William T. Hurtz

Hemo the Magnificent

William T. Hurtz, Frank Capra

Frank Baxter, Richard Carlson

Professor Frank Baxter and some animated friends answer questions about blood. what makes it red? Why do little animals' hearts beat so quickly? And so much more.

The Unchained Goddess

William T. Hurtz, Richard Carlson

Frank Baxter, Richard Carlson

A scientist and a writer explain the various meteorological phenomena to Meteora, the goddess of weather, while giving an insight into the technology involved in predicting them and warning about the threat of global climate change.

Our Mr. Sun

William T. Hurtz, Frank Capra

Eddie Albert, Frank Baxter

One entry in a series of films produced to make science accessible to the masses—especially children—this film describes the sun in scientific but entertaining terms.

The Strange Case of the Cosmic Rays

William T. Hurtz, Frank Capra

Richard Carlson, Frank Baxter

Part of acclaimed filmmaker Frank Capra's "Wonders of Life" series of science-based films (which won an Emmy Award for Best Editing) teaches kids about the power of gamma rays and radiation.

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland

William T. Hurtz, Masami Hata

Gabriel Damon, Mickey Rooney

A little boy whose dreams transcend reality is sucked into his own fantasy, which is everything he has dreamed of, until he unleashes an old secret that may not only destroy this perfect dream world but reality itself.

Look Who's Driving

William T. Hurtz

Look Who’s Driving: A super-rare UPA educational film from 1954 directed by Bill Hurtz (The Unicorn in the Garden) and designed by Bob Dranko. There’s nothing revolutionary about this short but it’s a superb bit of stylishly designed Fifties animation.

Great Rights

William T. Hurtz

Herschel Bernardi, Daws Butler

A cartoon explaining the American Bill of Rights and Constitution. A man imagines a "nightmare world" without these documents, where Orwellian thugs censor and arrest with impunity. When reminded of the Bill of Rights, the man fights back and eventually defeats the forces of faceless totalitarianism.

The Unicorn in the Garden

William T. Hurtz

Based on James Thurber's short-story about a mild, henpecked man who, while preparing his breakfast, looks out the window and sees a unicorn eating flowers in the garden. He rushes upstairs to inform his domineering wife, and she accuses him of being crazy and threatens to have him put away. He persists that he did see a unicorn in the garden, and she phones for the authorities to come take him away. But when they arrive, with strait-jackets, they find the wife rambling and raving about seeing the unicorn, and promptly take her away.

Hotsy Footsy

William T. Hurtz

Jim Backus, Jerry Hausner

Magoo's at a Rutgers alumni dance and winds up squaring off with a pro wrestler at the arena across the alley, thinking he's dancing with the wife of an old friend.

Bringing Up Mother

William T. Hurtz

John Smith is a fugitive on the run, all because of the suppressive childhood inflicted on him by his mother. When he was two years old she had tricked him into exchanging his crib for a bed and later, she brought home a baby brother when he was expecting a sister. John has had enough and is running away from home but has to stop at the curb as his mother won't let 6-year-old John cross the street.

Man Alive!

William T. Hurtz

This Oscar-nominated documentary short is from the American Cancer Society. Ed ignores his car problems and then fixes it without using a good mechanic. He also ignores stomach problems. Will he go to a doctor? Is it cancer?

Man on the Land

William T. Hurtz

Oil Industry PR film from UPA. The story of man's conquest of the soil through the ages with background of narration and ballads. Starts with prehistoric times and ends in the present, showing how oil-powered machines have banished the threat of famine.