I loved this story as a kid. As an adult, I love Werner Herzog's version even more. The erosion of my innocence and wonderment is complete. The inexorable march towards a cynical worldview of grown-up resignation continues.
Perfect, perfect! Ever since I first heard this story at age six I lamented Mary Anne's ignominious end. A fine digging machine, stripped of all dignity...
"the smell of blood is in the air...watching them work is like watching a public execution in slow motion" I'm glad Herzog wasn't my dad reading me bedtime stories!
@RyanIverson: that's great (and even better than kleines Engel)! Now please... please please PLEASE make more of these - they are fabulous. And two are just not enough. Hmmm.... how about The Velveteen Rabbit?
@JFiannaca 95% similar but there were also some small similarities... So... would you say it was 100% similar? Was it.... Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel??
May I suggest that you go back and re-read the early Babar books? I suspect that Werner might have some interesting observations about the taming of the metaphorical savage by elder white women (The Story of Babar) or about the polyannish attempt to create utopia by fiat (Babar the King.)
@ipbalkenende Contrariwise ... it takes a healthy human to disguise such things (e.g. homosexual themes in children stories, or suppression of feelings themes, glorification of destructive authority etc) and courage to show it. Think Wilhelm Reich vs Sigmund Freud. Of course some ppl will always complain, and want to have the disguise back ... as shown by Alice Miller ...
The ka mate haka: a primal, violent cry of conquest. Perhaps the conquest of man over nature? Just as the white man has taken a once proud dance for his rugby games, so does he pervert and deform the land with his machines.
@ipbalkenende I personally don't think it's 'over-analyzing'. It's being realistic. The true crime is to fill children's head with falsehoods that will inevitably be torn asunder before their crying eyes by the forces of reality.
My father used to read this to me and my 3 older brothers all the time when we were little. I hated it. I always just thought they burned MaryAnn to death :L
I can think of two ways of interpreting this video: either it is an example of a virulent anti-social existential angst read from the heart of the rump of a human being who has already consigned himself to a solipsistic, Marxist Hell, or it is a hilarious parody of self-important Marxian artistes who judge and condemn all society from their comfortable and self-important intellectual thrones. I believe it is the latter. Either way, it's pessimistic language will make it hard to sleep. I grew up with Mike Mulligan and have always loved Mary Ann. I will think of the smile on her face (bucket) to help me sleep. Finally, that first sentence may have tipped you off that I'm the type who could have landed on an intellectual throne, but instead I became a recovering academic. Mike Mulligan is a much more interesting and real person than the intellectuals.
I loved this story as a kid. As an adult, I love Werner Herzog's version even more. The erosion of my innocence and wonderment is complete. The inexorable march towards a cynical worldview of grown-up resignation continues.
Sir, if you don't do the Giving Tree, I don't know how I will get on with my sorry little life.
Perfect, perfect! Ever since I first heard this story at age six I lamented Mary Anne's ignominious end. A fine digging machine, stripped of all dignity...
Christopher Bono Better than the scrapyard!!!! Lol
"the smell of blood is in the air...watching them work is like watching a public execution in slow motion"
I'm glad Herzog wasn't my dad reading me bedtime stories!
The Mike Mulligan movie like defines my childhood.
Of all the Werner Herzog impersonators you're by far my favorite one!
This was ahead of its time.
More, please! These are hilarious!
I am in awe with your captivating voice, sir.
Mike Mulligan's steam shovel was a MARION, not a Bucyrus!
I need more of these!!
you are a truly sick, beautiful and brilliant man. kudos.
Seriously, these are brilliant!
Dear RyanIverson,
I love these so much. You do good work.
This was my favourite book as a boy.
That is freaking hilarious - especially the dark commentary editorialised by Herzog.
"The infernal smoke of industry blocks out the sun." (Jordan for 3, and IT COUNTS!)
Green Eggs and Ham, puhlease! "Sam-I-am's ceaseless entreaties finally pushing our speaker beyond the realms of ze sane"
well that was fucking dark.
Hahaahaa these were all amazing! :D
I loved this story as a kid and still do. But when you get down to it, it's about an old stubborn man who refuses to adapt and use modern technology.
Oh really? Really? This is not really Werner Herzog? Man, I'm glad there are people around to tell me things like this.
sir - you are a genius!
Keep it up!
These are are so wonderful. I just hope Klaus K. doesn't rise from the dead and shoot someone over this.
@RyanIverson: that's great (and even better than kleines Engel)! Now please... please please PLEASE make more of these - they are fabulous. And two are just not enough. Hmmm.... how about The Velveteen Rabbit?
really love these but you need to boost the sound I can't hear it very well
on a laptop.
@willnother: I believe he said "Good night, mein kleines Engel."
Genius!
Yeah, it's klein zwiebel. Good ear!
Hahahahaha, I'm never the type to laugh at the internets, but oh man, this just ravaged my childhood. Well done, "Warner." Hahahaha.
ua-cam.com/video/QX_n-4lGGkA/v-deo.html
- Brand new Werner Herzog reading of the famous poem 'If' is located at the above link.
@hasslefactory: There's another one coming. Not TVR, but I think you'll like it.
R. Lee Ermey reads Madeline, maybe?
Amazing. Truly, my childhood is over.
(This was my favorite book growing up.)
this story seems to me as germane today as the 8 years ago colorful, and not heavy handed although some of these reply's seem so. have fun q
That was... Morbid.
HA! It's true!
i love you, fake werner herzog
I love you.
@JFiannaca 95% similar but there were also some small similarities... So... would you say it was 100% similar? Was it.... Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel??
@RyanIverson What does klein zwiebel mean?
May I suggest that you go back and re-read the early Babar books? I suspect that Werner might have some interesting observations about the taming of the metaphorical savage by elder white women (The Story of Babar) or about the polyannish attempt to create utopia by fiat (Babar the King.)
I like the haka chants at the beginning and end of the video. Why? Because they are pointless and have nothing to do with the story. lol
Hmmm, seems to be a story about obsolescence and somehow embracing it.
@ipbalkenende Contrariwise ... it takes a healthy human to disguise such things (e.g. homosexual themes in children stories, or suppression of feelings themes, glorification of destructive authority etc) and courage to show it. Think Wilhelm Reich vs Sigmund Freud. Of course some ppl will always complain, and want to have the disguise back ... as shown by Alice Miller ...
I wish it was abit louder...
I would love you forever if you could send me the scans of this (if you still have them)
This video is so goddamn quiet!
why is it so quiet?
The ka mate haka: a primal, violent cry of conquest. Perhaps the conquest of man over nature? Just as the white man has taken a once proud dance for his rugby games, so does he pervert and deform the land with his machines.
@ipbalkenende I personally don't think it's 'over-analyzing'. It's being realistic. The true crime is to fill children's head with falsehoods that will inevitably be torn asunder before their crying eyes by the forces of reality.
My father used to read this to me and my 3 older brothers all the time when we were little. I hated it. I always just thought they burned MaryAnn to death :L
So I did not get the joke. Again.
@Cheshirecat55 Small onion.
Sorry, but this is not the voice of Werner Herzog. Please compare to his documentary work
WTF!
I can think of two ways of interpreting this video: either it is an example of a virulent anti-social existential angst read from the heart of the rump of a human being who has already consigned himself to a solipsistic, Marxist Hell, or it is a hilarious parody of self-important Marxian artistes who judge and condemn all society from their comfortable and self-important intellectual thrones.
I believe it is the latter. Either way, it's pessimistic language will make it hard to sleep. I grew up with Mike Mulligan and have always loved Mary Ann. I will think of the smile on her face (bucket) to help me sleep.
Finally, that first sentence may have tipped you off that I'm the type who could have landed on an intellectual throne, but instead I became a recovering academic. Mike Mulligan is a much more interesting and real person than the intellectuals.
Doesn't sound at all like Herzog.
Wow...I never thought I'd say this, but...Mike Mulligan is worse than Hitler.
Just wow.
Really does not sound like him... You should re-title it, nice video though. Take care
That sucked. Very boring, without a point and very depressing. Leave me alone to think of happier thoughts.