Budapest Classic Film Marathon 2024: Hugo the Hippo

Director: Bill Feigenbaum, József Gémes

Screenplay by Bill Feigenbaum
Director of photography: István Harsági, Mária Neményi, Ida Székely
Music by Robert Larimer
Cast (voice): Tamás Major, László Márkus, Gábor Berkes

Hungarian Animation 110 / restauration premiere

Sharks have invaded the harbour of Hummingbird Island and to get rid of them, Sultan Magin brings hippopotamuses from the mainland. These huge animals manage to defeat the predator fish. Initially, the people celebrate the hippo team that has liberated the harbour, but soon the animals begin to be a burden on the local population. The furious farmers led by the evil khan Aban turn on the animals. Only Hugo the baby hippo survives the terrible attack and he is adopted by the local children. The exotic tale made in an American–Hungarian coproduction is like watching a family film version of Yellow Submarine. The florid visuals were conceived in the spirit of psychedelic-Art Nouveau, and catchy music going with the stunningly surreal frames were performed by legendary singers of Hungarian pop such as Kati Kovács, actress Erzsébet Kútvölgyi and Péter Máté.

Supporting film: Parade (6)
Hungarian animation, colour, 1969, dir: József Gémes
no dialogue, 5’

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