Werner Herzog Reads Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel

[2stunden]

@ipbalkenende Contrariwise ... it takes a healthy human to disguise such things (e.g. homosexual themes in children stories, or suppression of feelings themes, glorification of destructive authority etc) and courage to show it. Think Wilhelm Reich vs Sigmund Freud. Of course some ppl will always complain, and want to have the disguise back ... as shown by Alice Miller ...

[frankenstein1887]

These are are so wonderful. I just hope Klaus K. doesn't rise from the dead and shoot someone over this.

[glitteraddict44]

My father used to read this to me and my 3 older brothers all the time when we were little. I hated it. I always just thought they burned MaryAnn to death :L

[polymphus]

The ka mate haka: a primal, violent cry of conquest. Perhaps the conquest of man over nature? Just as the white man has taken a once proud dance for his rugby games, so does he pervert and deform the land with his machines.

[iReAcTzWorld]

The Mike Mulligan movie like defines my childhood.

[BurnSpangler]

i used to really like this story (when i was 5) now...im just sad

[straton9]

"... surrounded by his guilt, and Mary Anne's twisted, deformed remains."

[GameNinja13]

I wish it was abit louder...

[Cheshirecat55]

That was... Morbid.

[virginiaorganbuilder]

Perfect, perfect! Ever since I first heard this story at age six I lamented Mary Anne's ignominious end. A fine digging machine, stripped of all dignity...

[jbresland]

Sir, if you don't do the Giving Tree, I don't know how I will get on with my sorry little life.

[fox454x]

I read this book and I have it

[fox454x]

@MSFsean ??????

[MSFsean]

@fox454x sorry man

[mayakanthineela]

Need to marry you **busizz4me.info**

[mirthblaster36]

More, please!  These are hilarious!

[mirthblaster36]

I need more of these!!

[LingFu123]

Lmao

[begrackled]

R. Lee Ermey reads Madeline, maybe?

[radiofan6872]

I thought this was a really grim book when I was a kid. Herzog only confirms my suspicions.

[88pie88]

can do the work of a hungrad men in a viick

[gweipo]

Please please do Babar the Elephant!

[Cotundrem]

This video is so goddamn quiet!

[JFiannaca]

I read a book that was 95 % similar to this book but there were some small similarities anyone know what book I read ?

[abetterpepper]

@JFiannaca 95% similar but there were also some small similarities... So... would you say it was 100% similar? Was it.... Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel??

[pseudodionysis]

WTF!

[tsuyoshi15]

Wasn't there a cartoon version of this book?

[DirtyGarnet]

youtube.com/watch?v=QX_n-4lGGk­A

- Brand new Werner Herzog reading of the famous poem 'If' is located at the above link.

[diplipito11]

I am the same age as this book and readi it since I was five, including to my children. It is a happy story, showing how there is a place for old technology, in this case for a machine that receives a well-earned and functional retirement for a remarkable achievement. The story also demonstrates the psychological truth that we sometimes perform better if people are around to appreciate our endeavours. Only as an adult did I notice that the steam shovel is female.

Herzog has got it wrong.

[AppleCookie117]

@diplipito11 Haha come on man, he is not serious. He reads children's books and throws in dark twists. Besides, what any book means is completely subjective to the reader.

[imneatneatneat]

Oh my god, I loved that book when I was a kid!!!

[rick4318]

too quiet.

[SiLeNtPuNk1]

really love these but you need to boost the sound I can't hear it very well

on a laptop.

[jsl6554321]

This is my favorite one of the "Warner Herzog reads ___" so far. This was one of my favorite books as a child. Do "Little Black Sambo" next.

[saintdenis11]

I like the haka chants at the beginning and end of the video. Why? Because they are pointless and have nothing to do with the story. lol

[JoeMarman]

That sucked. Very boring, without a point and very depressing. Leave me alone to think of happier thoughts.

[benpapworth]

sir - you are a genius!

[StillKingToMe]

How about Ferdinand?!

[rapid638]

fuck man that is some heavy dark shit lol it kinda. made the rest of my day sad

[dragonclam1]

do twilight.... that would be epic. really think about it.

[sujuk1]

I think this one is the best so far!!! :)

[Fuzzy192006]

brilliant, so so so so so brilliant

[paxson001]

Hahahahaha, I'm never the type to laugh at the internets, but oh man, this just ravaged my childhood. Well done, "Warner." Hahahaha.

[Blossomadorable]

Hahaahaa these were all amazing! :D

[Zardoz151]

How about "Werner Herzog reads The Grinch"

[Juneappal]

May I suggest that you go back and re-read the early Babar books? I suspect that Werner might have some interesting observations about the taming of the metaphorical savage by elder white women (The Story of Babar) or about the polyannish attempt to create utopia by fiat (Babar the King.)

[pyllyeinari]

Of all the Werner Herzog impersonators you're by far my favorite one!

[flambagels]

please make more!

thank you!

[ivand1979]

Wow...I never thought I'd say this, but...Mike Mulligan is worse than Hitler.

Just wow.

[studebaker62]

Mike Mulligan's steam shovel was a MARION, not a Bucyrus!

[1955ke]

Idiot...there are simply no other words.

[UguyzRnerdZ]

ahahahaha rhis is funny shit.

[shatchett0]

Fucking awesome!

[sphinks714]

i had no idea this was so sad. i thought it was just a lighthearted story about a steam shovel and its operator....

but such is the tragic and inevitable march of time, knowing no rest but death.

[bernhardlermann]

So I did not get the joke. Again.

[ipbalkenende]

The 'joke' is a lighthearted children's story is turned into heavy depressing poetry by Werner Herzog. An underlying theme may be an intellectual's inability to refrain from over-analyzing simple things and finding depressing themes. A demonstration that ignorance is bliss.

[doombuggy84]

@ipbalkenende: your comment is 10X more enjoyable when read out loud in a Werner Herzog accent. yes, i really did that.

[spindlegold]

HA! It's true!

[howisbabbyformed]

@ipbalkenende it's awesome how you come off as even less fun than Werner Herzog

[Zellig]

@ipbalkenende I personally don't think it's 'over-analyzing'. It's being realistic. The true crime is to fill children's head with falsehoods that will inevitably be torn asunder before their crying eyes by the forces of reality.

[molecularash]

i love you, fake werner herzog

[dropintheforest]

Is this a spoof? Is this fellow a reverse climate snob? Or is this guy my uncle Henry Giguere who operated a steam shovel back in the 40's who had no idea its impact on the natural landscape?

[Guinnie]

LOL Great

[willnother]

does he say good night my klein zwiebel?

[hasslefactory]

@willnother: I believe he said "Good night, mein kleines Engel."

[RyanIverson]

Yeah, it's klein zwiebel. Good ear!

[hasslefactory]

@RyanIverson: that's great (and even better than kleines Engel)! Now please... please please PLEASE make more of these - they are fabulous. And two are just not enough. Hmmm.... how about The Velveteen Rabbit?

[RyanIverson]

@hasslefactory: There's another one coming. Not TVR, but I think you'll like it.

[Cheshirecat55]

@RyanIverson What does klein zwiebel mean?

[Waroftheworlds112]

@Cheshirecat55 Small onion.

[tomaitoe]

Seriously, these are brilliant! 

[estribillos]

I love the sign-offs on these, like that one. Sehr lustig

[bernhardlermann]

Sorry, but this is not the voice of Werner Herzog. Please compare to his documentary work

[sightergoliant]

Oh really? Really? This is not really Werner Herzog? Man, I'm glad there are people around to tell me things like this.

[qu1et]

Awesome! However, Bad Lieutenant was directed by Abel Ferrara.

[shiversjoe]

He directed the "kind-of" remake that came out last year.

[amarpai007]

But yeah I agree the audio is too low in the mix.

[amarpai007]

Brilliant.

[bunuelista]

This is a work of genius. Thank you!

[DevonDeFazio]

Why is this one so quiet?

[hcmcb4]

Terrific!

[datingwomensex]

RyanIverson, I think I got your point.

[iReima]

I am in awe with your captivating voice, sir.

[rockandrollmadonna]

you are a truly sick, beautiful and brilliant man. kudos.

[EthanMReeser]

These are amazing.

[UltraNurd]

Amazing. Truly, my childhood is over.

(This was my favorite book growing up.)

[br1991]

Brilliant.

[sidecarcomedy]

Woo!