EW's GRADE
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Details Writer: Keith Scott; Genres: Movies, Nonfiction, Pop Culture; Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Timed to the release of the Rocky and Bullwinkle movie, this history of the original cartoon — which was created by writer-producers Jay Ward and Bill Scott —, The Moose That Roared: The Story of Jay Ward, Bill Scott, a Flying Squirrel, and a Talking Moose, is far superior to most gushy TV-show books. Author Keith Scott (the movie's narrator and voice of Bullwinkle) is the best sort of obsessive; he nudges interviewees for behind-the-scenes stories about the making of such sly Ward-Scott fare as Rocky, George of the Jungle, and the Cap'n Crunch commercials, as well as more obscure items. For instance, did you know that Ward was sued by the U.S. Forest Service for creating a character called Stokey the Bear, who went around setting forest fires? A-

Originally posted Jul 14, 2000 Published in issue #549 Jul 14, 2000 Order article reprints

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