Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!

(1964) color 89 minutes Hanna-Barbera Productions / Columbia Pictures
Screenplay: Joseph Barbera, Warren Foster, William Hanna
Music: Marty Paich
Cinematography: Ted C. Bemiller, Charles Flekal, Norman Stainback, Roy Wade
Produced by Joseph Barbera, William Hanna
Directed by Joseph Barbera, William Hanna

Voices: Daws Butler (Yogi Bear), Don Messick (Boo-Boo Bear/Ranger John Smith), Julie Bennett (Cindy Bear), Mel Blanc (Grifter), James Darren (Singer), Jonah and the Wailers (Bears on train), Bill Lee (Yogi, singing voice), Ernest Newton (Boo Boo, singing voice), J. Pat O'Malley (Snively), Hal Smith (Cornpone), Jackie Ward (Cindy, singing voice)

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In one of their earliest efforts, the legendary animation team of William Hanna and Joe Barbera created animation that was used as a specialty segment for the MGM musical ANCHORS AWAY (1944), with a lovely song and dance number which Gene Kelly did with “Jerry,” a mouse. Twenty years later, in 1964, Hanna/Barbera created HEY THERE, IT’S YOGI BEAR, which allowed their popular TV cartoon character to be the star.

The story opens on the first day of Spring at Jellystone National Park. Boo-Boo (voiced by Don Messick, also the voice of Ranger Smith) wakes up from his Winter's sleep and realizes that it's Spring. He goes to wake up Yogi (voiced by Daws Butler) and hopes that his pal will not revert to his bad habit of stealing picnic baskets.

Boo-Boo's hopes of Yogi reforming are shattered when the food-swiping bear starts manipulating the campers out of their picnic baskets with his fake “Food Inspector” routine. But Yogi's efforts are thwarted by Ranger Smith, who prevents the bear from swiping picnic baskets and raiding the trailer homes and the park cafeteria. Fed up, Yogi goes to see Ranger Smith and he tells him that unless the “Do Not Feed The Bears” signs are removed, he will leave Jellystone.

Seeing that the only way to stop Yogi is to get rid of him, Ranger Smith sends him to The San Diego Zoo in California. His fate sealed, poor Yogi says goodbye to Jellystone, until he finds out that Cornpone (a southern-speaking Bear) is taking over Yogi's cave. Finding a way out of his situation, Yogi manipulates Cornpone into thinking that he has been signed to a movie contract and that he is really leaving for Hollywood to make movies!

Completely taken in by Yogi's scam, Cornpone is placed in the truck and heads for the zoo. Yogi then goes on a rampage and steals all of the food in the park. Angry park guests complain to Ranger Smith to the point where he sends out an angry message to the bear, who now calls himself “The Brown Phantom,” “I'm going to get you, and when I do, I'm going to send you to the San Diego Zoo.”

Cindy Bear, who has a crush on Yogi and is saddened that her love has gone, sees her chance of being reunited with Yogi. She swipes a pie and tries to convince the Ranger that she is “The Brown Phantom.” Unconvinced Ranger Smith laughs off Cindy's ploy until she pops him in the face with the stolen pie. Outraged, Ranger Smith sends Cindy to the St. Louis Zoo, not the San Diego Zoo.

While on the train, Cindy is entertained by a singing group called “The Beargeles,” who serenade her with “Got To Get That Train.” It's not until “The Beargeles” have finished their song that they tell her that they're all being shipped to the St. Louis Zoo. Heartbroken, poor Cindy cries herself to sleep.

Later that night, the train is wrecked in an accident and Cindy manages to escape from the wreckage. Lost, sad and frightened, the poor bear cries for Yogi. Sadly, Cindy's troubles are going to get a lot worse, for coming down the road are the corrupt owners of a nearly bankrupt circus, “The Chizling Brothers.” Mugger, the nasty dog of the two crooked circus hucksters sees Cindy and chases her up a telephone pole. Watching Cindy walk the wires like a talented tightrope walker, the evil ringmaster (voiced by cartoon veteran Mel Blanc) sees a chance for the Chizling Brothers to regain their success in the circus world.

The pair and their dog capture the lady bear and force her to perform for their audiences for every town and city in the country. In the meantime, Yogi is miserable. He has all the picnic food he can eat, but realizes that all the food in the world means nothing without Cindy. Encouraged by his inner self, Yogi goes to see Ranger Smith to confess that he is “The Brown Phantom,” and plead to be reunited with Cindy.

When he gets to the Ranger's office, however, he finds that Cindy has escaped from the train meant to take her to the St. Louis Zoo. Seeing that Ranger Smith has been made a fool by Yogi again, the angry ranger attempts to lock Yogi in his closet and get him sent to the Zoo.

Being smarter than the average bear, Yogi instead locks up Ranger Smith and with Boo-Boo's help, the two bears escape from Jellystone and head for the nearest big city, where they see the circus parade marching down the street. Inspired, the pair sing “What A Day For A Big Parade That We Can Call Our Own!” While at the circus, Yogi finds out that poor Cindy is a prisoner of the Chizling Brothers and their horrid dog.

Going into their office that night, Yogi demands the release of his lady love. Seeing that another talented bear will improve their business, the villains trick Yogi into stepping into the cage and lock both him and Cindy in. Assigning Mugger to watch them, the ringmaster and his stupid brother Snively make their plans to showcase the new bear act and celebrate.

Luckily, Boo-Boo manages to get the keys to the cage while the two brothers are asleep. Quickly, Yogi locks Mugger in the cage and the trio try to drive out in one of the circus cars. It isn't until he steps on the starter that Yogi realizes that they've stolen the clown's car. Waking up the two villains, they give chase, but our three bears escape the circus. After nearly getting caught by a sheriff and some angry farmers, the trio sing “Whistle Your Way Back Home,” where they hitch a ride on a truck that takes them to New York City, where they create a panic and are chased by the police.

Hearing of their antics on national TV, Ranger Smith cries, “I'm Ruined From Coast To Coast!” Realizing that he must get those bears back to Jellystone or the National Parks Commissioner will fire him, Smith rides in the Jellystone helicopter, and finally gets the trio to come home Jellystone. Yogi, Cindy and Boo-Boo promise not to create any more trouble, but Ranger Smith doesn't share their enthusiasm, for he believes that the commissioner has already seen the news and is about ready to fire Smith.

Just at that moment, a radio call comes in; instead of being outraged by the antics of Yogi and his friends, the commissioner congratulates Ranger Smith on his “publicity stunt,” and assigns him the rank of Head Park Ranger. Happy that everything has turned out all right, the group flies home to Jellystone, singing a reprise of “Whistle Your Way Back Home!”

HEY THERE, IT’S YOGI BEAR was a hit with the Kiddie Matinee crowd, and Hanna/Barbera would go on to create and produce four more feature-length animated movies, two of them with The Flintstones and The Jetsons. The Yogi Bear film created a flurry of merchandise, and was promoted on some public service announcements that Yogi did, called “Play It Safe,” which were seen on TV during the 1964 season. I first saw this film at the David Marcus Theater in the Bronx, New York, when the movie was re-released in the 1970's. I've seen the film many times since on TV and it still enchants me.

- Kevin S. Butler