BigbyWolf235 writes to ask:
Dear Jim,
Perhaps you can help settle a Disney Urban Legend for me. It seems since the beginning of films there have always been strange rumors as to things that were stuck in the backgrounds of scenes. In THE WIZARD OF OZ there was always the rumor of the Munchkin hanging himself at the end of the Tinman's musical number, in THREE MEN AND A BABY it was the alleged ghost of the boy who dead, in THE LION KING people claim that the dust cloud that Simba stirs when he lies down spells out the word SEX while others say it's really F/X, meaning special effects, and of course in THE LITTLE MERMAID, there's the theory that the priest at the end has an erection instead of his sword hilt sticking out from under his robes.
The rumor in WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT is that in the scene where Benny the Cab is escaping through the tunnel with Eddie and Jessica, and he runs over the dip. Eddie and Jessica are thrown from the car, as Jessica spins around, if you freeze frame it correctly, Jessica isn't wearing underwear.
Any idea if this is true? Or just another person giving a great Disney film a hard time?
Dear BigbyWolf235,
You're right. "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" really IS a great Disney movie. (Though, to be fair, I should point out that — due to the somewhat adult nature of certain aspects of this truly entertaining Robert Zemeckis film — that studio executives back in 1988 were extremely reluctant to put the "Walt Disney Pictures" name on "WFRR." Which is why, in the end, that picture was released under the "Touchstone Pictures" banner. Just so the Mouse could distance itself a bit from the rather risqué "Roger Rabbit." Anyway …) Which is why I'm personally looking forward to the March 25th release of the two disc DVD "Vista Series" edition of this movie.
But before all you animation buffs race out to snatch up copies of the new "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" DVD (with the hope that you'll now finally be able to get a good, clear view of a panty-free Jessica Rabbit), I'm afraid that I have some rather sad news for you: Buena Vista Home Entertainment reportedly already had Disney's animators go back in and fix this titillating footage (which — as Bigbywolf235 previously mentioned — occurs fairly late in the film, just as Eddie Valiant and Jessica are flying out of Benny the Cab. Right after the animated taxi hits a patch of Dip in the road and smashes into a telephone pole. As Jessica is tumbling through the air, her dress flies up and … well, you get the idea …) for "Roger Rabbit"'s initial DVD release. Which was 'way back in September 1999.
So now — were you to go frame-by-frame through this particular scene in the original "WFRR" DVD and/or the soon-to-be-released 2-disc "Vista Series" version of the film — you would be able to see quite clearly that Jessica Rabbit is now wearing some nice white undies.
Mind you, I know for a fact that this wasn't always the case. How do I know for sure? Because Gary Wolf, the author of the original "Who Censored Roger Rabbit" (the book that the Zemeckis movie was based on), personally confirmed the bottomless Jessica story for me. As proof, Wolf pulled out his secret stash of individual frame blow-ups from the original theatrical release of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit." And one of these frame blow-ups did appear to show Ms. Rabbit sans panties.
And this wasn't the only now-censored image that Gary had is his "WFRR" collection. Among the other frame blow-ups I saw that afternoon were:
Baby Herman — drool dribbling off of his lower lip — taking a lascivious look up the script girl's skirt as he passed between her legs.
This frame blow-up was immediately followed by an image of Baby Herman playfully reaching a hand up the script girl's skirt. As if the diminutive toon is making a grab for her panties.
A topless Betty Boop selling cigarettes at the Ink & Paint Club.
But the one image that Wolf showed me that day that really startled me — the one which (I think) no one else has ever commented about before — is the single frame in the film where Bugs Bunny appears to be flipping the bird to Mickey Mouse.
Which image am I talking about? Okay. Go pull out your old VHS version of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit." Now fast forward to the sequence where Eddie Valiant is in Toontown. In particular, the scene where Eddie — in his effort of get away from Gina Hyena — ends up falling off of a kajillion-story-tall apartment building. And — as Valiant plummets toward the ground — Bugs and Mickey suddenly appear on either side of the private dick, sky-diving.
The image that you'll be looking for comes right after Bugs gives Eddie "the spare." Upon opening this package, Valiant discovers what he thought was a parachute is actually a spare tire. The detective then screams as he falls out of the frame, zooming toward the pavement.
As a pay-off for this gag, the camera now quickly cuts back to the Bunny and the Mouse. Who — since their own parachutes have safely opened — are now serenely floating above Toontown. Mickey (ever the sympathetic character) looks down and says "Aw, poor fella." While Bugs (ever the unrepentant trickster) gnaws on a carrot and says "Yeah. Ain't I a stinker?"
Okay. It's the animation of Bug's "Ain't I a stinker?" line that you really want to pay attention to. Note that Bugs has one finger foisted in the air as he daintily chews on that carrot. Now note which finger that actually is.
Now pay particularly close attention to Mickey's expression during this brief bit of animation. As you slowly go frame-by-frame through this scene, you'll eventually find the image where Mickey is looking on — somewhat dumb-foundedly — as Bug brazenly flips him the bird. It actually looks as if the Mouse is thinking: "Hey, did that rabbit actually just give me the finger?"
Given that I've never heard anyone — outside of Gary Wolf — ever mention this "Bugs flips Mickey the bird" gag, (In fact, I just put both "Bugs flips Mickey the bird" and "Bugs gives Mickey the finger" into Google. Neither one of these queries came back with a solid "Roger Rabbit" related hit), I have to assume that this infamous obscene exchange between these two legendary toons will still be plainly visible on the deluxe 2-disc "Vista Series" edition of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit."
Unless of course, Disney opts to pull another "Rescuers" maneuver here. Remember how — back in January 1999 — Buena Vista Home Entertainment abruptly pulled 3.4 million copies of the VHS version of "The Rescuers" off of store shelves? All because Disney Company officials had just learned that — in four frames of that film — you can actually see an image of a really-for-real topless woman in a window that Orville the albatross flies by.
If Buena Vista Home Entertainment was willing to go to all the time and expense of recalling all those millions of videos just so children wouldn't see a single topless woman … (FYI: This somewhat obscene sight gag had been well known about in animation circles ever since "The Rescuers"'s initial theatrical release 'way back in June of 1977) … one wonders what BVHE is going to do once word gets out about this "Bugs flips Mickey the bird" gag.
So let's see what we all get to see once the 2-disc "Vista Series" version of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" hits stores next month.
Anyway … Now, Jeremy W. writes in to ask:
Jim-
I'm a great fan of your writing and insights. You've written so much great info about other attractions that I was wondering if you had any interesting stories about Fantasmic! Keep up the great info!
Jeremy
Dear Jeremy,
Well, what I've always found fascinating about "Fantasmic!" is that no one ever seems to remember the real origin of this show. Which was actually the grand opening ceremony for Disneyland's New Fantasyland (which was staged in the park 8 to 10 different times in the latter part of April / early part of May 1983).
Surely at least one of you JHM readers got to attend this truly impressive pageant which was staged in front of and on top of Sleeping Beauty Castle. It featured dozens of singers and dancers. Tons of characters cavorting about. Day-time fireworks. The Royal trumpeters …
But the real highlight of DL's New Fantasyland opening ceremony was when — with a huge puff of colored smoke — Maleficent made her dramatic entrance. "Why wasn't I invited?" the wicked fairy sneered. Because of this perceived slight, Maleficent announced that "I shall deny Fantasyland from all of you forever."
It was at this point in the program that a real-life stand-in for Prince Phillip came riding up to the castle on a white charger. "Be gone, Maleficent," the would-be Prince cried. "It's time to re-open Fantasyland."
With that, Prince Phillip leaped off Sampson (his horse) and began scaling the castle walls. Maleficent — to prove that Disney magic was no match for her awesome power — now began to rise up out of the castle moat. Eventually — thanks to some amazing do-hinky that was hidden away in the folds of this character's voluminous dress — the wicked fairy actually towers over Sleeping Beauty Castle, cackling manically …
Any of this starting to sound kind of familiar to you "Fantasmic!" fans yet?
Anyway … luckily, Prince Phillip is armed with the Sword of Truth. He takes one whack at the oversized witch. With another huge puff of colored smoke (as well as some appropriate musical accompaniment), Maleficent disappears. And New Fantasyland is saved.
Sounds like a pretty neat ceremony, doesn't it? Well, those who saw this elaborate pageant (and the opening ceremonies for Disneyland's New Fantasyland WERE staged a number of times. Once for Disney Studio employees and their families. Once for the staff of WED and their families. Not to mention the separate opening ceremonies that were staged for the Southern Californian press as well as the out-of-town media) said it was a truly impressive show. Some folks even said that they liked the pageant in front of the castle more than they liked New Fantasyland!
Anywho … this overwhelming positive reaction to New Fantasyland's opening ceremony did not go unnoticed by the staff of Disneyland's Entertainment Office. Which got these people thinking: "What if we were to do something like this every day during the summer? Stage an elaborate pageant right in front of and on top of Sleeping Beauty Castle? Wouldn't the guests go ape for something like that?"
So — using New Fantasyland's opening ceremony as their leaping off point — Disneyland's Entertainment Office began exploring the possibilities of this idea. And — given what a huge hit that battle with Maleficent had been — that sequence remained a key component of what became known as "The Castle Show" as it moved through various drafts.
As time (and numerous rewrites) went by, Prince Phillip and Samson eventually rode off into the sunset as they were written out of "The Castle Show." These "Sleeping Beauty" characters were replaced by Mickey Mouse. Who (according to the various drafts of this show that I've seen) was just trying to lead the crowds assembled in front of the Castle through the countdown that lead up to the start of Disneyland's nightly fireworks when Maleficent suddenly burst on the scene and spoiled everyone's fun.
Of course, in order to "plus" this new night-time show that was being proposed for the park, Disneyland's Entertainment staffers thought: "Wouldn't it be cool if Mickey didn't just fight with an over-sized wicked fairy, but actually battled that enormous Maleficent-as-a-dragon creature that we saw toward the end of 'Sleeping Beauty'?"
With this in mind, Disneyland's Entertainment office began exploring what it might actually cost to build a mechanical dragon for Mickey to do battle with. Unfortunately, the enormous AA figure that the Imagineers proposed building was far too expensive.
But — on the heels of the over-sized inflatable characters and costumes that Disneyland had used in its short lived "Flights of Fancy" parade (qhich actually only ran in the park in 1983, as part of Disneyland's summer-long celebration of New Fantasyland's re-opening) — Disneyland Entertainment staffers began toying with the idea of building an inflatable version of the Maleficent-as-a-dragon figure. Something affordable (and hopefully, cheap to maintain) that could rise up, loom over Sleeping Beauty Castle as well as do battle with Mickey.
So sketches were made and models were built. The idea was that Mickey Mouse — who was now the wielding that Sword of Truth that Prince Phillip used to have — would think that he had actually vanquished Maleficent when the towering version of the wicked fairy disappeared in yet another puff of colored smoke. So — as the Mouse strutted about the drawbridge area of Sleeping Beauty Castle, muttering Mickey-isms like "Aw, Shucks" and "Well, that was easy" and "She wasn't so tough" — the gigantic Maleficent-as-a-dragon figure would slowly rise up (as it was being inflated) from deep inside New Fantasyland and eventually loom over Sleeping Beauty Castle.
At this point, Mickey who suddenly take notice of the enormous dragon and — seemingly terrified — run inside Sleeping Beauty Castle. The Maleficent-as-a-dragon figure would then rear back its head, blow a little fire, chuckle evilly, then say "Disneyland is mine! All mine!"
It was then that we'd notice that Mickey — now dressed in his sorcerer costume from the original "Fantasia" — was now up on the roof of the castle. The Maleficent-as-a-dragon was supposed to have noticed Mickey by now too. The enormous creature would then blow a little flame at the Mouse. But Mickey would stand his ground and — pointing an hand at the transformed wicked fairy — would shoot a ball of fireworks right at the creature.
This single burst of "Disney Magic" would supposedly be all that was needed to smite the creature. As the Maleficent-as-a-dragon shrieked with agony and quickly sank out of sight, more of Mickey's character pals would come pouring out of the castle and — through song and dance — celebrate the wicked fairy's defeat.
Of course, the real reason that the Maleficent-as-a-dragon balloon disappeared so quickly was because some behind-the-scenes Disneyland technicians had pulled the plug on this enormous cold-air inflatable. But (hopefully) all those characters singing and dancing in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle would distract the crowd as the Maleficent balloon suddenly sagged and went limp.
But then again, who can keep their eyes on a saggy dragon balloon when Mickey's dancing on top of the castle? And — with every wave of his wand — sending another burst of colorful fireworks rocketing through the skies over the theme park.
Finally, Mickey uses the last of his magic to send an enormous sky rocket right up to the top of the Matterhorn. Only this time, the firework doesn't actually explode. The light at the top of this Disneyland icon seems to twinkle and glow, finally revealing itself to be (you guessed it!) Tinker Bell … and then (finally!) Disneyland's traditional summer night-time fireworks display would get underway.
Sounds like a pretty neat idea for a theme park show, doesn't it? Well, where this gets interesting is that this whole Mickey-battles-an-enormous-inflatable-dragon-on-top-of-Sleeping-Beauty-Castle project got a lot further along the Disneyland production pipeline than you might expect.
"How far?" you ask. Well, past the drawing phase. And well past the miniature model stage.
"What a minute, Jim," I hear you saying. "Are you claiming that Disneyland Entertainment actually went ahead and had a giant inflatable version of the Maleficent-as-a-dragon figure made?"
Yep.
Not only that, but Disney Entertainment staffers and the Imagineers ran extensive tests with this over-sized inflatable in the mid-to-late 1980s. Both at Imagineering headquarters in Burbank, CA as well as inside Disneyland itself. After the theme park had closed for the night. Long after all of the tourists had gone home.
Those veteran Disneyland employees and Imagineers who actually got to see these after-hours tests as the enormous Maleficent-as-a-dragon inflatable stood behind Sleeping Beauty Castle say it was a most impressive sight.
At first.
The real problem was … this giant inflatable Maleficent-as-a-dragon figure wasn't actually capable of movement. Nor was it able to blow fire. It just stood there behind the castle and looked like … well … like this really cool big giant balloon.
Disneyland Entertainment staffers thought that if they tied ropes to the inflatable's neck and hands, that behind-the-scenes personnel could manipulate those ropes and give DL guests the illusion that the Maleficent-as-a-dragon inflatable actually was capable of movement. That this immense creature really did pose some sort of threat to Mickey Mouse and Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Unfortunately, as the company that built this cold-air inflatable learned what Disneyland's Entertainment department wanted to do, they quickly put DL's staff on notice that this sort of wear-and-tear could result in the Maleficent-as-a-dragon developing a tear. Which could cause the inflatable to leak. Which could bring the entire "Castle Show" to an abrupt end.
Then there were the other problems inherent in Disneyland's "Castle Show" proposal. As in: there really wasn't a whole lot of performance space on top of Sleeping Beauty Castle. By that I mean: one false step and that poor Disneyland "Zoo Crew" cast member who was playing Mickey Mouse could end up tumbling into the moat.
Then there were the logistics issues. EX: In order to make sure that the enormous Maleficent-as-a-dragon balloon was properly positioned and prepared for its sudden appearance in Disneyland's "Castle Show," the public's access to Sleeping Beauty Castle would have to be cut off at least one hour before that show started. And then — what with all the effort involved in deflating the inflatable, then safely packing up the enormous balloon for the next night's performance — the public's access to Disneyland's castle would be severely restricted for a half hour or more after "The Castle Show" concluded.
Then there's the fact that the primo viewing area for Disneyland's "Castle Show" would have been the Hub. The virtual crossroads of the theme park. Which — given the thousands of people who would then stand in this area for hours before the show began, trying to stake out a premium viewing spot — would cause a colossal traffic tie-up at the very heart of the park. Making it damned difficult for other DL guests to get much of anywhere during those busy summer nights.
Which is why Disneyland's Entertainment staff ultimately decided to back away from the idea of doing "The Castle Show." That — as cool as it might have been to see Mickey battling a giant Maleficent-as-a-dragon inflatable high atop Sleeping Beauty Castle — the headaches and logistical problems involved in staging this sort of elaborate pageant at the very center of the park every night during the summer were just too enormous to ignore.
(And more importantly, why should Disneyland's Entertainment staff try to fix what ain't broke? After all, the park's night-time summer-time fireworks show was already wildly popular with guests. So why go to the expense of adding this elaborate prelude to the show when people were already perfect happy with Disneyland's fireworks show as is?)
Anyway … this is ultimately why Disneyland's Entertainment staff finally reluctantly tabled all discussion of doing a show in, on and around the castle in Anaheim.
Of course, this decision didn't necessarily stop the other members of the Disney corporate family from adapting some of the ideas that DL's Entertainment staff had cooked up for their "Castle Show" for use in some of the corporation's other theme parks in the late 1980s / early 1990s. The spin-offs from Disneyland's "Castle Show" include:
Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant at Disneyland Paris was actually built so that the right hand side of this building could be used an extension of the Fantasyland's "Le Theatre du Chateau" stage. Guests who visited that theme park during its first few years of operation fondly recall that oversized storybook which opened to reveal all the three dimensional sets were used in the show. Not to mention the image of Prince Phillip racing up the exterior steps to the castle tower as part of his heroic effort to wake "la Belle au Bois Dormant."
The concept of a giant cold-air inflatable that suddenly loomed up over the rooftop of a Disney theme park building ended up being "borrowed" by the WDW's Entertainment staff for Disney-MGM's "Sorcery in the Sky" night-time fireworks pageant. Please note that "Sorcery" also the part of "The Castle Show" where Mickey — while dressed in his sorcerer outfit from the original "Fantasia" — shoots fireworks out of the tip of his fingers.
As for that enormous Maleficent-as-a-dragon balloon … that too made the trek down to Disney-MGM. Those of you who visited the studio theme park back during its first few weeks of operation back in 1989 may recall seeing this giant inflatable looming up over the backlot area.
What was the Maleficent-as-a-dragon doing at the studio theme park? Well, the Imagineers were hoping that — as you looked up at the giant inflatable — that you wouldn't notice that there really wasn't much else to look at as you rolled on through the backstage portion of Disney-MGM's tram tour.
I (who — back when I was working as a journalist for the U.S. Army — was lucky enough to actually score an invite to the four-day-long press event that the Walt Disney Company held in order to celebrate the grand opening of WDW's third theme park) have some very distinct memories of that over-sized Maleficent-as-a-dragon inflatable. I recall that it stood toward the middle of Mickey Avenue. Right about where the entrance to Disney-MGM's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – Play It!" faux-game show is currently located.
And I just know that I've got a photograph of that thing towering over the backlot. If I'm ever able to unearth that particular photo from that compost heap in the basement that I laughingly refer to as my reference library, I'll be sure to post it here.
And — as for Disneyland's Entertainment staff — well … they may have temporarily given up on the idea of doing a nightly "Castle Show." But that doesn't mean that they were ready to give up on all the great concepts that they'd created for this proposed show. Eventually, someone said "Hey, what if we were to take some of the ideas that we created for 'The Castle Show' and adapted them for use down on the Rivers of America? You know, a waterfront show. Like they do out at Epcot."
And — from that one suggestion — the "Imagination River Show" (AKA "Fantasmic!") was eventually born.
Now you may have noticed that — in a previous paragraph — that I mentioned that Disneyland's Entertainment staff had "temporarily" abandoned the idea of doing a "Castle Show."
"What do you mean by 'temporarily,' Jim?" you ask. Well, perhaps you've heard about Disneyland's plans to paint Sleeping Beauty Castle gold for 2005 (in honor of the park's 50th — AKA Golden — anniversary). In addition to the new paint job, Disneyland's Entertainment Staff is supposedly toying with staging an all-new fireworks show … a night-time spectacular in which the now-golden castle may become a key component of the program.
So what does this mean? More battling mice? Perhaps another inflatable dragon? Well, I'll let you folks know as soon as I hear some more details.
But just remember that — according to W. Shakespeare — "All the world's a stage." And if that's true, then you have to admit that Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland would make one hell of a cool set on which (or around which) to stage an on-going pageant.
And – finally – Gerald F. writes to ask:
Jim:
Hey, I just learned about these JimHillMedia tours that you're supposed to be giving at Disneyland and DCA next month. Please tell me that it's not too late to get my name on the list for those tours.
Sorry, Gerald. But all 30 slots for my inaugural set of Disneyland tours (which will be held at the Anaheim theme park on Saturday, March 22nd and Sunday, March 23rd) have been filled. If you'd like, I could put your name on a waiting list. But — unless a few people opt to drop out of the tour between now and the middle of March — I can't guarantee that you'll be able to get in on this first go-round.
However, if you'd be interested in signing up for my DCA tour, Gerald … well, that I can do. I still have three spots available for my Sunday morning walking tour which will deal with some of the lesser known aspects of Disney's California Adventure theme park.
Though — truth be told — maybe it's a mistake to call my DCA tour a DCA tour. Why for? Well, because a lot of the stuff that I'll actually be talking that day will involve the Imagineers' original plans for Westcot Center, not to mention how Disney's decisions to pull the plug on the company's "Port Disney / Disney Seas" project in Long Beach, CA as well as its controversial "Disney's America" history theme park in Virginia ultimately affected how Disney's California Adventure turned out. I'll also be discussing Disney's plans for Neptune Gardens, a night-time entertainment district that was supposed to have been built right next to the Disneyland Hotel — a full 15 years before the corporation broke ground for Downtown Disney.
So don't think that — just because you're not actually an enormous fan of Disney's California Adventure theme park — that you should opt to take a pass on my DCA tour, Gerald. DCA is really only going to be part of the story that I tell that day.
Anyway … as I said earlier: I've only got three open slots left on that tour. And when they're gone … well, I guess I could start a wait-list for my DCA tour too. But again. unless some folks suddenly opt to bomb out of that tour, I can't absolutely guarantee that I'll be able to squeeze you in once I get out to Southern California in March.
As for prices … I'm still just charging $25.00 per person per tour. Prices for the tours that I'll probably be holding later this year (I'm currently giving some semi-serious thought to holding a second set of Disneyland and DCA tours in June. Possibly followed by a third set of tours in mid-July, to coincide with the National Fantasy Fan Club's annual convention) will invariably go up. Otherwise, my ex-wife, Michelle Smith (AKA the Fabulous Disney Babe, who also offers her very own Disneyland tour — "The Fabulous Tour: Disneyland Secrets & Stories" — through LaughingPlace.com) will kill me.
Okay. Enough with the pseudo-hard sell of my tours … It's late and I'm sure that you're all exhausted from having to read through these marathon-length responses to this week's "Why For" questions. I know that I'm wiped just from having to type up the thing.
Anyway … now that we're all on the other side of the memorial service for the Columbia tragedy as well as Colin Powell's appearance in front of the U.N. Security Council, I'm hoping that you're all now in the mood for something fairly light at the site. Like perhaps me finally getting that long promised, revamped version of "Remembering Light Magic" series underway.
So keep an eye out for that one, folks. Provided "that the Good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise," the first installment will debut on JHM this coming Monday. Or possibly Tuesday.
I'll let you know, okay?
In the meantime, you folks have a great weekend, okay?
I'll talk to you all next week. Til then, take care, okay?
jrh