I was listening to Fuse Eight and Kate’s latest podcast and pulled out my copy of DRUMMER HOFF (a highly recommended practice, reading along if you can) and think I saw a picture book-movie connection. General Border looks like a caricature of Charles Laughton.
I can generally spot caricatures and self-inserts in picture books but the intentionality of this one is harder to figure out. None of the other military personnel look like anyone. I’m guessing Emberley was drawing from memory, and was maybe influenced by cartoons where the Charles Laughton character made several cameos.
Suddenly I’m in the mood for hossenpfeffer.