McCartney has come in for a lot of stick about the Frog Song: in my view this is unfair because the piece suits this movie perfectly. So, plotwise, there isn't a lot going on, but that doesn't matter: the atmosphere is nicely conjured up, and the centrepiece is the Frog Song itself. Rupert foils an attack by an owl and a couple of cats, then goes home. McCartney and animation director collaborator Geoff Dunbar turn this into a small story where Rupert, out for a walk, stumbles upon a mass gathering of frogs who are collected together to celebrate, in song, the attendance of the Frog King and Queen. Above everything, it is very, very English. If you spend much time in Nutwood, you will discover (among other things) a Chinese Pekinese dog/person who lives in a pagoda, a reclusive scientist with a dwarf helper who has seven league boots, an underground terminus for an elf railway and all sorts of other elements which manage to be both mundane and quietly demented at the same time. They joy of Rupert (who was as important to my childhood as he was to McCartney's) is the magical combination of the familiar and the bizarrely unexpected: Rupert lives in Nutwood, a bucolically idyllic representation of between-the-wars rural England, populated (without comment) by a mixture of normal people and anthropomorphic animal/people like Rupert himself. Paul McCartney finally achieved his cherished aim of making a movie short about Rupert Bear, the much-loved subject of the Daily Express daily story strip and annuals. This shouldn't be missed in the collection of any lover of classic animated movies and shorts. In other words, the artwork is excellent.
#Rupert and the frogs full#
It's a rich production full of graceful details, beautiful backgrounds, well drawn characters and most everything else is perfectly drawn and painted. This animated short is wonderful and very artistic. Aside that, there's absolutely nothing dark about this. A music of suspense plays when they appear. The only characters that give a minor dark side to this short are the Barn Owl and the two black cats. We also see frogs in balloons and the King Frog and the Queen Frog rising out of the water in a moment of glory. All of this at the sound of the cheerful song "We All Stand Together". What happens next is something to live forever in our hearts and memories: a show of music and dance only by frogs. The 3 signs he reads are very clear about that: «Frogs only beyond this point», «Everything except frogs must be kept on a lead» and «Guard frogs operating».
He enters silently, despite being a forbidden place for other animals. He also lives a small adventure by finding a place that is only for frogs. He relaxes in a peaceful environment and appreciates everything surrounding him. Enchanted by the pure beauty of nature, he goes for a trip to the hills. Rupert Bear (the popular humanoid bear originally created in 1920) is the protagonist of this short. The album includes one of Paul McCartney's best songs ever, "No More Lonely Nights". This short was released theatrically in 1984 as an accompaniment to Sir McCartney's feature film and soundtrack album "Give My Regards to Broad Street".
It's one of the many animated shorts I grew up with. Paul McCartney also voices some of the characters, including Rupert. This was produced by the ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney (his wife back then). An excellent alternative to the Disney's shorts, being enchanting, magical, sweet and a timeless classic. Singing voices for the frog chorus were supplied by The St. The result for this small gem was a much deserved British Academy Award. Not only did he co-author the storyline and executive co-produce (sharing both duties with wife Linda), Sir Paul also wrote & composed the very cheerful song 'We All Stand Together,' performed several of the speaking voices and arranged the music with Sir George Martin. Sir Paul McCartney took on the project of creating RUPERT AND THE FROG SONG as a true labor of love. It is precisely these qualities which this film so perfectly grasps. Since his inception, Rupert has personified the gentle joys & sweet innocence of childhood. Rupert was created by artist Mary Tourtel in 1920 and he has won generations of fans who eagerly follow his continuing adventures in the Daily Express newspaper. Beginning subtly, it moves toward a dramatic climax during the Frog Song - exuberantly achieving its emotional apex with kaleidoscopic color & lilting sound. RUPERT AND THE FROG SONG is an utterly charming little film which should not fail to delight the most jaded viewer. An inquisitive young bear wanders into the hills where he chances upon a splendid musical performance staged only once every couple of hundred years - by frogs.
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