MovieChat Forums > George of the Jungle (1967) Discussion > Fella and/or Ursula?

Fella and/or Ursula?

posted 19 years ago by [email protected]
13 replies | jump to latest

That's something that's always stymied me - it's strongly intimated that there are two identical redheaded jungle-babes in the show. Referenced in the theme lyric -"Then away he'll schlep on his elephant Shep, while Fella and Ursula stay in step...", played three times in the show no less; in the main title, the George-specific title, and the end title, all with animation of a pair of Janes to George's Tarzan.

And in the cartoons themselves? One girl. George may refer to her as Ursula, or Fella, or Ingrid, or Max, but he never implies that there's more than one of her up in the treehouse. What's up with that? Were they doing this to put us into a state of bewilderment and disorientation on a level with George's?

[–] flygryl09 19 years ago

Everyone who watched the show knows that there is only one Ursla but George was being George and in his infinite brilliance (stupidity) did not realize that his mate was a female not a male so he referred to her sometimes as Fella. The two images in the titles create a double vision effect which stays true to his disorientation level as well which could be credited to his frequent run-ins with trees.

[–] celebritygossip6 17 years ago

That's what I was wondering, when I looked for answers today --and like the poster who replied to you, previously, I saw the explanation that George had "double-vision." I think it may have been a plot device that was planned, but not yet used, because there was only 17 episodes. Having a lookalike to "Fella" or a twin sister. I think it would've been for the 2nd season. Maybe it was a teaser, to make the audience ask --"ARE there two?"
It's obvious that the song was written before the animation was created, since the animation was timed so well --it would be a stretch to think that the animator was guessing that there were twins after hearing the lyrics "Fella and Ursula stay in step" because he'd have to consult with Jay Ward, who had to OK it. So I think it was a teaser --and a mystery that I'd like to solve --but we'd have to ask those in Jay Ward's studio --if any are still alive.

[–] amorrice80 17 years ago

I always thought it was Bella, not Fella.

[–] GarryM8734-1 16 years ago

Someone told me once that originally, George was going to have two wives, but the network censors squashed the idea.

[–] blackhawkswincup2010 16 years ago

It was Bella. Some of these lyrics get pretty hard to understand. I always thought the first line of the Beach Boys' 'Help Me Rhonda' was "Since she put me down, there been owls pukin' in my bed."

There was another song from about 1984 or '85 called, "I'm Gonna Run to You." It always sounded to me like, "I'm Gonna Rupture You."

[–] calishreveguy 16 years ago

I always thought it was because George sometimes called Ursula Fella and the song was meant jibe about the fact.

"Rambo: I could have killed 'em all, I could kill you. In town you're the law, out here it's me. Don't push it. Don't push it or I'll give you a war you won't believe. Let it go. Let it go."

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] N0RKUS 15 years ago

It was Bella.

Wrong. It was Fella.

[–] jseger9000 14 years ago

Yeah, it was Fella.

[–] AlexanderBatey 14 years ago

He was supposed to have two girls but budget restrains on animation only had money for one.

[–] irishm 8 years ago

Thank you. I haven't had a laugh like that in far too long. Now I'm gonna sing "Help Me Rhonda" like that.

[–] johcafra 12 years ago

She's one girl, named Ursula. But view a few episodes and you see George doesn't quite catch on that she's a girl. So, he calls her "Fella."

's'alright, for years...and years...I'd thought there were two...yes, one named Bella...and the catchy intro music didn't help. Who knows, maybe it was an inside joke, of which Jay Ward & Co. had plenty. Besides, he also thought Shep was "a big, grey, long-nosed, droopy-eared puppy!" But, getting advice from an ape who talked like Ronald Colman, who could blame him?