Mickey Mouse parachuting with Bugs Bunny. Donald Duck tickling the ivories with Daffy Duck. These are two of the one-time-only pairings of classic cartoon characters from different studios that make cameo appearances in this summer`s blockbuster, ”Who Framed Roger Rabbit.” The film features realistic interactions between animated characters and real-life actors and actresses.
”Roger Rabbit,” a $40 million-plus cooperative effort of Disney`s Touchstone Pictures and Steven Spielberg`s Amblin Entertainment, not only introduces a new animated star in the form of Roger but it features as Roger`s neighbors in Toontown some of America`s best-known and best-loved cartoon characters from the late 1940s, the time in which the film is set.
From the first moment we see lovable Dumbo the elephant hovering outside R.K. Maroon`s office, our memories are jogged by the sight and sound of childhood favorites. To the little ones in the audience, the sight of Yosemite Sam, Tweety Pie or Woody Woodpecker may not mean much. While they`re entranced with Roger, Jessica and Benny the Cab, their parents can happily recall weekend matinees at the theater or marathon Saturday mornings in front of the television watching these familiar friends.
Steven Spielberg personally negotiated for the film rights to cartoon characters owned by studios other than Disney. And it seems it was the clout of his name in the industry and nothing less that made the historic appearances a reality on film.
”Steven played a direct role in lining up the other characters,” notes Marvin Levy, a Los Angeles-based marketing consultant for Amblin
Entertainment. ”He was the one who made the initial contact with the other studios. His name and involvement was often all they needed to be assured the project was a good one and that if they lent their characters to the film, it would be done right.”
Levy says the ”Roger” producers were able to purchase the rights to just about all the cartoon stars they wanted for the film with the exceptions of Popeye, Felix the Cat and a few others.
According to Levy, an across-the-board stipulation by the film companies lending out their characters was that the cartoon stars not be used in any publicity or promotion for the film. ”When we show a film clip of the movie, for example, we show a scene with Roger or Jessica or Herman,” Levy explains. ”We can`t show clips with the other characters.”
There`s no doubt that the appearance of these legendary cartoon stars is one of the joys of ”Roger Rabbit.” At a recent Chicago screening, the audience reaction was at its loudest when a feisty-as-ever Yosemite Sam thundered onto the screen, when Droopy the dog served as a sad-eyed elevator operator and when Betty Boop appeared as a black-and-white cigarette girl in an otherwise all-color film.
”The film definitely pays homage to the cartoon industry,” Levy says.
”And most of these characters from different studios never appeared together on the same screen before. We like to say that many of them played golf together in Toontown, but that`s about it. The cartoon studios didn`t exactly loan out their stars the way studios used to loan out their human stars.”
As Tribune film columnist Gene Siskel suggests, ”Roger Rabbit” is a film to be seen more than once. The first time you may not even catch all the older cartoon characters-some appear and disappear quickly. And the finale of the film features such a large gathering of cartoon greats from the industry`s golden age that it`s difficult to take them all in.
To help you set the record straight or to simply refresh your memory, here`s a who`s who of most of the classic cartoon characters appearing in
”Roger Rabbit.” Whether you`re planning a second viewing or whether you`re set to buy your first ticket for ”Roger,” we hope knowing the background of some of these venerable stars will enhance your enjoyment of this unique film.
Betty Boop: Cartoonist Grim Natwick created Betty Boop first as a dog character to serve as Bimbo the Dog`s girlfriend in the ”Talkartoon” series produced by Max and Dave Fleischer for Paramount. In 1930, however, Betty shed her dog identity (her long ears became earrings) for the movie ”Betty Co-Ed.” Her figure was modeled after Mae West`s, and her singing style was patterned after that of Helen Kaye, the Boop Boop-a-Doop Girl who
unsuccessfully sued the Fleischers. Betty`s actual voice was that of Mae Questal, who also did Olive Oyl. On screen, Betty was a tiny vamp who blew kisses, lifted her skirts and batted her eyelashes. The black-and-white vixen made more than 100 films before her last, ”Yip, Yip, Yippy!” in 1939.
Bugs Bunny: There was an ongoing dispute over the years about who created the ”rascally rabbit,” but, according to the World Encyclopedia of Comics
(Chelsea House, 1976), Bugs was created in stages by many Warner Brothers studio employees. His debut (although he was yet to be called Bugs) was in the 1938 Porky Pig film ”Porky`s Hare Hunt.” Bugs used the phrase ”What`s up, doc?” for the first time in Fred ”Tex” Avery`s ”A Wild Hare” in 1939 and soon was dubbed Bugs Bunny. Warner soon began pitting the wisecracking rabbit against every character in its stable, but his most constant foil became the bumbling Elmer Fudd. Mel Blanc provided Bugs` instantly recognizable nasal voice.
Daffy Duck: Before he got his name, Warner Brothers` Daffy Duck was called ”that darnfool duck” when he made his debut in Tex Avery`s 1937 cartoon ”Porky`s Duck Hunt.” He returned as Daffy Duck, a scheming con man of sorts, later that year in ”Daffy Duck and Egghead” and proved popular enough with audiences to be given his own cartoon series by producer Leon Schleslinger, who released the films through Warner Brothers. Later, Daffy`s arch-rival became Bugs Bunny. Even though he played his dirtiest tricks on the rabbit, Daffy always ended up being outsmarted in the end, often muttering
”You`re despicable” to the gloating, carrot-munching Bugs.
Donald Duck: Donald made his Disney debut in the 1934 film ”The Wise Little Hen,” and his first line was ”Who, me? Oh, no! I got a bellyache!”
The character of the ornery duck with the high, squawky voice (supplied by Clarence Nash) was later developed in Mickey Mouse cartoons and became so popular that he soon had his own series. His solo debut was in 1937 with
”Donald`s Ostrich.” Nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie first appeared in 1938, and Donald found his adversaries Chip and Dale the chipmunks after World War II.
Droopy: The sleepy-eyed police dog made his debut in a 1943 MGM cartoon entitled ”Dumb-Hounded.” Created by Tex Avery during his tenure at MGM, Droopy found his chief adversary in Spike the bulldog, who was introduced in 1949. After Avery left MGM in 1954, Droopy cartoons often were produced from old drawings stretched to Cinemascope size, and his popularity waned.
Goofy: This silly, lovable character evolved from Dippy Dawg, who debuted in 1932 in ”Mickey`s Revue.” The dog`s name was later changed to Goofy, and beginning in 1935, he went on to costar with Mickey and Donald in numerous Disney shorts. He first starred on his own in 1939`s ”Goofy and Wilbur.”
Mickey Mouse: Walt Disney supposedly created his most famous character during a 1927 train ride from New York to California. He originally wanted to call the mouse Mortimer, but his wife or one of his distributors (depending on which account you read) talked him out of it, and Mickey Mouse was born. Cartoonist Ub Iwerks drew Mickey from Disney`s specific instructions, and Disney himself supplied Mickey`s high, squeaky voice for about 20 years. Mickey first appeared in 1928 in ”Steamboat Willie,” the first talkie cartoon. He soon became a star and assumed any role (alpine climber, cowboy, explorer, you name it) and traveled everywhere in his adventures. His girlfriend Minnie Mouse was with him from the beginning. Pluto appeared in 1930, and Goofy made his debut in 1932. Mickey was nearly eclipsed in popularity by the cantankerous Donald Duck in 1934.
Porky Pig: Most famous for the ”Th-Th-That`s All Folks!” closing line of the Looney Tunes-Merrie Melodies group of cartoons released by Warner Brothers, Porky Pig first appeared in 1935 in ”I Haven`t Got a Hat.” The early Porky was a big, tough character. By 1940, though, Porky had become a prissy, gullible sort who usually played second banana to Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. Porky also acquired a wife in Petunia Pig. His distinctive stuttering voice was supplied by Mel Blanc.
Sylvester: The scaredy cat of all scaredy cats, Sylvester made his unnamed debut in the 1942 cartoon ”A Tale of Two Kitties.” The Warner Brothers release paired Sylvester with his nemesis, the canary Tweety Pie, and their duel continued in films such as ”Kitty Kornered,” ”Tugboat Granny” and ”Birds Anonymous.” Sylvester usually ended his misadventures with a club on the head from Granny`s umbrella. Mel Blanc, truly a man with a thousand voices, gave Sylvester the fluttering speech that made phrases such as ”sufferin` succotash” so funny.
Tweety Pie: Small in size but not in clout, this diminutive canary made life difficult for Sylvester the cat in many cartoons beginning with ”A Tale of Two Kitties” in 1942. His famous line ”I taut I taw a puddy tat”
endeared him to audiences for years.
Woody Woodpecker: The red-headed, shrill-voiced bird first appeared in an Andy Panda cartoon. Created by Walt Lantz, who released him through Universal Studios, Woody received star status in 1941. His high-pitched cackling laugh
(the inspiration for the `40s hit ”The Woody Woodpecker Song”) was supplied by Lantz`s wife, actress Grace Stafford.
Yosemite Sam: Bugs Bunny`s gun-toting foe may have been short, but he was full of action. He appeared for the first time in ”Hare Trigger” in 1944. In that film as in subsequent ones, he was outsmarted at every turn by the tricky rabbit.
CAMEOS
See if you can spot brief appearances by the following characters as they go about their business in Toontown in ”Roger Rabbit”:
Dumbo: The star of the fourth Disney feature-length film, Dumbo is the baby elephant who discovers he can fly. His film opened in the fall of 1941.
Bambi: The big brown eyes of this little fawn captured the hearts of cartoongoers everywhere when he debuted in 1942. A re-release is planned for this summer.
Dancing Broomsticks: The robotlike broomsticks were a small but memorable part of ”Fantasia,” Disney`s full-length extravaganza that debuted at Christmastime 1940 and starred Mickey Mouse. The film`s classical score was conducted by Leopold Stokowski.
Foghorn Leghorn: This boisterous rooster came to life in the 1946 Warner Brothers release ”Walky Talky Hawky.” Supposedly based on Fred Allen`s impersonation of a southern ”Senator Claghorn,” Foghorn had a delightful twang, courtesy of Mel Blanc.
Pinocchio: The little boy made of wood had his cartoon debut in Disney`s 1940 feature film, ”Pinocchio.” The feature was based on Carlo Collodi`s tale of a wooden puppet given life by the Blue Fairy.
The Seven Dwarfs: Dopey, Sleepy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Happy, Bashful and Doc whistled their way into America`s heart in 1937`s ”Snow White.” The film was Disney`s first full-length animated feature.
