A Symposium on Popular Songs (1962): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1962, A Symposium on Popular Songs is a comedy, animation and music film directed by Bill Justice, running about 20 minutes. “Sixty Years of Syncopation...FROM "RAGTIME" TO THE "BIG BEAT"” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Professor Ludwig von Drake plays a variety of popular music, all of which he wrote. First, ragtime: the Rutabaga Rag, with vegetables dancing in stop-motion. Next, the Charleston, with cut-out animation of a singer and dancers. Dixieland and more cut-out animation; the crooner/love ballad; 50's doo-wop; and finally, rockabilly.

Who’s in it. A Symposium on Popular Songs stars Paul Frees as Ludwig Von Drake, Gloria Wood as The Andrews Sisters singing The Boogie Woogie Bakery Man / Helen Kane, Billy Storm as Man Singing Puppy Love Is Here to Stay and Skip Farrell as Bing Crosby, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.0/10, A Symposium on Popular Songs has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch A Symposium on Popular Songs page.

If you liked it. Fans of A Symposium on Popular Songs tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.