandfaithful.html Ferdinand the Faithful ] ] It is Aarne Thompson type …   Wikipedia

  • The Story of Pretty Goldilocks — or The Beauty with Golden Hair is a French literary fairy tale written by Madame d Aulnoy. [Marie Catherine Baronne D Aulnoy, The Fairy Tales of Madame D Aulnoy. Miss Annie Macdonell and Miss Lee, translators. Clinton Peters, illustrator. London …   Wikipedia

  • Ferdinand der Stier — Ferdinand, der Stier, als Skulptur auf Helgö in Schweden, 2008. Ferdinand, der Stier ist der deutsche Titel des Kinderbuchs The Story of Ferdinand des US amerikanischen Autors Munro Leaf (1905 1976). Inhaltsverzeichnis …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Ferdinand, der Stier (Kinderbuch) — Ferdinand, der Stier, als Skulptur auf Helgö in Schweden, 2008. Ferdinand, der Stier ist der deutsche Titel des Kinderbuchs The Story of Ferdinand des US amerikanischen Autors Munro Leaf (1905 1976). Inhaltsverzeichnis …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Ferdinand the Bull — Ferdinand le taureau Ferdinand le taureau est un court métrage d animation américain réalisé par Walt Disney Productions, sorti le 25 novembre 1938[1]. Ce film se base sur l histoire The Story of Ferdinand (1936) de Munro Leaf et illustrée par… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ferdinand le taureau — est un court métrage d animation américain réalisé par Walt Disney Productions, sorti le 25 novembre 1938[1]. Ce film se base sur l histoire The Story of Ferdinand (1936) de Munro Leaf et illustrée par Robert Lawson[1] …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ferdinand (Begriffsklärung) — Ferdinand steht für: Ferdinand, ein männlicher Vorname – siehe dort zu Namensträgern zu Herrschern und Prinzen siehe Liste der Herrscher namens Ferdinand, Liste der Prinzen namens Ferdinand Ferdinand (Mond), Mond des Planeten Uranus, 2003… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • The Cry (book) — Jane Collier s and Sarah Fielding s The Cry: A New Dramatic Fable (1754) was Collier s second and final work. The work is a allegorical and satirical novel. Collier worked with Fielding previously when Collier wrote An Essay on the Art of… …   Wikipedia

  • Ferdinand — Infobox Given Name Revised name = Ferdinand imagesize= caption= pronunciation= gender = meaning = region = origin = Germanic related names = footnotes = Ferdinand is a Germanic given name composed of the words for prepared / protection / safety… …   Wikipedia

  • Ferdinand, der Stier (Film) — Filmdaten Deutscher Titel Ferdinand, der Stier Originaltitel Ferdinand the Bull …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”