Charlotte's Web/Trivia

• Disowned Adaptation: The Animated Adaptation made by Hanna-Barbera was despised by E.B. White, because he said that "the story is interrupted every few minutes so that somebody can sing a jolly song. I don't care much for jolly songs. The Blue Hill Fair, which I tried to report faithfully in the book, has become a Disney World, with 76 trombones. But that's what you get for getting embroiled in Hollywood." E.B. White's wife wrote a letter to Gene Deitch (who, ironically, is friends with E.B. White) in 1977 saying: "We have never ceased to regret that your version of Charlotte's Web never got made. The Hanna-Barbera version has never pleased either of us... a travesty..."
• Hey, It's That Guy!
  • 1973 film: Henry Gibson plays Wilbur, and Paul Lynde (who had previously lent his voice to other Hanna-Barbera works) plays Templeton.
  • 2006 film: Julia Roberts is Charlotte, Steve Buscemi is Templeton, Oprah Winfrey is a goose and Robert Redford is a horse.
• What Could Have Been: John Hubley (co-creator of Mr. Magoo) was originally slated to direct the animated version, but could not procure funding. The job was next given to Gene Deitch, who struck a friendship with White during his correspondence with him. According to his blog, Deitch was well aware that his version was doomed to Development Hell. The storyboard he sent to the producers was returned unopened.
  • In the 1973 version, Templeton was to have been voiced by Tony Randall but left the project as the directors wanted a more nasally voice. Paul Lynde's casting was based on a suggestion by Randall.