Right now, every other Disney info site out there on the web is talking up “Brother Bear.” Which is understandable, given that this animated feature is opening nationally on November 1st (on October 24th in NYC and LA).
But — here at JimHillMedia.com – we like to do things a little differently. Not do what everyone is doing. So — while I’m sure that we’ll be doing some stories about “Brother Bear” in the not-so-distant future — today, I’d like to talk about the Disney animated film that comes after “BB.” The one that isn’t actually due out in theaters ’til April 2004: “Home on the Range.”
Thanks to Olivier Mouroux at animated-movies.com
for use of this image.
Me personally, I’ve been keeping track of this WDFA project for years now. Of course, back then, this film was called “Sweatin’ Bullets” and/or “Sweating Bullets.” And Mike Gabriel and Mike Giamo were riding herd on the production. And — to be honest — the buzz on this picture wasn’t all that hot.
But then the two Mikes were replaced by Will Finn and John Sanford. And with two new directors calling the shots on this animated western, I began to hear (from WDFA insiders) that things were improving on this production. That the film was constantly getting tighter and funnier. That Will and John were on the job. And that — slowly but surely — they were getting things turned around.
But then came the news that Finn and Sanford had hired Roseanne to provide the voice of Maggie, the lead cow in this animated musical comedy. Which may be the most appropriate piece of animation vocal casting ever. Which was when I knew that “Home on the Range” was really going to be a film to watch out for. That this WDFA production had the potential to become one funny flick.
Happily, it appears that my hunch about “Home on the Range” was correct. How do I know? Well, because I got this great e-mail from a nice guy called JC who lives in Orlando. He wrote to me Friday to say:
(I) just wanted to give you a heads-up about a sneak preview I attended on 10-1 of the completely finished “Home on the Range.” As I was waiting in line to pick up my children from school on Monday, a woman walked by my car and asked if I would like to bring my children to see a new animated movie from Disney that wouldn’t be released until next summer. I immediately knew she was talking about “Home on the Range.” I told her we would love to go, so she gave us a paper and a toll free number to call to RSVP.
We were told to be at Pleasure Island AMC 1 hour before show time which was scheduled at 4:30pm. We arrived at 3:20 and were 84th in line. Seating was limited so we knew we would make it in. We were told that this was a special screening for the Showeast convention and there would be many conventioneers there.
We were let in at 4PM to the theater were almost half the seats were roped off for the invited guests. My kids and I were lucky enough to sit in the “stadium” seats. Before we were let in to the theater, we had to go through security to be checked for recording devices including cell phones with picture capabilities. The theater was completely filled and the show began.
First, let me say I have been following the stories about “Home on the Range” for the past two years and I heard all the discussions concerning the voice talents and story line changes. I really thought we were going to see a “work in progress” film, somewhat akin to “Beauty and the Beast” special edition with a combination of pencil sketches rough drafts and completed animation. Boy was I wrong! This was a complete movie!
Within the first two minutes of the film I knew we were in for a special treat! I won’t go in to great detail about the story line but I can tell you this is going to be a great Disney classic. The animation reminded me of early 1950 Disney work and my son remarked the animals looked like they came right out of “Mary Poppins”! The musical score and songs from Alan Menken are topnotch. The blended computer and traditional animation were seamless.
Both my children said it was one of the funniest movies they had ever seen and I have to agree with them in the context of recent Disney animated pictures. This is definitely the funniest since “Aladdin.” The movie received a huge round of applause at the finish with more than half of the audience waiting to leave until the final credits were through.
I forgot to mention that before the movie began, one of the men in charge of the screening made an announcement that everyone had been searched for recording devices and if anyone saw someone else taping or taking pictures during the movie, they should report them immediately. The organizers walked the aisles continually throughout the movie watching for anyone taking pictures.
I’m not sure if you had heard about the screening but as one of the lucky few to see it, I have to say this is going to be a bonafide hit for Disney. 2-D animation is not dead! 🙂
Gee, I hope you’re right, JC. That — if “Home on the Range” really is as good as you say — 2-D animation at Walt Disney Studios really isn’t dead after all.
Now the above story was great all by itself. But you know me, folks. I just couldn’t leave well enough alone. So I wrote back to JC and — after thanking him profusely for sending along this info to share with JHM readers — asked JC if he could share even more information about “Home on the Range.” Like — perhaps — recounting the film’s plot and/or talking about his favorite characters from the film.
Well, JC rose to the challenge. And just yesterday, he sent along a second e-mail. Which — I have to warn you — contains MASSIVE SPOILERS about “Home on the Range”‘s characters and storyline. So — if you want to walk into your local multiplex next April without knowing what this whole picture is about — NOW would be a really good time to bail out of this article.
I’m serious, people. MASSIVE SPOILERS about Disney’s “Home on the Range” are just a paragraph or so away. If you really don’t want to know what this film is about, head to the exits now. I mean it.
Okay. Still here? Good. ‘Cause you’re going to LOVE to read what JC has to say about “Home on the Range.”
The movie began with a rousing musical number which (I think) is sung by kd Lang. Maggie (a cow voiced by Roseanne) is being led on the back of a wagon to her new farm owned by a kindly widow lady (shades of Widow Tweed in “The Fox and the Hound”). Of course Maggie doesn’t fit in with the existing farm animals because she is loud and brash but this is what makes her so special. She is especially disliked by Mrs. Calloway (another cow voiced by Judi Dench). The third cow, Grace (voiced by Meg Tilly) is ever-so sweet and not-so-smart and immediately likes Maggie.
Maggie’s previous owner has had to auction off his ranch because Alameda Slim has rustled the entire herd. While Maggie is settling in to her new farm, the sheriff arrives with a notice for the widow that the bank is going to foreclose on her ranch (known as Patch of Heaven) if she doesn’t come up with $750. The sheriff’s horse is named Buck (voiced by Cuba Gooding, Jr.) who thinks he is God’s gift to horses. He is one of the best characters of the film.
All seems lost until Maggie remembers there is a state fair coming up and she is going to enter for Best of Show and she decides to head to town. Grace and Mrs. Calloway go along with her. On the way, they pass Maggie’s old farm (which) is being auctioned off to a man named Y. Odel. He is a big man with lots of cash and huge smile. Maggie and the girls continue on their way.
There is a great scene when they arrive into town and unknowingly enter a saloon stage show. This is so fast paced it was hard to watch it all, everything happening at the same time, but all-in-all a great scene.
After they leave the saloon, a huge cloud of dust rises outside of town like a storm coming up fast. The townsfolk begin whispering, “Rico!”, a bounty hunter. He is bringing in a wanted man to the sheriff. When he arrives he requests a fresh horse and Buck, who has dreamed of being Rico’s horse, is chosen for the job. They ride out of town on the lookout for Alameda Slim. That’s where Maggie gets the idea to bring Alameda Slim to justice and win the $750 reward for his capture and save the Widow’s farm.
The next scene introduces Alameda Slim and his unusual way of cattle rustling. He yodels, which hypnotizes the cattle to follow him anywhere. This scene is great! The visuals are reminiscent of “Pink Elephants” from “Dumbo” and “Be our Guest” from “Beauty and the Beast.” My kids loved it! Alameda has the cattle in a secret mountain hiding place with the help of his three idiot nephews.
The girls leave town following Rico’s tracks. Along the way, Rico ditches Buck for a less skittish horse. Buck realizes the girls are still following Rico and tries to confuse them by trampling on the tracks. Discouraged and lost, Mrs. Calloway and Grace decide to head back to the farm after a huge rainstorm. Maggie will go on alone. As they head back they meet Jack, a jack rabbit who helps them regain the trail and they are back on the hunt. They come upon the secret hideout of Alameda which is guarded by a huge buffalo (another great character). Buck is trying to get past the buffalo without luck. The girls walk up as if they had strayed from the heard and are let right in. Buck asks them to help him get in but knowing he tried to get them lost, they won’t help. The girls head in and with the aid of Jack’s cotton tail, they close off their ears so they can’t hear Alameda’s yodeling. Alameda is busy counting the herd so they can board a train.
The next scene is a no holds barred show stopper! I had so many different thoughts and images running through my mind. It turns out to be a hilarious chase scene between the girls and Jack, Alameda Slim, Rico and Buck, and the train. This was “Rollercoaster Rabbit,” “Runaway Brain” and Big Thunder Mountain all rolled into one! I can see the reviews now… “one hell of a ride!”
Needless to say, it all has a happy ending, and we were sad to see it end! The final musical number was a reprise of the title song and tied it all together. It will be very interesting to see if they make any changes after the test previews.
All I can say is I feel very fortunate to have been one of the first to see it.
And I feel very fortunate that JC thought enough of JimHillMedia to send this story along to our site. So that you folks could be among the first to hear the good news about Disney’s “Home on the Range.”
I mean, doesn’t that sound like a great movie? A flat out funny film with some wonderful musical numbers. Who wouldn’t want to see a new Disney animated feature like that?
So kudos to Will Finn and John Sanford as well as the rest of the crew who worked on “Home on the Range.” The people who took a deeply troubled production and turned it into what sounds like one really entertaining movie.
Which is why — come April 2004 — I’ll be leaving my house in the woods to head out for “Home on the Range.”
Now — totally changing the subject here — I have a couple of bits of news that I need to share today:
1) We got a really nice response this past weekend from a lot of people who were interested in taking part in the next round of JHM Disneyland tours (which will be held at the Anaheim Resort on Saturday, November 1st and Sunday, November 2nd).
Just so you know, this is the tentative schedule for these JHM readers events:
Saturday, November 1st
10 a.m. to 12 Noon — 1st Tour of Disneyland
12:30 to 1:30 p.m. — Informal Lunch with Tour Participants
2:00 to 4 p.m. — 2nd Tour of Disneyland
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. — Tour Follow-up Q & A
Sunday, November 2nd
10 a.m. to 12 Noon — 3rd Tour of Disneyland
12:30 to 1:30 p.m. — Informal Lunch with Tour Participants
2:00 to 4 p.m. — 1st Tour of Disney’s California Adventure
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. — Tour Follow-up Q & A
There’s also been some discussion of doing a “JHM Night at the Movies” that Saturday evening. Which basically means that — on November 1st — a group of JHM readers would go over to the Downtown Disneyland AMC to catch a screening of “Brother Bear.” Then — after that — we’d head out to an area restaurant (possibly “Whitewater Snacks” at Disney’s Grand California Resort Hotel) for a nosh … where I’d then share some stories about the making of this particular WDFA production.
So — if you’d be interested in taking part in any of the above events — please drop us a line here at JimHillMedia.com and we’ll put your name on the appropriate list.
2) Next up, I have a special request of your JHM readers who have extensive laser disc collections. I am looking for someone who has a copy of the original version of the “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” laser disc. If anyone out there has a copy of this laser disc that they’d be willing to share, I’d really appreciate hearing from you ASAP.
3) And — speaking of sharing — I just had to share this photograph that Paul N. was nice enough to send along.
Now I know that a lot of the other Disneyana websites out there have had pictures of the “Hollywood Tower Hotel” sign (which went up on DCA’s “Twilight Zone Tower of Terror” show building late last week). But how many of those other sites had this picture?
DCA’s Tower of Terror. Click to view image full size.
Which is rather appropriate, don’t you think? Given that this entire attraction is basically a “Guest Drop Off Area.”
Anyway … here’s hoping that today’s article helped you fill your daily minimum requirement for Disney-related information as well as ironic photographs.
Your thoughts?