a few notes about Charlotte's Web 1973
It's an old movie but its definitely a goody.. I have so many fond memories from watching this movie as a child. Re-watching it recently seriously gave me the feels. The music is fantastic and the story is compelling. However it's kinda harsh! I mean a lot of it is glossed over because it's a children's movie but I couldn't help but acknowledge a few things that I never thought of back then.
1. Charlotte's Web is true survival story. As soon as he was born, Wilbur was selected to be taken out by Fern's father. Wilbur was too little. A runt. According to him "a weakling can make trouble." Darwinism at its' finest. Courageous Fern, probably no older than 12, runs out of her house at the crack of dawn to stop the slaughter. Her compassion is commendable but I can't but help wonder how this hasn't happened before. I mean they live on a farm. Ferns father suggests Fern raise Wilbur, so she can see how much trouble a runt can be. Talk about size-ism.
2. Wilbur is anything but trouble. He's sweet and loving and Fern sings to him and takes him in a stroller and loves him. Guess that backfired Dad.
3. Papa ain't with it. When Wilbur reaches two weeks old Papa demands Wilbur start sleeping outside. At six weeks Wilbur is big and it's hard to imagine he was once a runt. Papa decides it's time for Wilbur to be "sold". Fern cries her eyes out. So does Wilbur, it's quite sad actually. Papa never mentioned this stipulation and don't they live on a farm? Why does he have to go so soon? And what about Wilburs' birth mama? She's never mentioned.
4. Luckily Wilbur is sold just down the street to Fern's uncle; Homer Zuckermans' farm. He meets the Goose who is currently sitting on her eggs and repeats her words obnoxiously.
"Can't you talk talk talk?"
"you're welcome, welcome welcome"
Can you say annoying, annoying, ANNOYING.
5. Wilbur goes from zero to a hundred-real quick. He arrives on the farm completely mute. With prompting from his annoying friend he goes from not being able to say his own name to giving us a stellar and wordy song with dope ass lyrics in a matter of seconds.
I pop with perspicacity/I'm loaded with loquacity/My localized veracity it tops/Grammatically each pit of me is the verbalized epitome/My plethora of patter never stops
Not sure if children can sing along to this one
6.Their is caste system on the farm. The Sheep is an elite and doesn't hesitate to tell Wilbur that the two species do not fraternize. He tells Wilbur about his fate.
"It's only a matter of time until they kill you. Turn you into smoked bacon."
7. Wilbur panics. He has a total meltdown screaming
"I don't wanna die! I don't wanna die. I want to breathe in the beautiful air and lie in the beautiful sun." It's sad. :(
8. Luckily Wilbur has a friend watching him from up above. Charlotte vows to help Wilbur save his life. This is a pretty heavy promise to make for someone who is a visible spider and can get killed at any moment. Our Charlotte is a clever girl and starts planning how to spare his life.
9. It took about six weeks for Charlotte to think of a way to save Wilbur's life, but it was worth the wait. Charlotte's plan was pretty awesome, to have a word spelled out in the web. Their was a ton of publicity over it. The whole town talked about it. Everyone called it a miracle. Where are skeptics at, ready to call this a hoax? Something like this is supposed to be impossible.
11. The next day Wilbur overhears the farmer and another talking about Wilbur.
"You'll be getting some EXTRA GOOD ham and bacon from that pig."
Seems Zuckerman still plans on eating him, he's even excited about it. Wilbur faints and Charlotte holds a meeting to brainstorm. She needs a really great buzzword to save Wilbur now.
12. We find out how much of a savage Charlotte is. She tricks Templeton, the rat, into almost getting killed by a cat because he blows her off during the meeting. He goes off to dig through trash looking for a fancy word on a label.
13. Charlotte writes another word and it works, well sort of. Zuckerman takes Wilbur to the county fair. To be judged. In a pig contest?
14. At the fair, Charlotte, being a spider, is getting old. She performs one last time for Wilbur and lays her eggs. She's tired....
15. The next morning everyone is ranting and raving over yet another miracle. But among the chaos Ferns' brother realizes the pig contest is over. The first prize went to an enormous spotted pig in a different pen. We was robbed. If miracle's cant help Wilbur I don't know what will.
16. Although Wilbur didn't win, he is escorted with the Zuckermans by the house band for a special ceremony in his honor. An acapella group sing a lovely song using all the words that were in Charlotte's web. The song is called Zuckermans Famous Pig. Homer is awarded a cash prize of twenty five dollars(oh boy) and Wilbur is given the bronze medal. Even as a child I always wondered...who got silver?
17. The proud Mr. Zuckerman announces, to the entire town, he will not be eating Wilbur after all. Charlottes' plan worked.
18. Wilbur thanks his special friend, the spider and she says it was her pleasure to save him. She won't make the trip home. She's too weak. Wilbur enlists Templeton to grab her egg sack and put it in his crate. We say good bye to Charlotte.
19. The next Spring the eggs hatch and hundreds of spiders come out and immediately leave the eager Wilbur behind. Three stay behind. Wilbur vows to look after them.
20. I can't help but wonder...will Zuckerman buy another pig. Will it now be Wilbur's turn to save another. I want an update!
Wilbur's story was a touching one. Destined to die from birth he was saved not once, not twice, but many times by his good friends. His good friend Charlotte dedicated her life to make sure he didn't end up on Zuckermans dinner table. Friendship is a beautiful thing and it has the power to save lives.
Charlotte’s Web
1. Charlotte's Web is true survival story. As soon as he was born, Wilbur was selected to be taken out by Fern's father. Wilbur was too little. A runt. According to him "a weakling can make trouble." Darwinism at its' finest. Courageous Fern, probably no older than 12, runs out of her house at the crack of dawn to stop the slaughter. Her compassion is commendable but I can't but help wonder how this hasn't happened before. I mean they live on a farm. Ferns father suggests Fern raise Wilbur, so she can see how much trouble a runt can be. Talk about size-ism.
 |
| papa, the almost-execuitoner |
 |
| Fern, can you be my mommy? |
 |
| It's so hard to say goodbye |
"Can't you talk talk talk?"
"you're welcome, welcome welcome"
Can you say annoying, annoying, ANNOYING.
5. Wilbur goes from zero to a hundred-real quick. He arrives on the farm completely mute. With prompting from his annoying friend he goes from not being able to say his own name to giving us a stellar and wordy song with dope ass lyrics in a matter of seconds.
I pop with perspicacity/I'm loaded with loquacity/My localized veracity it tops/Grammatically each pit of me is the verbalized epitome/My plethora of patter never stops
Not sure if children can sing along to this one
6.Their is caste system on the farm. The Sheep is an elite and doesn't hesitate to tell Wilbur that the two species do not fraternize. He tells Wilbur about his fate.
"It's only a matter of time until they kill you. Turn you into smoked bacon."
 |
| look at this smug bastard |
"I don't wanna die! I don't wanna die. I want to breathe in the beautiful air and lie in the beautiful sun." It's sad. :(
9. It took about six weeks for Charlotte to think of a way to save Wilbur's life, but it was worth the wait. Charlotte's plan was pretty awesome, to have a word spelled out in the web. Their was a ton of publicity over it. The whole town talked about it. Everyone called it a miracle. Where are skeptics at, ready to call this a hoax? Something like this is supposed to be impossible.
 |
| Miracle alert!
10.To seal the deal Charlotte decides to make another note in her web. The next morning a farm hand is going crazy
"Mr. Zuckerman! ANOTHER MIRACLE!" again their is more press and an even bigger crowd.
|
"You'll be getting some EXTRA GOOD ham and bacon from that pig."
Seems Zuckerman still plans on eating him, he's even excited about it. Wilbur faints and Charlotte holds a meeting to brainstorm. She needs a really great buzzword to save Wilbur now.
12. We find out how much of a savage Charlotte is. She tricks Templeton, the rat, into almost getting killed by a cat because he blows her off during the meeting. He goes off to dig through trash looking for a fancy word on a label.
13. Charlotte writes another word and it works, well sort of. Zuckerman takes Wilbur to the county fair. To be judged. In a pig contest?
 |
| A proud Zuckerman announcing he will bring Wilbur to the fair |
15. The next morning everyone is ranting and raving over yet another miracle. But among the chaos Ferns' brother realizes the pig contest is over. The first prize went to an enormous spotted pig in a different pen. We was robbed. If miracle's cant help Wilbur I don't know what will.
16. Although Wilbur didn't win, he is escorted with the Zuckermans by the house band for a special ceremony in his honor. An acapella group sing a lovely song using all the words that were in Charlotte's web. The song is called Zuckermans Famous Pig. Homer is awarded a cash prize of twenty five dollars(oh boy) and Wilbur is given the bronze medal. Even as a child I always wondered...who got silver?
17. The proud Mr. Zuckerman announces, to the entire town, he will not be eating Wilbur after all. Charlottes' plan worked.
18. Wilbur thanks his special friend, the spider and she says it was her pleasure to save him. She won't make the trip home. She's too weak. Wilbur enlists Templeton to grab her egg sack and put it in his crate. We say good bye to Charlotte.
 |
| Charlotte, getting her rest |
19. The next Spring the eggs hatch and hundreds of spiders come out and immediately leave the eager Wilbur behind. Three stay behind. Wilbur vows to look after them.
20. I can't help but wonder...will Zuckerman buy another pig. Will it now be Wilbur's turn to save another. I want an update!
Wilbur's story was a touching one. Destined to die from birth he was saved not once, not twice, but many times by his good friends. His good friend Charlotte dedicated her life to make sure he didn't end up on Zuckermans dinner table. Friendship is a beautiful thing and it has the power to save lives.
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