| The Story of Ferdinand | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Munro Leaf |
| Cover artist | Robert Lawson |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Children's literature |
| Publication date | 1936 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback) |
The Story of Ferdinand (1936) is the best known work written by American author Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson. The children's book tells the story of a bull who would rather smell flowers than fight in bullfights. He sits in the middle of the bull ring failing to take heed of any of the provocations of the matador and others to fight.
The book was released nine months before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, but was still seen by many supporters of Francisco Franco as a pacifist book. It became a target of the right wing, being banned in many countries, and—perhaps because of that suppression—was promoted by many on the left. It was one of the few non-Communist books promoted in Soviet-occupied Poland.
Leaf is said to have written the story on a whim in an afternoon in 1935, largely to provide his friend, illustrator Robert Lawson (then relatively unknown) a forum in which to showcase his talents.
The landscape in which Lawson placed the fictional Ferdinand is more or less real. Lawson faithfully reproduced the view of the city of Ronda in Andalusia for his illustration of Ferdinand being brought to Madrid on a cart: we see the Puente Nuevo ("New Bridge") spanning the El Tajo canyon. The Disney movie added some rather accurate views of Ronda and the Puente Romano ("Roman bridge") and the Puente Viejo ("Old bridge") at the beginning of the story, where Lawsons pictures were more free. Ronda is home to the oldest bullfighting ring in Spain that is still used; this might have been a reason for Lawson's use of its surroundings as a background for the story.
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The story was adapted by Walt Disney as a short animated film entitled Ferdinand the Bull in 1938, in a style similar to his Silly Symphonies series (and sometimes considered an unofficial part of that series). Ferdinand the Bull won the 1938 Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Cartoons).
Another film, which will be full-length, will be directed by Carlos Saldanha, and will be produced by 20th Century Fox (which had recently acquired the rights to the story).[1]
A plushie of Ferdinand plays a significant role in the 1940 film Dance, Girl, Dance. The toy is passed between various characters, having been originally purchased as a memento of a visit to a nightclub called Ferdinand's. The nightclub has a large statue of Ferdinand at the rear of the bandstand.
"The Blind Side", Movie starring Sandra Bullock where the coach mentions that the main character would rather stare at balloons than hit someone. Sandra Bullock then replies "Ferdinand the Bull" as they leave the field during football practice.
In the film Pursuit to Algiers, Mrs. Dunham compares Dr. Watson to Ferdinand the Bull because he would rather drink sherry than exert himself by going on a three–mile hike.
Ferdinand made an appearance in the 1997 film "Strays," a Sundance favorite written/directed/starring a then-unknown Vin Diesel. The story of Ferdinand, the bull who followed his heart and proved that just because you're a bull you don't have to act like one, served as a major influence and spirit of the film's plot. Ferdinand again appeared in the 2009 movie The Blind Side, the story of Michael Oher, with a similar metaphorical message.
A rubber mask of Ferdinand is featured in the Stephen King novel Rose Madder.
The story was set to incidental music in "Ferdinand the Bull" by classical composer Mark Fish. It has been narrated in concert by David Ogden Stiers and by Emmy award-winner Roscoe Lee Browne. It was also adapted, in 1971, as a piece for solo violin and narrator by the British composer Alan Ridout.[2]
Singer-songwriter Elliott Smith had a tattoo of Ferdinand the Bull, from the cover of Munro Leaf's book, on his right upper arm, which is visible on the cover of his record either/or. The rock band Fall Out Boy named their third album From Under The Cork Tree after a phrase in the book.[3]
Richard Horvitz commented that fellow actor and friend Fred Willard performed this story as a 5th grade class play when Fred was a child.
According to one scholar, the book crosses gender lines in that it offers a character to whom both boys and girls can relate.[4]
The short film is broadcast in Sweden every year on Christmas Eve as a part of the annual Disney Christmas show From All of Us to All of You.