Read All About It!: The 30th Anniversary of "Newsies"

 

By Michael Lyons

The story of a group of underdogs who are initially counted out but eventually "seize the day"  is not just the story of the characters in Newsies; it's also the story of the film itself.

Disney produced it during the early years of their Animation Renaissance when films like 1989's The Little Mermaid and 1991's Beauty and the Beast became landmarks.  Many noted that animation was the new home of the movie musical.  Disney decided to do one better and attempt to bring the musical back in live-action with Newsies.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this spring, the film is based on the real-life events of an 1899 newsboy strike in New York City.  Newsies (the nickname for the newsboys) would re-tell this story with lots of singing and big, musical numbers.

Released on April 10, 1992, Newsies made only $2.8 million at the box office. Compared to the $145 million that Beauty and the Beast had just brought in domestically, Newsies' failure to ignite audience interest couldn't be ignored.

However, this was also a time when an entire generation of children was being raised by their VHS players, allowing them to enjoy movies over and over and over and over again.  And while this may have been to the dismay of many a parent, it proved to be a benefit to many a movie studio, whose less than successful films could now find an audience.

This was especially true at Disney, most notably in the 1990s.  The studio's animated features The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) and A Goofy Movie (1995), both initially box-office disappointments, had newfound life thanks to home video.

As did Newsies. Thanks to VHS, the film was so popular with home rentals and purchases; it made its budget back.

There was a tremendous amount of talent involved in the film, from stars such as a young Christian Bale (singing, no less), Bill Pullman, Ann-Margret, and Robert Duvall (as none other than Joseph Pulitzer).

Kenny Ortega directed and would also helm Hocus Pocus, another live-action Disney movie from the '90s that would develop an immense following years after its release.  Additionally, Ortega would go on to direct the hugely popular High School Musical series of films for Disney.

And the songs in Newsies were composed by Alan Menken, the musical wizard behind the animated hits of the era, who here was partnered with Jack Feldman (also behind songs for A Goofy Movie).

And some of the songs are catchy little numbers, including the rousing anthem "Carrying the Banner" and the showstopper "King of New York."

The groundswell of popularity for Newsies was such that it was adapted into a Broadway musical twenty years after the film's debut.

In 2012, Newsies: The Musical opened at the Nederlander Theater in New York and went on to tour after.  New songs were added, and some plot and character changes were made. It received several Tony nominations, including Best Musical, winning the Best Choreography and Best Original Score award.

After it completed its tour, the show was so popular that Disney re-issued the film Newsies to theaters for a limited run in 2017, which wound up grossing $3.47 million, more than the film made during its initial release.

Thirty years later, the story of Newsies the film is a great comeback story about overcoming adversity for a movie that's all about overcoming adversity.

*My new book, Drawn to Greatness: Disney's Animation Renaissance is now available on Amazon:Drawn to Greatness

**For more of my articles, visit my web site: Words From Lyons

Any "Bunny" Remember These?: Forgotten TV Easter Specials

The Bugs Bunny Easter Special (1977)

 By Michael Lyons

These television Easter specials are like jellybeans buried under the fake grass at the bottom of the basket, and have faded into obscurity.

Unlike Christmas, Easter has never brought with it a plethora of TV traditions (the shortlist would probably be It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown, and Here Comes Peter Cottontail), which makes these specials even more interesting to seek out. 

The First Easter Rabbit (originally aired on April 9, 1976)

 

Rankin/Bass, the studio synonymous with so many Christmas specials, brought us this Easter Rabbit origin story, narrated by Burl Ives (Sam the Snowman from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer) as the Rabbit who tells the story.

 

The First Easter Rabbit centers on Stuffy (Robert Morse), a stuffed rabbit given to a young girl named Glinda as a Christmas present.  In a sad, dark turn, Glinda is diagnosed with Scarlet Fever and all of her belongings, including Stuffy, need to be burned to stop the sickness from spreading.

 

Stuffy is rescued by a sprite named Caliope, who takes him to Easter Valley (located at the North Pole and Santa himself watches over it).

 

Stuffy and the other rabbits of Easter Valley face Zero, the evil ice wizard, and his sidekick Bruce the Snowball, who are trying to capture the Lily of Easter Valley.  If they do, there will be no Easter.

 

The First Easter Rabbit is told in comforting Rankin/Bass 2D animation, with great designs by artist Paul Coker, Jr.  Also, the studio's stalwart voice actor Paul Frees is featured as several characters, including Santa.

 

Irving Berlin's Easter Parade is utilized so well in The First Easter Rabbit, during a lovely finale that plays out in pure’70’s springtime animation.

 

Bugs Bunny's Easter Special (Originally aired April 7, 1977)

Also called Bugs Bunny's Easter Funnies, this special is about the Easter bunny feeling under the weather, and Granny knowing who would be the perfect substitute - Bugs Bunny!  She heads over to the Warner Bros. studio lot to find Bugs and encounters the Bunny and other members of the Looney Tunes canon busy making their movies.

Daffy Duck is eager to help but always winds up in the wrong outfit (such as an Easter basket).

The special is indicative of many Bugs Bunny specials from the decade, in which classic Waner Bros. cartoons are bridged with new animation (that doesn't always match or have a heck of a lot of continuity).

Ah well, we get to hear the wonderful vocal work of legends Mel Blanc and June Foray and watch scenes from some of the funniest cartoons ever made.

 A Family Circus Easter (originally aired April 8, 1982)

From a time when almost every newspaper comic strip was getting its own holiday special comes this animated adaptation of cartoonist Bil Keane's popular strip.

The special centers on the kids Jeffy, Dolly, Billy, and PJ on the night before Easter.  They're all concerned that their baby brother, PJ, won't be able to find any eggs during the hunt the following day.  With mom and dad asleep, the kids then sneak out in the middle of the night to hide the eggs and attempt to catch the Easter Bunny.

And that, essentially, is the special's entire plot (reflecting the comic strip's simple charm).  Unlike the comic strip, there is a moment of psychedelic and surreal animation.

The kids look through an Easter Egg viewer (like a kaleidoscope or view master) and see a colorful, magical Easter village, complete with the Easter Bunny (voiced by Dizzie Gillespie).  It includes a musical number that goes on too long and ethereal animation that seems entirely out of place with the rest of the special, but it's still fascinating to watch.

 

Each of these shows are great to look back on. They provide perfect Easter season viewing, and also give us a glimpse at a time when TV produced specials for seemingly every holiday, and we all waited for them eagerly in front of the television!

Happy Easter!

*My new book, Drawn to Greatness: Disney's Animation Renaissance is now available on Amazon, click here: Drawn to Greatness

 

**And, check out more of my writing on my website: Words From Lyons

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pitch Perfect: The 70th Anniversary of "Singin' in the Rain"

By Michael Lyons

 

"Singin' in the Rain emanates joy." - Jeremy Arnold, The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter

This brief statement sums up this musical masterpiece perfectly.  Singin' in the Rain is one of the perfect films.  It is meticulously crafted with dance numbers that shine brighter than ever, music that has woven its way into our collective film fabric, sharp comedy, and an almost indescribable, cheerful glow from the first to last frame.

This movie is good for the spirit.

For anyone unfamiliar, Singing' in the Rain is set during an age when Hollywood was transitioning from silent films to "talkies."  Gene Kelly plays famous movie star Don Lockwood, who has to segue to this new age in the movie, with his recurring, on-screen co-star Lina Lamont (a hysterical Jean Hagan), who, unfortunately, has a voice that's a better fit for silent films.

Their attempt at a sound film is, at first, met with disaster until Don and his best friend and former dance partner, Cosmo Brown (Donald O'Connor in a hilarious, physical performance),  and love interest Kathy Selden (luminous Debbie Reynolds) come up with an idea to make the film a musical.

But will Lina agree to have Kathy as her substitute singing voice?

Directed by Kelly and Stanley Donen, Singin' in the Rain was conceived by MGM producer Arthur Freed as a way to use the studio's catalog of songs.  And, what songs they are!

Among them:

"Make 'Em Laugh," performed by O'Connor, ranks as one of the most staggering and gravity-defying dance routines in film history.  The dancer's ability to leap over furniture and through walls is filled with humor and talent that is just plain humbling, not to mention hysterical.

"Good Morning" isn't just incredible to watch as Kelly, Reynolds, and O'Connor dance with precision (in one, almost seemingly continuous shot), but the song has rightly become one of the world's most positive and feel-good tunes.

"Broadway Melody" is the epitome of the heyday of MGM musicals - bright, colorful, and filled with Kelly's astonishing dancing acrobatics.

Then, of course, the title song, "Singin' in the Rain."  One of the most iconic moments in music and film history, and with good reason. Not only is it beautiful dancing, but it's also beautiful filmmaking.  Plus, when Kelly starts the song with his "Doo-dee-doo" intro, you feel like you're about the be visited by an old friend as the torrential song and dance begins.

Released on March 27, 1952, at Radio City Music Hall in NY and then on April 11th everywhere, Singin' in the Rain marks its 70th anniversary this year.

Now is the time to revisit this amazing film, whether it's been too long since you've last seen it, or you've always wanted to watch it.  We could all use the "joy" that this movie provides.

As Gene Kelly declares during his most famous scene in Singin' in the Rain, after watching it, even time and time again, you will no doubt say:

"I'm Happy Again!"

*My new book, Drawn to Greatness: Disney's Animation Renaissance is now available on Amazon, click here: Drawn to Greatness

**And, check out more of my writing on my website: Words From Lyons