Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 19, 2026

Uncle Sam Magoo

Uncle Sam Magoo is a 1970 television special directed by Abe Levitow, written by Larry Markes, Henry G. Saperstein and Sam Rosen, and musical score by Walter Scharf. The special stars Jim Backus as Mr. Magoo, Lennie Weinrib, Bob Holt, Patti Gilbert, Sid Grossfeld and Barney Phillips. The special aired on February 15, 1970, on NBC.

Last revised
Jul 19, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
386 w
Citations
6
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Uncle Sam Magoo
DVD cover
Written byLarry Markes
Henry G. Saperstein
Sam Rosen
Directed byAbe Levitow
StarringJim Backus
Lennie Weinrib
Bob Holt
Patti Gilbert
Sid Grossfeld
Barney Phillips
Theme music composerWalter Scharf
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerLee Orgel
Running time53 minutes1
Production companyUnited Productions of America
Budget$400,0002
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseFebruary 15, 1970 (1970-02-15)3

Uncle Sam Magoo is a 1970 television special directed by Abe Levitow, written by Larry Markes, Henry G. Saperstein and Sam Rosen, and musical score by Walter Scharf. The special stars Jim Backus as Mr. Magoo, Lennie Weinrib, Bob Holt, Patti Gilbert, Sid Grossfeld and Barney Phillips. The special aired on February 15, 1970, on NBC.4

Plot

Mr. Magoo goes to Hollywood to get a part in a film, but instead witnesses the history of the United States firsthand in a series of adventures that take place in different time periods.

Cast

  • Jim Backus as the voice of Mr. Magoo
  • Lennie Weinrib - Uncle Sam, Miles Standish, John Alden, Paul Revere, Davy Crockett, Captain John Parker, Daniel Webster, John F. Kennedy
  • Bob Holt - Chief Strong Eagle, Indian Chief, John Smith, Chief Powhatan, Indian Chief 2, Kit Carson, Paul Bunyan
  • Patti Gilbert - Priscilla Mullins, Betsy Ross, Tom Sawyer, Eleanor Roosevelt
  • Sid Grossfeld - Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Wolfe, George Washington Carver
  • Barney Phillips - Mark Twain, John Sutter, Patrick Henry, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr.
  • Dave Shelley
  • John Himes
  • Bill Clayton

Reception

DVD Verdict gave the special a positive review, saying, "Eschewing rah-rah jingoism in favor of explosive color, unforced humor, and majestic choral arrangements of American musical standards, this patriotic tribute to the U.S.A. was clearly a labor of love for all involved, and the feeling is infectious. A veritable cornucopia of sight and sound sensations, Uncle Sam Magoo is this collection's crowning achievement."3 DVD Talk called it a "bizarre bit of Nixon-era patriotism".5

References

References

  1. "Mr. Magoo: Uncle Sam Magoo". DVDEmpire. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  2. Abraham, Adam (2012). When Magoo Flew: The Rise and Fall of Animation Studio UPA. Wesleyan University Press. p. 221. ISBN 9780819572707.
  3. Colbert, P. S. (November 9, 2011). "Mr. Magoo: The Television Collection 1960-1977". DVD Verdict. Archived from the original on January 5, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  4. Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. p. 340. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  5. "Mr. Magoo On TV Collection". DVD Talk. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
External links