Fear and Snow White

I was very excited to acquire this 1956 vintage image of the Snow White and Her Adventures entrance area. Zooming in you can see the original mural that adorned the queue area:

Where the Pinocchio dark ride now resides, you could have gotten a Welch’s Grape Juice beverage to cool off with during those hot Anaheim summer days!

The name Snow White’s Scary Adventure did not get used at Disneyland until the 1983 remodel. Apparently the Imagineers felt that the little tykes needed a warning about the scary portions of the attraction that included the Old Crone. Recently, Imagineers felt it necessary to remove the scare all together by tinkering with the attraction and changing the final scene to a happy ending. From the Disney Parks Blog:

This classic Fantasyland attraction, Disneyland park’s only ride-through princess attraction, will be updated with new magic inside and out in 2020. Walt Disney Imagineering is reimagining how the classic tale of Snow White lives happily ever after, and guests will be invited to follow along with her story.

One reader left this comment:

Hope they’ll just lengthen the ride for the new scenes in place of the “and they lived happily ever after” murals and still leave all the existing scenes in tact.

To quote Burgess Meredith from “Grumpy Old Men”:

Since the Park is still closed, it’s not really known exactly how much of the scare has been removed. Let’s take a look at some of the elements that could be under the chopping block, beginning with the Evil Queen peering out over guests from the exterior (much more menacing at night!):

The Evil Queen doing a Peeping Tom act at the Dwarf’s Cottage as the seven little men celebrate with Snow:

The transformation scene of the Evil Queen turning into the Old Crone:

Will this hanging skeleton be allowed to remain?

The Old Crone creating the poison apple:

The Old Crone and her apples sailing off to the Dwarf’s cottage:

The Old Crone and a hologram apple, appearing from inside the Dwarf’s cottage:

The original finale of the Dwarfs attempting to capture the Old Crone as she escapes:

The Old Crone attempts to kill the Dwarfs with a boulder:

…which ends up killing her when a bolt of lightning hits the rocks:

Bye bye Old Crone!

From the way the changes have been positioned, it sounds like much of the ride has been softened. This really makes me sad. I know as a kid I secretly LOVED being scared! What would “The Wizard of Oz” have been without the Wicked Witch? BORING! 

The original “Willy Wonka” movie would have been a snoozer without Gene Wilder’s crazy and sometimes menacing portrayal.

Wilder himself said he only accepted the role because he was allowed to make the viewer feel uncertain if the Wonka character was trustworthy or not, starting off with his entrance scene where he pretends to limp. Even his final scene where he loses his s$%t with Charlie…BRILLIANT! Let’s face it…kids love to be scared. Why oh why does Disney feel the need to protect the kiddies by removing the very thing that they love?

I know I know…Lowest Common Dumb-nominator.

See more Disneyland Snow White attraction photos at my main website.

Favorite Movies: The 1970's

Moving into the 1970's, my list begins with "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" (1971). Entering the edible Wonka Wonderland is akin to Dorothy opening the door of her farmhouse and stepping into the Technicolor world of Oz. It's still a breathtaking moment. Gene Wilder is perfect as the slightly crazed chocolatier.



I saw "The Sting" (1973) when it was first released and thought it was one of the best movies then, and still feel that way today. I fell in love with the title art as it flashed on the screen and my fingers longed to play the ragtime of Scott Joplin that populated the soundtrack.



Redford and Newman made a perfect pair, outshining just about any other "bromance" duo that has come after them.





"Paper Moon" (1973) captures the depressing flavor of the Depression-heavy 1930's, but thanks to a bright script and amazing comic performances by Tatum O'Neal and Madeline Kahn, it still manages to put a smile on your face.



"Blazing Saddles" (1974) is Mel Brooks at his most brilliantly irreverent. Again, Madeline Kahn steals the show, out Dietrich-ing Dietrich with "I'm So Tired." Cleavon Little makes all the bigots look like the fools that they are, and does so with style.



Harvey Korman is deliciously evil as State Attorney General Hedley (not Hedy) Lamarr. I love 90% of the movie, but it drones on just about ten minutes too long with the final battle that takes place on a Hollywood soundstage.





I was in love with "Chinatown" (1974) from the moment I saw the title design.



Roman Polanski's film does a wonderful job of evoking Los Angeles in the 1930's. Nicholson and Dunaway give compelling performances, but cannot compare to John Huston's chilling characterization of a man who is completely devoid of any morals.



"The Towering Inferno" (1974) was one of the many all-star disaster movies created by Irwin Allen; personally, I think it's his best. Huge in scope but full of tender poignant moments, especially the romance between Jennifer Jones and Fred Astaire.





"Young Frankenstein" (1974) is Mel Brooks' loving homage to the classic Universal "Frankenstein" movies. This one will keep you laughing from start to finish; no extraneous moments here.





"The Turning Point" (1977) is a story of "what ifs" and how the two lead characters (Anne Bancroft and Shirley MacLaine) long to know what their fates would have been if they had chosen different paths. Viewers get a glimpse into the world of ballet, as some of the real stars of dance (Mikhail Baryshnikov, Leslie Browne, and Alexandra Danilova) play roles in this movie. Just like the athletic world, those who dance must make a difficult choice of retiring young before their bodies give out, but after the opportunity to live a "normal life" has passed them by. The fight between Bancroft and MacLaine puts Alexis and Krystal's to shame!





"High Anxiety" (1977) is Brooks at his silliest. The number one reason to watch this satire of Hitchcock is Cloris Leachman. Her characterization of the sadistic Nurse Diesel is unbelievable.



To enjoy "Grease," you first need to:

1. get past the idea of a 34-year old Stockard Channing, 30-year-old Olivia Newton John, and a 24-year-old John Travolta playing high school students

2. like musicals

3. have no problem that the moral of the story is that you need to become a slut to get the man you want.

If you can accept those three things, then the movie "Grease" (1978) is for you. Memorable songs, lovable characters, and plenty of great choreography by Patricia Birch.



"Animal House" (1978) is one of National Lampoon's best movies, thanks to the comic talents of its cast, including John Belushi, John Vernon, and Verna Bloom. If you were an underdog in college, this movie is your ultimate revenge fantasy.



I have written often about "Breaking Away," (1979) filmed entirely in Bloomington, Indiana and on the campus of Indiana University, so I won't waste my time touting again that this is one of my very favorite films. It is as genuine as they come without the forced artifice of so many of today's films.



"Time After Time" (1979) deals with one of my favorite themes: time travel. Malcolm McDowell plays science fiction author H.G. Wells, whose time machine is stolen by none other than Jack the Ripper. Wells must travel into the future (modern day San Francisco) to bring the Ripper back for justice. Along the way he falls in love with a bank teller (Mary Steenburgen). Clocking in under two hours, it is a tightly made film, with just the right balance of comedy, romance, and action.



See more classic Movie & TV photos on my regular web page.

Screen Gem Saturdays: Willy Wonka, circa 1971

There are a handful of movies that you would never imagine someone would have the gall to remake. “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” is one of them. How do you top perfection? From Gene Wilder’s performance to the perfectly cast little varmints that want a Golden Ticket to the memorable score and songs by Anthony Newley.

Who could forget Slugworth (played by Günter Meisner), the (seemingly) evil villain who slides in and out of the film, whispering into the ears of the Golden Ticket winners, and scaring the bejesus out of Charlie in a dark alley on his way home.



The Rube Goldberg-esque contraptions...so much fun to watch!



Violet (Denise Nickerson) blowing up into a giganormous blueberry; the perfect fate for the little uncouth brat.



As Mrs. Teavee, Dodo Denney's rubbery face was a hoot to watch as she took this crazy journey in a vehicle that spews out bubbles.



Nope...no need to try this one again. And yet, they did. Is Hollywood that desperate for new ideas?

See more classic movie photos at my main website.