10 FAVORITES (53): Disney's More Delightful "Duds"

Thanks to a charming if (mostly) predictable Academy Awards this past Sunday, I am in a Disney kind of mood.  So I return to my beloved 10 FAVORITES, but this time with a little twist.  The House of Mouse has given us a plethora of movies that range from the phenomenally brilliant (see Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins or The Lion King) to the primarily average (see Cinderella or Peter Pan) to the awfully misguided (see Song of the South or even Pocahontas).  But among the many films, there are a few that get lost in the shuffle.  Some of them even get derided as below average or bad (by audiences, critics or by the studio itself!).  These Disney films listed below are among the ones that are ultimately good/decent films (despite a few flaws here or there), yet they are often regarded in the "Failure" category (be it commercially, critically or creatively).  So, here are:

THE 10 BEST DISNEY FILMS

THAT OFTEN GET A "BAD RAP"

HONORABLE MENTION
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
This one is the "HM" because it is the most recent one on the list.  It hasn't had the time to gain the "Bad Rap" that it seems to be on the path to gaining.  Now, you might be saying to me: "But critics seemed to like this movie and I remember it making some decent money back in 2009!"  Yes critics liked it, but critical praise was not what the Disney Studio was going for here.  And yes it made money, but not as much as the studio wanted it to make considering the amount they spent on promoting it and highlighting their innovation of creating the first African-American Disney Princess.  And yes Princess Tiana has been integrated into the Princess franchise, but not to the prominent extent that say Mulan (who isn't even a Princess!) has been.  Despite all these "Yes...But"'s, the movie is one of the best traditional animated movies the Disney studio has made in the last decade with some memorable characters (like villain Dr. Facilier) and charming performances (especially leading lady, the always amazing Anika Noni Rose!).

MOVIE #10

The Fox and the Hound (1981)

This is one of Disney's most emotional ventures and one of its most taxing.  Why is it derided?  Well, the studio does not exactly have the happiest of back stories regarding the making of this film.  In the late '70s and early '80s, the Disney studio was in complete disarray.  Frustrated animators were exiting left and right (see Don Bluth!) and the creative department were turning down potentially lucrative projects in favor of what we would call "safe bets."  Despite all this, this film went through an arduous filmmaking process (squabbles over the rights to the novel, condensing said novel, finding animators to work on the film, etc.) and was released the same year as Don Bluth's innovative The Secret of NIMH.  Bluth's project was a critical and box office success, while Fox and the Hound did relatively well (box office-wise) and was liked by some critics (not all).  It just did not do well enough for a studio that felt like it had just been to hell and back making it.

MOVIE #9

Pete's Dragon (1977)

This one may not be as good as some of Disney's live-action musicals (certainly no Mary Poppins), but its pros outweigh its cons.  The songs (by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschorn), while not as charming as any of the Sherman Brothers' tunes, are for the most part delightful.  The character of Elliot the Dragon (voiced by comedy clown Charlie Callas) is a loving character that I certainly would like to have seen used more (say in Animated shorts or, as Disney loves to do, a direct-to-video sequel).  And the cast is actually a pretty good cast for the characters created.  Its an eclectic mix that includes pop-star Helen Reddy, screen legend Mickey Rooney, Oscar-winners Shelley Winters and Red Buttons, Mr. Magoo and Gilligan's Island star Jim Backus and Broadway powerhouse Jim Dale (brilliantly cast as the wicked Dr. Terminus).  The one major flaw I always find in the film is the character (and the casting!) of Pete, who just comes off as an irritating little brat as opposed to a kid beaten down by life that the audience should root for and understand.

MOVIE #8

Hercules (1997)

This is another one whose "Bad Rap" is due to lack of critical praise and its inadequate (at least in the studio's eyes) box office.  And I have talked with peers of mine about my liking for this film.  Some of them think I just have a love for Disney (which I kinda do!), but others I have been able to convince that this film is not as bad as say Pocahontas.  The Disney studio still was riding high from their successes (Aladdin, The Lion King, etc.) that they were just trying to churn out a potential money-maker.  True, they Disney-fied the Greek Myths and that doesn't sit well with a lot of the audience members (especially the college-age ones that study those Myths and some of the darker tidbits within them!).  But they don't do any more to the Myths than what they do to the Fairy Tales, and considering what they had to cut-out (for logic's sake!), they did pretty well.  The villain Hades (voiced perfectly by James Woods) is one of Disney's better villains.  And Alan Menken's score (with its gospel-influenced style) is toe-tapping and a nice throwback for Menken (who cut his "professional teeth" with the Off-Broadway hit Little Shop of Horrors).

MOVIE #7

Newsies (1992)

I know that this may seem like a plug for the new Broadway version that will be opening this Spring, but I actually enjoyed this movie (despite it having some major problems).  It was originally supposed to be a live-action drama.  But after the success of The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, the powers-that-be decided that a musical would serve the story better (especially if it had a lot of Janet Jackson-style pop-and-lock routines!).  Now, the film was such a flop that some of the cast members wanted it removed from their resumes (I won't name names, but they both have Academy Awards!).  Despite that, the film has gained an underground (almost cultish) following.  The score (by Alan Menken and frequent Manillow collaborator Jack Feldman) is actually quite delightful and very Broadway in its style.  And the cast, despite their objections, is actually quite good with what they have to do (even if they are embarrassed to be doing it!).  The problems in this film lie in the sloppy script and the lack of character development (mostly for the supporting characters).  But the well-performed musical numbers and the charming cast make this movie an enjoyable watch.

MOVIE #6

The Great Mouse Detective (1986)

This is a "lost-in-the-shuffle" pick.  After the hard years at the beginning of the decade and the debacle that is known as The Black Cauldron, Disney combined its powers with Hollywood power broker Joel Silver and his production company Silver Screen Partners.  One of their first projects together was this charming adaptation of the Basil of Baker Street stories.  It eventually got overshadowed by the success of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and the Disney Musical Renaissance, but the movie is a great mix of adventure, mystery and even musical numbers.  The villain, Professor Ratigan, is brilliantly performed by Vincent Price and is clearly one of the film's strongest highlights.

MOVIE #5

Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)

This makes the list because it never fully got the respect it deserved and it was mostly the Disney studio's fault.     After the death of Walt Disney, the studio clearly faltered.  And in the making of this film, which they wanted to be half as successful as Mary Poppins, they were extremely budget conscious.  They made severe cuts to the over 2 hour film (to put it under 2 hours) that made the film seem sloppy and unprofessional.  It wasn't until the 2001 DVD release (in which most of the cut scenes were restored to the film) that fans and detractors of the film realized how good the film could have been if the studio had allowed it in its original form.  Despite this, the film is an absolute delight and the always phenomenal Angela Lansbury (who shows off her Tony-winning musical talent) is a major reason for it.

MOVIE #4

Robin Hood (1973)

This one is another film that the studio just has bad memories of making.  Frustration among the Disney animators was growing and the studio was cutting budgets in almost every department.  So it is rare that this film gets a classic DVD or video release.  But most people I talk to only have really good memories of this movie.  I know I have always enjoyed it.  Though they do excise the classic characters of Will Scarlet and Guy of Gisbourne, the characters they do use are a mix of clever, funny and important to the Robin Hood tale.  I also love the brilliant cast that includes the always jazzy Phil Harris as Little John, country legend Roger Miller as minstrel Alan-a-Dale and (in the most amazing piece of voice casting) Sir Peter Ustinov stealing the movie as the spoiled and whiny Prince John.

MOVIE #3

Oliver and Company (1988)

Like Great Mouse Detective, this one also gets lost in the shuffle of the praise for the Disney Musical Renaissance.  This stylish modern (at least modern for the late '80s!) update of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist is clever and thrilling.  Its soundtrack was a staple in my house when the movie came out and its pop-infused score was filled with good songs (from the Huey Lewis-sung opening "Once Upon a Time In New York City" to the Bette Midler diva number "Perfect Isn't Easy").  The highlight (for most people who remember this film) was the performance of Billy Joel as the doggy Dodger character with his bouncy theme "Why Should I Worry?"  With cheerful songs like these, why should we worry? Really?

MOVIE #2

A Bug's Life (1996)

This film also gets forgotten for the unfortunate reason that it was the Disney/PIXAR collaboration to follow the masterpiece that was Toy Story.  Most people should have known that no movie could follow Toy Story no matter what it was and this simple story has just become to pedestrian in the light of PIXAR's other great films (like The Incredibles, Up or Finding Nemo).  So when friends of mine list the best PIXAR films, they always tend to forget how charming this movie really was.  I liked it a lot more than Dreamworks' bug movie (Antz) and I thought it was really clever at the time.  I too fall victim to the overshadowing of PIXAR's more impressive fair.  But each time I go back to this film, I recall how much I enjoyed the witty writing, the clever cast (that included Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, David Hyde Pierce and Denis Leary) and the Oscar-nominated score by PIXAR fave Randy Newman.

AND...
MOVIE #1
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
This film is a favorite of mine even though it does have some problems (Disney-fying Victor Hugo, quirky gargoyles, etc.).  The main problem it had was it had to follow Pocahontas, which the critics just hated (for good reasons).  Anything that followed a critical failure like that was going to have to impress on a major level and this film just did not impress them.  True, they Disney-fied a literary classic, but look at some of the stuff they left in the story (like the sexual perversion of the main villain, something you just don't see in a lot of kid films!).  And as far as musical scores go, this qualifies as Alan Menken's most ambitious one.  And the lyrics by Stephen Schwartz are mix of poignant, funny and beautiful.

10 FAVORITES (44) - Musical Mouse

As a follow-up to last week's Best Movie Songs, this week I want to focus on the one studio that has perfectly combined the art of movies and the beauty of music for over 80 years: The Walt Disney Company.  Ever since 1928's Steamboat Willie (with Mickey Mouse whistling a merry tune), Disney and music have been combined in an artistic marriage that has been extremely fruitful.  So, in traditional 10 FAVORITES fashion, I would like to discuss:

THE BEST DISNEY SONGS OF ALL-TIME

HONORABLE MENTION"A Spoonful of Sugar" from Mary Poppins (1964)
The only song from a live-action Disney film on this list (hence, it being Honorable Mention!), with the lovely voice of Oscar-winner Julie Andrews, every kid truly believed that "a spoonful of sugar helped the medicine go down."  What made this song more memorable were the scene's visuals that the magic-makers in Disney's effects department were able to design (which were truly groundbreaking at the time!).  I know I always wanted my room to suddenly clean itself with the snap of my fingers (and so did my mom!).

SONG #10
"Bella Notte" from Lady and the Tramp (1956)
When you think of iconic Disney scenes, one cannot forget one of the most romantic scenes in film history (you know, when Tramp nuzzles the meatball towards Lady and they accidentally kiss after sharing a noodle!).  And when you think of this clever scene, you cannot forget the song accompanying it, "Bella Notte" (you know, where the two stereotypical Italian waiters are singing to the canine couple!).  Just watch the scene below (and ignore Disney's inherent ethnic insensitivity!).

SONG #9
"Heigh-Ho" from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938)
Kids love it when songs have repeating choruses and verses, so of course I loved this cute Dwarf number from Disney's inaugural feature film.  Plus, Dopey makes anything hilarious!

SONG #8
"Once Upon a Dream" from Sleeping Beauty (1959)
When Disney music maestro George Bruns was adapting Piotr Ilyich Tchaicovsky's haunting themes from the Sleeping Beauty ballet for Disney's adaptation of the fairy tale, he recruited top songwriters Jack Lawrence and Sammy Fain to churn out lyrics that would make the central waltz a chart-topping hit.  What resulted was the gorgeous "Once Upon a Dream," which was beautifully sung by the voices of the leading lovebirds, Mary Costa and Bill Shirley.  (NOTE ON THE VIDEO: The video is of the entire scene in which the song appears, the song does not officially begin until about 4 1/2 minutes into the video!)

SONG #7
"You've Got a Friend In Me" from Toy Story (1995)
Randy Newman has done quite well for PIXAR (winning two Oscars in the process!).  But it is with PIXAR's first feature film that Newman gave us a song that has stuck with us.  In a way, it has become the computer animation giant's unofficial theme song.

SONG #6
"The Bare Necessities" from The Jungle Book (1967)
Since I mentioned my appreciation for Phil Harris' work in this film previously, you cannot be surprised that this song makes it onto this list.  The cleverness of the song involves mixing delightful wordplay with a jazzy tune.  Also, it's about relaxing, which every kid loves to do!

SONG #5
"Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid (1989)
The first of four songs on this list to come from that era in Disney's history known as "The Musical Renaissance," this song is the perfect "I Want" Song (see a previous 10 FAVORITES for info!).  I know everybody loves the Oscar-winning showstopper "Under the Sea" or the deliciously villainous "Poor Unfortunate Souls" that Ursula sings to our heroine, but my personal favorite from this film has to be Ariel's yearning for a life above the ocean (and the gorgeous Reprise when she meets the prince of her dreams!).

SONG #4
"A Whole New World" from Aladdin (1992)
When it comes to love duets, Aladdin followed the true musical form and let the hero give the princess what she wanted: To see the world (No dirty jokes people!).  The "soaring" duet won an Academy Award for songwriters Alan Menken and Tim Rice and was the first song the pair wrote together after Menken's previous songwriting partner, Howard Ashman, passed away in the middle of production on Aladdin.  The song is perfectly sung by the characters' singing voices, Broadway stars Brad Kane and Tony-winner Lea Salonga.

SONG #3
"Circle of Life" from The Lion King (1994)
In the Rodgers and Hammerstein tradition of musical songwriting, the opening number of a musical has to set up the world.  What Elton John and Tim Rice did with this song (with the help of Hans Zimmer and South African songwriter Lebo M), was nothing short of amazing.  In the first four minutes of the movie, you get the different types of animals that live in Pride Rock, the way in which these animals live and feel about each other and the momentous occasion that sets the events of the film in motion.  In the stage production, this is one of those opening numbers that is so phenomenally done that once over, you can read the phone book and the show would still be worth the ticket price! (It's also the reason Julie Taymor's ego blew up to the size of the Spider-Man musical's budget!)

SONG #2
"Beauty and the Beast" from Beauty and the Beast (1991)
I've mentioned how I love this film and how I love Angela Lansbury's work as Mrs. Potts in this film.  So, once again, this song and its placement on this list cannot be that much of a surprise.  The Oscar-winning song says it all: "Tale as old as time, True as it can be..."

AND...
SONG #1
"When You Wish Upon a Star" from Pinocchio (1940)
Only one song could rise above "Beauty and the Beast" and that is the iconic song that opens up Disney's classic Pinocchio.  The song, with its beautiful melody and its hopeful lyrics, have become such a part of Disney that the tune is practically the unofficial-yet-official theme song of the studio.

Next week, a brand new GOLDEN PLACES and tomorrow, a very special IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS.

10 FAVORITES (42) - Disney Voices

After over 80 years and over 60 animated films, the Walt Disney Company has amassed a large cast of characters.  Some are beloved, some are despised and some are just so evil that we can't help but cheer when they come on the screen.  But one of the true measures of the impact of a great Disney character is thanks in large part to the performance of the actor or actress chosen to play that role.  Which performance is the most special?  That's what this week's 10 FAVORITES is all about.  Below, is my list of 10 (actually, 12!) best Vocal Performances from Disney animated films.  Now, when I say "Vocal Performance," I am not referring to singing (though most of the characters listed below sing, with a couple exceptions!).  Also, you will notice that almost half of the characters on the list are villains.  And to put it bluntly, villains are often the most memorable thing in a Disney film.  But a hero, a heroine or even a sidekick can be just as memorable, if it is done just right!  So, without further ado, here are:

THE BEST VOICE PERFORMANCES

IN DISNEY FILMS

HONORABLE MENTION
Adriana Caselotti as Snow White
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
The original Disney heroine is an "Honorable Mention" mainly because the voice of the sweet Adriana Caselotti almost irritated me for a while.  But there is no more iconic vocal performance than Caselotti's renditions of "Whistle While You Work" or "Someday My Prince Will Come."  I felt she needed some recognition on this list.

VOICE #10
James Woods as Hades
Hercules (1997)
While this film is not the most beloved within the Disney canon (especially within the studio itself!), the performance of James Woods as the devilish Hades is quite the scene-stealer.  Woods utilizes some of his best skills and is the perfect bad guy (in what might be called a "so-so" film!).

VOICE #9
Donna Murphy as Mother Gothel
Tangled (2010)
The biggest highlight in last year's animated hit was the performance of two-time Tony Award-winner Donna Murphy as the deliciously wicked Mother Gothel.  The twists the writers gave to the Rapunzel story and that of the "witch" character were perfectly fitted to Murphy's theatrical bravado.  She's cruel, she's selfish and she's a total bitch, but we love her for it!

VOICE #8
Kathryn Beaumont as Alice
Alice In Wonderland (1951)
No matter where I am or what I'm watching, when I think of the character of Alice from the Lewis Carroll classic story, I hear Beaumont's sweet and wistful voice.  She's so prim and proper and just the perfect little girl as we follow her curiosity and her adventures in Wonderland.

VOICE #7
James Earl Jones as Mufasa
The Lion King (1994)
No one can deny the power of this man's voice!  James Earl Jones, who chilled us as the voice of Darth Vader, moved us to tears when he voiced the father of Simba.  The scene in which Mufasa's ghost comes to the disenchanted Simba is one of the most haunting and powerful scenes in the movie, certainly in thanks to James Earl Jones' voice!

VOICE #6
Eleanor Audley as Maleficent
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
I've talked of my love for this movie and even then I talked about how much I loved this villain.  The dripping disdain in Eleanor Audley's voice when she is cursing the innocent Aurora (soon after her birth!) is so spiteful...but I can't help loving this character more!  Audley also voiced the wicked Stepmother in Disney's Cinderella, so she was no stranger to the world of the Disney villain.

VOICE #5
Pat Carroll as Ursula
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Like many other Disney villains, Ursula practically steals the movie from the rest of the delightful cast of characters.  Character actress Pat Carroll was so amazing when she voiced the role and her performance shines through.  In fact, the song "Poor Unfortunate Souls" is one of the best songs in Disney history and certainly a showstopper sequence if there ever was one in a Disney film!

VOICE #4
Phil Harris as Baloo the Bear
The Jungle Book (1967)
Jazz legend Phil Harris sounded so at ease with the lazy "jungle bum" character of Baloo and his performance of the Oscar-nominated song, "The Bare Necessities," is so ingrained in our collective consciousness.  Harris would go on to voice O'Malley the Alley Cat in 1970's The AristoCats and Little John in 1973's Robin Hood (Little John was quite similar to Baloo in many ways, not just Harris' voice!), but it is his performance as Baloo that is forever in our hearts.

VOICE #3
TIE
Jonathan Freeman as Jafar
Aladdin (1992)
AND
Jeremy Irons as Scar
The Lion King (1994)
I put these two together because they are practically equal in my mind and their performances as two of Disney's greatest villains are so wickedly great.  Character actor (of film and stage) Jonathan Freeman was so snake like and imperious as Jafar and, when you talk about imperious, you cannot forget Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons' performance as Scar.  Interesting note about Irons' performance of the song "Be Prepared" (below): Irons' voice cracked more than halfway through the song (on the line: "You won't get a sniff without me!") and master voice actor Jim Cummings (who also voiced Ed, the loony hyena) had to finish the song in his stead.  My father said if I hadn't pointed it out, he would never have noticed it.  I believe many other people don't notice either!

VOICE #2
Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
As I've stated before, this is my favorite Disney film of all-time.  There are so many things I love about this film and the cast is chief among them.  But if I had to pick a stand-out performance, I would not hesitate to recognize the charming performance of the great Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts.  She is so perfect and proper as the teapot that by the time the film gets to the title song (which Lansbury sings!), my heart races to hear her brilliant rendition.  And it makes it even more special when I heard (from Alan Menken in an interview) that Lansbury was able to perform the song perfectly in the recording booth in one take!

AND...
VOICE #1
Robin Williams as The Genie
Aladdin (1992)
Of course this performance would top this list.  When Robin Williams wowed critics and audiences with this vocal performance, it changed the game.  Since then, stars line up to take a part in a Disney animated film (and now, DreamWorks animated films!).  Williams' performance was so important to the film that both the Golden Globes and the Academy thought about giving him a special award.  And the Academy still talks about creating a Vocal Performance category, and that is all thanks to Robin Williams' role as The Genie.

WHAT ABOUT THE PIXAR FILMS?

Some of you may be asking the above question at this moment, so to allay your worries, here are the 5 best voices in PIXAR's short history (hence the 5 and not 10!):

PIXAR VOICE #5
Jason Lee as Syndrome
The Incredibles (2004)
For anyone who remembers Jason Lee's fantastic performance in the Kevin Smith films (Mallrats & Chasing Amy, in particular), his role as the ultimate fanboy turned total villain is quite the highlight of the 2004 Oscar-winning adventure.

PIXAR VOICE #4
Peter O'Toole as Anton Ego
Ratatouille (2007)
Getting the well-respected Peter O'Toole to voice the role of the cynical food critic was quite a coup for PIXAR and his brilliant speech towards the end of the film is as much about all critics (and criticism, in general!) as it is about food.

PIXAR VOICE #3
Billy Crystal as Mike Wazowski
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
When you create a character like Mike Wazowski, you need a top-notch comedian to take it to the next level and Billy Crystal is in that category.

PIXAR VOICE #2
Ellen DeGeneres as Dory
Finding Nemo (2003)
In a cast filled with charming performances (Albert Brooks, Willem Dafoe, Geoffrey Rush, etc.), it is Ellen DeGeneres as the absent-minded Dory that almost steals the touching, funny and poignant movie.

AND...
PIXAR VOICE #1
Tom Hanks as Woody
The Toy Story movies (1995, 1999 & 2010)
In all three movies, it is the performance of Tom Hanks as Woody that is at the franchise's heart and it is a testament to the power of Hanks as an actor (whether he is seen or just heard!).