...is one of the ensemble voices in the 1997 animated version of Anastasia (so is Michele Pawk, but she wasn't in J&H). She's credited as "Emily Skinner"... but I'm assuming its the same person.

That's certainly interesting... but I must admit that I hate the movie "Anastasia". :P

Anastasia is very mediocre in my opinion.

Its not historically accurate in any sense of the two words... its more the story of Anna Anderson, and a fictionalized version of her story at that.

The music is Ahrens/Flaherty, who also wrote Seussical the Musical, which would account for why Michele Pawk would be involved (the original "Amayzing Mayzie"), and would also accound for its musical mediocrity.

BUT, I digress...

Yep. They took a great historical story and twisted around, filling it with Hollywood cliches... ugh. It was the same thing with Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" which I loathe even more than this one. :)

I was deeply offended with the way they interpreted the Russian Revolution. And I'm not Russian :blink: I can only imagine how they feel...

But, in terms of animation, it's one of the most revolutionary leaps forth since Aladdin and Snow White: in terms it has the feel of a live action comedy with the banter between the characters. It ain't fake storytelling, nor is it superficial, but a very deep portrayal through the means of animation. I was moved by it...

Besides, my great hero Jim Steinman produced the Rasputin song: "In the Dark of the Night" which is one of my favourite villain songs of all time

^ I love that song!

I have a very... interesting demo of me singing it somewhere :rolleyes:

Emily Scott Skinner is indeed the same as Emily Skinner. See the FAQ on the Jekyll site

She was also in Side Show on Broadway. IBDB credits

Best,
Peter

I used to watch that movie all the time when I was younger, along with "Notre Dame". "In the Dark of the Night" was one of my favorite songs.

Well, I haven't watched "Anastasia" in years, so I don't really remember the songs. But I DO remember "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" quite clearly and Victor Hugo was certainly rolling in his grave... Am I just crazy, or does Frollo's "Hellfire" number REALLY belong in a rated G movie? :huh: Hugo's novel simply isn't a family-oriented story, and adding idiotic singing gargoyles doesn't change that.

Here's my take on Disney's movies....

Many of them (Poccahanta, Hunchback, etc) caused my kindergartener to want to know more...she asks more questions, can argue/debate facts, thoughts and ideas. I work at a high school and see the struggle every day trying to get kids interested in something other than the internet. If that's what it takes to get a kid to ask questions, do a little research, whatever, I'm fine with that!

Disney movies are what introduced my kids to theater. they graduated from Bambi, Tarzan, etc. into the ballet (The Nutcracker), Fiddler on the Roof, Joseph, and even Phantom of the Opera. Yes both my 6 and 3yr olds not only watch these movies, but can and do sing along with the soundtracks. Can you tell I'm a proud parent????

While movies are inaccurate at times, and will cut corners to make a buck, sometimes the bigger picture and impact are worth it.

You make a good point. If it helps kids get involved in other things, what's the harm? Although, my teachers did worry about me when I used to sing "Hellfire" and "Court of Miracles" during free-time in class. :rolleyes:

Oh, hell yeah.

Disney's take is a complete travesty. It would have been interesting to see what they'd have done if they interpreted "Phantom of the Opera" but I suppose they wouldn't compete with Andrew Lloyd Webber...

Of interest is the Disney production of "Der Glockner von Notre Dame" (sic?) which takes the movie as a basis, with all its songs and original score, and adapts it to the Hugo text. This is actually quite clever. The gargoyle-characters are erased and most of the original novel is restored, including the Judge's seduction with Esmeralda. Plus there are a heap of new songs and the omittion of 'The Court of Miracles'.

Of interest, also, is the cast soundtrack of the Movie HUNCHBACK. Many of the songs are extended, with darker lyrics, especially in the case of "Hellfire". That actually touches on Frollo's lust for Esmeralda: all of which is cut from the movie. i.e. after he shouts at the soldiers to "get out, you idiots" he reprises the song with more gruesome lyrics, so I can understand why Disney cut it out of the film. I definitely think it's a dark movie. It may be the only Disney film, besides Black Cauldron, that got a PG rating.

I have never seen the Disney sequel.. and, frankly, I don't want to

I'm all for Disney movies. They revolutionized the industry and developed a unique American art-form. Snow White, Pinocchio, Fantasia are all classics. In ways, Pinocchio exceeds Snow White and deserves more credit than the earlier (even though it bastardized the original novel).

What I don't like is this corporate crap. Disney had an amazing comeback with Beauty and the Beast etc. then it turned to writing sequels. Disney, in his lifetime, was opposed to this very strongly. He was given offers to create sequels to Three Little Pigs, Snow White and, basically, every one of his financial successes. Walt believed in art and vision, not laziness, and it seems the very legacy he built has been crapped all over...

Subpar sequels: The Rescuers Down Under, The Return of Jafar, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, Pooh's Grand Adventure, Pocahontas II: Journey to the New World, Hunchback of Notre Dame II, Lady and the Tramp II, Cinderella II, Return to Neverland, The Jungle Book II, Dumbo II, Mulan II, Lilo and Stitch II, Atlantis II, Tarzan II, The Lion King III: Hakuna Matata, The Little Mermaid, PRETTY WOMAN!! (lol, sorry... a "Shrek 2" moment :rolleyes: )

And now there are rumours of a Snow White II... so if you want to talk about famous people rolling in their graves this is it.

I have no interest in Hunchback, except for the fact that Tom Hulce is the voice of the hunchback guy, okay I'm going to stop talking now.

I can see I really opened up a can of worms with this topic, sheesh.

And for the record, my heritage is almost 100% Russian and I wasn't offended by Anastasia... only because it's well... just a cartoon... right?

Ironic that :blink:

I thought the portrayal of Rasputin and blaming him for the death of the Romanoffs, not to mention his causing the Russian Revolution, was a little daring. He may have caused a lot of scandal by being associated with the family but he wasn't the reason why the Russians became communist. I mean, jeez

You're right, and it is a little bit daring... but the Russian Revolution is taught so differently in high schools (at least in America), that anyone who goes by what happens in the cartoon is probably not the brightest crayon in the box anyway.

Ehh?

I used to have the soundtrack to the movie "Hunchback," and really liked it... well, most of it. I got rid of it simply because I loathe the songs "A Guy Like You" and "Court of Miracles" so much. However, I'm tempted to re-buy it simply for "Hellfire" and the cool chorus sung in Latin.

Are you talking about the stage version? Because that doesn't sound too bad... Yet I'm still waiting for a "definitive" adaptation of the novel, that keeps in Esmeralda's mother).

Disney originally planned they're version to be they're first "adult" cartoon, but then changed they're mind at the last minute. As a result, the script seems very unbalanced. But here in the US it got a G rating, that's why I was surprised... weird...

YES! Totally agreed. Disney needs to get people who are half-way creative, and go back to making the original, innovative movies they became known for. The only Disney sequel I liked was "Toy Story 2" (that was even better than the original) and that wasn't entirely Disney, but Pixar too.

The Latin Requiem... I love how this is used. It's also another reason why I want to get the German cast of "Der Glockner". To tie this to Frank, Stephen Schwartz (the lyricist) and Frank Wildhorn were supposed to work on three songs for "Anna Karenina" in the never-materialized "Romantics" project

Here is the script for the stage production: Script

And a very cool website on the musical: Der Glockner

Esmeralda's mother is featured in the Lon Chaney '23 film

The only way Disney will get ahead is if they use a) the latest innovations in technology and B) touch in with the audience's tastes. No one wants to see sentimental sugary children's movies anymore. If Disney worked toward creating an authentic horror / animation movie, in the gothic style of the villain-scenes in Snow White, it will make its biggest break-through since Snow White & Beauty and the Beast. That may sound crazy but, hey, so did T.V...

I think it's become all about the money. When Disney died, the company almost went down the tubes. Luckily they got on with The Aristocats and delivered a series of sub-par films for the next decade (sub-par in the terms that they never equalled the great work of Disney when he was living). The Little Mermaid started the Renaissance of their return to motion picture "fame" but The Lion King was the height and the end of all that. Pixar is the step forward... but, meh, making Toy Story 3 is not going to help. Unless, of course, they use the ingenious marketing device of DreamWorks i.e. release a Shrek sequel every three years to keep interest in their non-Shrek projects.

I agree with that

I was really dying to see this... maybe someday?

And thanks for the links! I read a bit of the script and it's so much better than the one for the movie... Frollo isn't just some stupid two-demensional villain anymore. Why couldn't the movie have been like this?

I own this movie but I've only seen clips of it... Now I have to watch it...

Did you see "Oliver and Company? That was pretty awful. Yep, Charles Dickens - another author Disney has sent spinning in his grave. In our wills we have to be sure to mention that none of our works are allowed for adaptation by Disney. ;)

I saw it, but I don't remember much of it. I guess that's a good thing, eh?

I completely agree with you about the wills. :)

Oh, and rockfenris, thanks for the links to Der Glockner von Notre Dame. :) From reading the lyrics and script, I prefer it over the cartoon version.

Yes I agree Disney has abandoned its roots for capitalism/money/greed. However, it was the entrance my kids had to loving musicals, creativity and imagination (not to mention some emotional memories that I'll relive over and over again in my old age). For that alone, I will be grateful.

I understand that. I respect some of what Disney has done, and what they may be capable of doing, but just not what they're currently doing. :)