Trivia / The King and the Mockingbird

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• Celebrity Voice Actor: The incomplete 1952 English version titled "The Curious Adventures of Mr. Wonderbird" has some well know British actors voicing the characters:
  • Sir Peter Ustinov as Mr. Wonderbird.
  • Claire Bloom as the Shepherdess.
  • Denholm Elliott as the Chimney Sweep.
• Executive Meddling: One of the reasons why the film took so long to be completed. It was released unfinished in 1952 by its producer André Sarrut amidst spiraling production costs, against the wishes of director Paul Grimault and writer Jacques Prévert.
• Extremely Lengthy Creation: Production began in 1948; it was released in 1952, but director Paul Grimault was unsatisfied and spent the next 15 years trying to regain the rights, then another 10 acquiring finances to finish the film. Jacques Prévert dying from lung cancer in 1977 didn't help, either. The definitive version finally came to theaters in 1980.
• In Memoriam: The finished film is dedicated to Jacques Prévert, who succumbed to lung cancer on 11 April 1977.
• Inspiration for the Work: Hayao Miyazaki was heavily inspired by the film. In fact, the film’s main plot would provide the plot structure for Miyazaki’s directorial debut, The Castle of Cagliostro.
• The Other Darrin: All of the original cast from the 1952 release was completely replaced by the time the definitive version premiered in 1980. However, Roger Blin returned to reprise his role as the blind barrel organist.
• Posthumous Credit: Despite dying of lung cancer three years before the definitive version of the film premiered, Jacques Prévert was given a screenwriting credit for his work.
• Role Reprise: Roger Blin voiced the blind barrel organist in the 1952 release. He later reprised his role when the definitive version premiered 28 years later.
• Saved from Development Hell: The film started production in 1948; it wasn't finished until 1980.

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