Milo's Theme - The Phantom Tollbooth (1970)

The delightfully sub-Bacharach opening theme to the children's film, The Phantom Tollbooth.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• milo
• milo's theme
• the phantom tollbooth
• bacharach

[thehappiestcamper]

Sheesh, how far away is that kid's school, and why on earth does he have to walk through all of that craziness? lol XD

[CharlestonChica]

Somtimes I feel like Milo. Ironically, this song puts me in a good mood

[BorisandPhilip]

0:04 Bugs Bunny!

[lafont720]

@thehappiestcamper because it was 1969 and he was in San Fran

[NeluThat70sKid]

Even Jones vaguely mentions this in his 1989 autobiography as "a critical success, a box office question mark", without providing any info or full color plates in the photo insert. Still a genuine classic in my book and for anyone who wants to re-live the 60's and 70's all over again :)

[NeluThat70sKid]

FUN MOVIE, great eye candy!!! And sure, the opening number sounds partly like Bachrach, but sounds way more like (one of my faves) the Fifth Dimension's "Up, Up, and Away". :) Too bad the soundtrack isn't out, it really is catchy and laid-back. :)

However, it is also downright sad MGM lacked the financial resources to promote the movie because it was on the verge of bankruptcy throughout the 1960's. Such a bona fide gem of Chuck Jones' pure genius gone unnoticed....

[dottiedots221]

@IDLERACER oh i had no idea. thats sad :(

[computergeek941]

@IDLERACER Not to mention the financial problems MGM was having in the late 60s... that probably contributed to it as well.

[computergeek941]

@IDLERACER What probably happened is that they filmed this scene, as well as the ending when he comes back home, in the mid-60s and then took several years to finish the animated part.

[hollisterocksxx]

@Profclouseau DUDE SAME!! WE just did the play yesterday! I was a minister, and a soldier! My bestfriend was a lethargian and demon tho!

[IDLERACER]

One of the silver screen's great mysteries, is the exact date in which this scene was filmed. Butch Patrick was born in 1953, "The Phantom Tollbooth" was released in 1970, and yet, he is clearly much younger than seventeen here. If someone out there can identify the years, makes & models of the cars and trucks in the background, it might help shed some light on the conundrum. Incidentally, Lee Pockriss, who co-wrote this tune, died just last week at the age of 87.