Big Kids movie night
The Trumpet of the Swan
The story
The Trumpet of the Swan is a 2001 American animated drama film produced by Nest Family Entertainment and RichCrest Animation Studios, directed by Richard Rich and Terry L. Noss, starring Jason Alexander, Mary Steenburgen, Reese Witherspoon, Seth Green, Carol Burnett and Joe Mantegna, produced by TriStar Pictures, Nest Family Entertainment and RichCrest Animation Studios and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. The film had a limited release on May 11, 2001, before having a wide release on June 22, 2001. The film received negative reviews from critics and grossed $628,387.
Premise
Based on E. B. White's popular children's book of the same name, it tells the story of a young trumpeter swan who is born with muteness and is vying for the attention of a beautiful pen. He overcomes this by learning to play the trumpet.
Cast
Dee Bradley Baker as Louie
Jason Alexander as Father
Mary Steenburgen as Mother
Reese Witherspoon as Serena
Seth Green as Boyd
Carol Burnett as Mrs. Hammerbotham
Joe Mantegna as Monty
Sam Gifaldi as Sam Beaver
Melissa Disney as Billie
Kath Soucie as Serena (cygnet) / Paramedic / Newscaster
E. G. Daily as Ella
Pamela Segall Adlon as A.G. Skinner
Steve Vinovich as Maurice / Roger
Gary Anthony Williams as Sweets
Corey Burton as Senator
Michael Winslow as Chief
David Jeremiah as Squirrel / Hawk
Julie Nathanson as Felicity
Dana Daurey as Apathy
Michael Kostroff as Waiter
Lee Magnuson as Clerk
Steve Franken as Bud
Norman Parker as Policeman
Jack Angel as Justice of the Geese
Critical reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 13% of 40 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.1/10. The website's consensus reads: "An uninspired E.B. White adaptation that's targeted at the very young." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 27 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.
Box office
By the end of its run, The Trumpet of the Swan grossed a mere $628,387.
Awards and nominations
In 2001, it was nominated by the Casting Society of America for best voice-casting in an animated film, but lost the award to Disney's The Emperor's New Groove.