Smart as a Fox

1946 0h 10m EN

😐

5.7

MID

★5.7TMDB · 7

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Smart as a Fox is a 1946 short documentary film supervised by Gordon Hollingshead. In this short film, a fox cub experiences life in the forest. It was nominated for an Oscar for Best Live Action Short, One-Reel.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Knox Manning
Narrator

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Gordon Hollingshead
Writers: Saul Elkins
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 10-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

ERA

Did you know

80 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Gordon Hollingshead, shot by Viktor Asmus. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor De Leon Anthony shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0038953 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 7 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Gordon Hollingshead directs. Viktor Asmus behind the camera. De Leon Anthony cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 10-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
280 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Gordon Hollingshead, shot by Viktor Asmus. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor De Leon Anthony shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6IMDB entry: tt0038953 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 7 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Viktor Asmus
Editing: De Leon Anthony
Runtime: 10 min · 0h 10m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
IMDB: Smart as a Fox (1946)

Also by

Gordon Hollingshead

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2025-07-21
★ 6/10
Though it’s from the perspective of a fox cub, this short film is really just a gentle saunter through life in a forest teeming with life. Most things are bigger than this curious little critter: some are scared of it, others want to eat it and it’s mother spends much of her time trying to feed, find and house it amidst all the noises that surround this new family. It’s really the photography that stands out here as it manages to successfully personalise many of the animals. Not by giving them silly voices, but by getting up close to their facial expressions - and I’m sure there’s the odd frown on the vixen’s face from time to time, too. It’s a diverse little wood with deer and owls and when the cub gets himself lost, there are even a few moments of peril (and berries). I didn’t love the narration, but the film is an easy watch.

Production companies