Dot and the Kangaroo (film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dot and the Kangaroo |
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DVD Cover
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| Directed by | Yoram Gross |
| Produced by | Yoram Gross |
| Written by | Yoram Gross John Palmer |
| Starring | Lola Brooks Joan Bruce Barbara Frawley Peter Gwynne Ron Haddrick Ross Higgins Richard Meikle Spike Milligan June Salter |
| Music by | Bob Young John Palmer Marion Von Alderstein |
| Editing by | Rod Hay Klaus Jaritz |
| Studio | Yoram Gross Films |
| Distributed by | Hoyts (Australia) Warner Bros. Pictures (United States) |
| Release date(s) | 13 August 1977 15 December 1977 |
| Running time | 71 minutes |
| Country | Australia United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | A$250,000 |
Dot and the Kangaroo is a 1977 Australian musical film which combines animation and live-action. It is based on the 1899 children's literature book Dot and the Kangaroo by Ethel Pedley.
Contents
Plot
When 5-year-old Dot finds herself lost in the Australian bush, a red kangaroo who has lost her joey promises to help Dot find her way home. In the process, the kangaroo introduces Dot to a number of other animals, teaching her a greater appreciation for nature.
Cast
- Barbara Frawley as Dot
- Joan Bruce as the Kangaroo and Dot's Mother
- Spike Milligan as Mr. Platypus
- June Salter as Mrs. Platypus
- Ross Higgins as Willie Wagtail
- Ron Haddrick as Dot's Father
- Lola Brooks
- Peter Gwynne
- Richard Meikle as Jack the Farmhand
Soundtrack
The movie featured an original soundtrack including several lyrical melodies composed by Bob Young with lyrics John Palmer, and Marion Von Alderstein, while Bob Young provided additional lyrics, and they were recorded by Maurie Wilmore. A soundtrack album was released in 1982 combined with the soundtrack of Around the World with Dot. The music from Dot and the Kangaroo appears on the B-Side.
| Around The World With Dot / Dot And The Kangaroo | |
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| Soundtrack album by
Bob Young
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| Released | 1982 |
| Label | EMI |
| Track listing | |||||||||
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| No. | Title | Artist | Length | ||||||
| 1. | "The Platypus" (Young, Palmer) | Spike Milligan, June Salter | 2:07 | ||||||
| 2. | "Ride In The Pouch Of A Red Kangaroo" (Young, Palmer) | Barbara Frawley, Ross Higgins | 1:54 | ||||||
| 3. | "Willie Wagtail" (Young, Palmer) | Ross Higgins | 1:47 | ||||||
| 4. | "The Bunyip’s Gonna Get You" (Young, Palmer) | George Assang | 3:11 | ||||||
| 5. | "What Fun You Have When You’re A Frog" (Young, Von Alderstein) | 2:04 | |||||||
| 6. | "All We Ever Do All Day Is Quack" (Young, Palmer) | Nola Lester, Ross Higgins | 1:54 | ||||||
| 7. | "Ballet Sequence" (Young) | 2:05 | |||||||
| 8. | "One Day When I Was Walking" (Young, Palmer) | Barbara Frawley | 0:50 | ||||||
| 9. | "Lullaby (Sleep Little One Sleep)" (Young, Palmer) | Sue Walker | 2:01 | ||||||
| 10. | "Dot’s Theme" (Young) | 2:10 | |||||||
Sequels
The Yoram Gross Studios followed up the first film with another eight movies between 1981 and 1994. The theme behind all of the films in the Dot series is the negative impact of humanity on animal life in nature. The sequels are as follows:
- Around the World with Dot (1981)
- Dot and the Bunny (1983)
- Dot and the Koala (1985)
- Dot and Keeto (1986)
- Dot and the Whale (1986)
- Dot and the Smugglers (1987)
- Dot Goes to Hollywood (1987)
- Dot in Space (1994; Australian release only)
