Posted on 09/15/2013 12:21:38 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show featured a fearless flying squirrel and his slow-witted moose sidekick. They did battle with two scheming but incompetent Soviet spies named Boris and Natasha.
The cartoon is an American classic, beloved for a wry sense of humor that appeals to kids and their parents. It originally aired from 1959 until 1964, but has been in syndication ever since, most recently on the Cartoon Network and Boomerang.
June Foray was the voice behind Rocky the Squirrel, and the evil Natasha. Now 95, she's receiving the prestigious Governor's Award Sunday at the Creative Arts Emmys.
Foray is not just known for her Bullwinkle characters. She also played Cindy Lou Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Jokey Smurf on The Smurfs and Granny, the overprotective owner of Tweety and Sylvester. She even provided the voice for the Chatty Cathy doll.
Foray tells Weekend Edition Sunday host Rachel Martin that she never expected the Bullwinkle characters would become so iconic. "All I wanted to do was work," she says.
Foray also reveals that femme fatale Natasha — who rolled her Rs with captivating Slavic flair — is not actually Russian.
Interview Highlights
How she got her voice work
They would just call me. I didn't have to audition, for which I was most grateful. I'd say, "Well is she heavy? Is she nice? is she meek? What kind of character? And I'd read a line and they'd say, "Oh, that's just fine."
How she came up with Natasha's voice
Well, I thought with Boris and Natasha, it was Russian, and [Bullwinkle producer] Jay Ward said, "No no no, they're from Pottsylvania. Don't make them from Russia" — because we had enough problems as it was. So I made her sort of continental.
I think so.
My wife always hates it when someone asks her to say “Moose and squirrel”
I secretly chuckle inside
“Didn’t that show have Fractured Fairy Tales?”
Yes it did, and I think they were narrated by somebody famous, Edward Everet Horton maybe?
Hokey Smoke, 95!
??
They don’t make cartoons for kids today.
and japan only makes cartoons for perverts
This woman represents my childhood culture (as many here will also testify.)
B4L8r
Right you are!
“Rocky and His Friends” (36 episodes )
... aka “Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends” - USA (alternative title)
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002143/filmoseries
Edward Everett Horton
She’s 95? Holy carp!
Wow, does that bring back memories... thanks.
That was the one where he says, "Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat", but when he reaches in, he pulls out a lion by the head, the lion roars ferociously, Bullwinkle stuffs it back into the hat, and says, "I think I need another hat".
At least, that's what I recall....
Yep I remember now that is what happened! Thanks
B: “Hey, Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of a hat!”
R: “But that trick never works...”
B: “This time, for sure... PRESTO!!”
(B pulls Rocky out of the hat)
B: “Well, I’m getting close...”
Wow! The interview with June Foray, about 4 minutes in, she does Natasha’s and Rocky’s voices, and darned if they aren’t exactly right, even though it’s 50 years later!! That was uncanny.
No, silly, Debi Mazar reminds you of Natasha!!
In Soviet Russia, actress is parody of cartoon!
Still gets a chuckle out of me; good memories.
not meant for kids
Bump
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