The Lorax
The Lorax
PG | 14 February 1972 (USA)

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The Once-ler, a ruined industrialist, tells the tale of his rise to wealth and subsequent fall, as he disregarded the warnings of a wise old forest creature called the Lorax about the environmental destruction caused by his greed.

Reviews
Stometer Save your money for something good and enjoyable
Ameriatch One of the best films i have seen
Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.
Manthast Absolutely amazing
TheBlueHairedLawyer When a little boy living in what appears to be a polluted brownfield pays a visit to a lonely and depressed industrialist, called the Once-ler, he tells the boy a story of how he polluted the earth cut down every last tree and drove the animals away, much to the annoyance of some sort of tree creature called the Lorax.This was made in 1972 around the time Silent Spring by Racheal Carson had come out, and around the time of the Love Canal disaster and the beginning of the environmental movement, so it's mostly a load of hippie propaganda making out businesses, factories and industry to be evil. And what's wrong with pollution, I love pollution, who cares about the planet? I litter, pour chemicals, don't ever recycle, and I'm proud of it! However, the difference between this and the 2012 animated film is that the animation was better, the voice acting is better, the characters are more planned out and rather than inserting crude humor and romance they stick to the book with this one.It is rather biased and one-sided, but it's not a bad cartoon for kids. But you know what would be nice? If nature and pollution could co-exist with none of this crazy hippie extremism.
Woodyanders Wise old forest creature the Lorax (beautifully voiced by Bob Holt) tries to warn greedy and ruthless industrialist the Once-ler (also voiced by Holt with suitably sinister aplomb) about the potential harm of chopping down all the trees in the woods he's the self-appointed protector of. Alas, the Once-ler doesn't listen to the Lorax's warning and eventually lots of severe irreparable harm is wrought on the woods. This TV special manages to persuasively articulate a pertinent ecological message in a humorous, yet still relevant and respectful way without ever becoming too preachy or heavy-handed. Yes, we still do have the trademark smart and witty wordplay, a wealth of lively and engaging songs, colorful and creative animation, and a certain playful air, but underneath all the deceptive silliness is a totally serious and heartfelt concern about the well being of the earth as well as a still timely and topical statement about the evils of deforestation, the dark side of so-called progress, and the savage damage beget by corporate avarice and amorality run dangerously amok. Indeed, the environmental havoc the Once-ler brings upon the land with his factory is profoundly grim and depressing to behold. The fact that this TV special's central message hasn't dated a bit speaks volumes about its considerable artistic merit. An excellent and admirable program.
iLuvvU2 Although a slightly silly film, as commented by another user, the Lorax is a revealing and relevant film. Released in the early 1970's when such issues were not publicly recognized, the film addresses perfectly the issue of the environment and natural resource depletion. The older generation feels that such a topic is not a pressing issue and needs not immediate attention. Perhaps that is why this "silly film" is aimed towards younger people, who will be impacted by its message and will not be too stubborn to make a change. The Lorax exemplifies this problem exactly, where the Once-ler feels that the economy and his own interests are more important then that of mother earth. God gave us one life, one planet. Act that way.
yehudit Well, of course it's good for kids--it's Dr. Seuss! Of course, he's for all ages, but that should have been a clue. I suppose adults can get something from Barney the Dinosaur (to use an extreme example) but it isn't really created for adults, is it.I'm curious: how old is the poster to whom I am replying? I ask because I sense that without a real understanding of the concerns of the '70s, this film might appear just a piece of outdated animation.While this film might seem simplistic, its timing was impeccable. It premiered at the moment that the original ecology movement had begun to touch the general populace, and it began with baby seals . . . and serious deforestation of US land. The true-life events and fears of that time were exactly as presented; in fact, this movie aired only that once (until decades later) because the lumber industry was powerful enough at the time to have it hidden on a back shelf. Imagine: they were that scared of the power of this message that Dr. Seuss created (ostensibly) for children.In any case, I was thrilled to find access to the movie as it is one of those pieces that defined my childhood in its era. Enjoy it for what it is or spend some time really watching it, but don't dismiss it so easily.