DoomBuggies - DIsney's Haunted Mansion - The Film
In early 2002, DoomBuggies.com received an intriguing and anonymous email from someone asking whether we might have some detailed photos of the Hitchhiking Ghosts Audio-animatronics. The rumors of an upcoming Haunted Mansion movie were already running wild, and something about the email suggested that the writer's interest in the ghosts ran deeper than pure fandom. Before long, the Walt Disney Studios reached out to DoomBuggies.com directly, beginning a relationship that lasted nearly a year and resulted in two trips to the movie sets in Los Angeles during production of the film "The Haunted Mansion" starring Eddie Murphy.
DoomBuggies.com would eventually do some grassroots promotion for the film, which was released in November 2003 to fair-to-middling reviews and box office returns that weren't horrible, but also weren't about to launch a franchise. But prior to the release, we hosted a gathering in Orlando with author/Imagineer Jason Surrell, who brought along a videotaped greeting from executive producer Don Hahn and director Rob Minkoff, and shared a presentation about the movie and his new book, "The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies." Jason, a friend of DoomBuggies.com, has since gone on to distance himself somewhat from the film (which he has publicly criticized), and has revised his book to add material regarding Hong Kong Disneyland's Mystic Manor, removing the material about the film altogether.
As the movie was about to open nationwide, DoomBuggies.com distributed hundreds of free tickets to preview screenings of the film across the country, and the fans were eager to see what the studio had created. Unfortunately - in a generalization of the fan reaction to the film - Haunted Mansion enthusiasts of the early aughts were dissatisfied with the family-friendly genre the film comfortably fit into. A common question - why didn't Tim Burton create this film, instead of Rob Minkoff - the director of "Stuart Little"? (This line of thought conveniently overlooked the obvious success Minkoff had with "The Lion King," but the sentiment was clear - "Does the studio even know who we are?" the fans seemed to wonder.) However, reaction to the art direction and set design was universally positive, as fans of the attraction could recognize the clear passion put into creating an ultimate homage to the ride.
An audience, targeted
But an interesting thing has happened in the decade plus since the film was released. A vital portion of the original intended audience of this clean Eddie Murphy comedy - intrepid kids and inqusitive tweens - have grown up, and an observation of their social media demonstrates that this generation of late Millenials considers "The Haunted Mansion" their own Halloween movie, the same way that the generation of early-aughts Haunted Mansion fans considered 1993's "Hocus Pocus" to be their spook show of choice. "The Haunted Mansion" - with its Rick Baker-designed zombies and a decomposing-face scene - could even be considered a 2003 version of "Poltergeist," which was a much-scarier '80s film which targeted teens during a generally less-family-oriented period in Hollywood history.
"At the turn of the millenium, the Walt Disney Company found a treasure trove of course material right under its nose," writes Tim Greiving in his liner notes for the Haunted Mansion film soundtrack in 2016. "In the shadow of the castle at Disneyland were narrative adventures and characters the world had been enamored with for decades. Rides and shows such as "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Country Bear Jamboree" and "Haunted Mansion" are as rich a part of our pop culture as Disney's classic animated films." Studio chairman Dick Cook amplified the sentiment, in a 2002 interview with the Los Angeles Times: "This just seemed so natural that we'd be crazy not to pursue it. These are Disney icons. They just lend themselves to movies."
So with this updated history in mind, travel back to 2003 with DoomBuggies.com to view our coverage of Rob Minkoff's vision of "The Haunted Mansion." And stay tuned. We suspect that Hollywood will revisit the Haunted Mansion again, someday.
The Haunted Mansion goes Hollywood
Welcome, curious souls, to DoomBuggies.com's Haunted Mansion movie repository, where you can learn about the stars, visit the soundstages, and enjoy exclusive content you won't find anywhere else on the web. DoomBuggies.com has spoken with the people behind the film, toured the sets, and seen the props and special effects that made this film a Haunted Mansion fan's favorite nightmare come to life. In fact, DoomBuggies.com was used by the staff of the film for research during production, and we are proud of our small contribution to a darkly beautiful film. (Pictured at right: Jennifer "Madame Leota" Tilly at the red carpet premiere of "The Haunted Mansion" at the El Capitan Theatre in November 2003.)
Discover the film's secrets
Exclusive: Visit the sets and soundstages! Take a rare look at the filmmaking process as you join Chef Mayhem and the DoomBuggies.com staff on a tour through the sets at Barwick Studios in Los Angeles for an in-depth inspection of the sets and props created to bring the Haunted Mansion to life — and enjoy exclusive photos that you won't see anywhere else.
Exclusive: Read The Legend of Gracey Manor, an official history of the movie's Gracey family mansion written by the film's writers at the Walt Disney Studios exclusively for vistors of DoomBuggies.com.
Exclusive: The "other" Haunted Mansion film! That's right... back in the early '90s (and again in 1997), Disney optioned a screenplay for "The Haunted Mansion" by screenwriters Jim Hill and Sheila Greenberg. Learn the story behind the project and read the entire screenplay here.
Exclusive: Explore the Haunted Mansion 3-D "Ghost Vision" Mall Tour! In support of the film, Disney produced a tour through various shopping malls across the country that featured a walk-through Haunted Mansion which contained fun sets, live special effects, and actual props and costumes from the film. Read an exclusive review of the tour from DoomBuggies.com. We have photos, promotional materials, and more.
Going behind the scenes
Discover ride-references and tributes throughout the film: Be sure to keep your eyes open for some clever subtle (and not-so-subtle) homages to the classic Disney attraction. "We're huge fans of the ride ourselves," producer Don Hahn told DoomBuggies.com. "We wanted to be as faithful to the fans of the attraction as we could." For example, keep your eyes peeled for paintings that seem to change over time, such as the painting of the horseman at right. Pictured above: Costume designer Mona May and special-effects make-up artist Rick Baker added innovation to their contributions to the film, including clever reflective properties for the outfits worn by the ghosts and a new neckpiece design for the zombies, to make it appear that they had decomposed before re-animating.
A special sneak preview
On October 26, 2003, weeks before the film was scheduled to open nationwide, DoomBuggies.com hosted a "Chilling Night of Ghoulish Delight" event near Walt Disney World which featured guest speaker Jason Surrell (from Walt Disney Imagineering) and a sneak preview of scenes and special effects shots from the then-upcoming Haunted Mansion film. In a filmed appearance, director Rob Minkoff and producer Don Hahn thanked DoomBuggies.com for providing a valuable resource during the filmmaking process. Surrell signed his newly released book on the Haunted Mansion, DoomBuggies.com gave away valuable door prizes (such as signed movie posters and props from the film), and DoomBuggies.com community members enjoyed an evening of meeting friends from all over the country.
Scaring up a soundtrack
Film composer Mark Mancina (Speed, Twister, Training Day, Brother Bear, Moana) created a rich atmosphere with his original score, which is quite appropriate for the Haunted Mansion of the film, which was described as the "central character" of the film by producer Don Hahn. Filmtracks, a respected web site with critical examinations of cinema soundtracks, describes Mancina's work for the film as a "fully orchestral and choral recording by Mancina... [which] raises ghostly whispers and outright orchestral terror just as a fan of the ride would expect and admire." But for years, the only bits of the soundtrack available to fans were contained in a collection of five tracks released by Disney to critics for Academy Award consideration. That promotional album, with a running time of about 20 minutes, did the job of representing Mancina's work for the film, though it eliminates a lot of context. Read Filmtracks' in-depth review of Mancina's soundtrack for the Haunted Mansion film.
A compliation album called "The Haunted Mansion - Haunted Hits" was released with the film, including Raven's version of "Superstition" and "Grim Grinning Ghosts" as sung by the singing busts in the movie, but the only bit of the score represented was the overture to the film. There was another song that is not included on the soundtrack album that played over the film's credits called "Iz U" by Nelly; lyrically, the song was fairly stereotypical of the rap genre; it is primarily about sexual conquest and has nothing to do with the film whatsoever. A video was produced for the song which placed Nelly and crew inside of an old house, and cuts in some effects and scenes from the film - but it feels forced, and like a crass cross-promotional move.
At any rate, Mark Mancina's score was finally released on the Intrada label (Intrada Special Collection 364) in 2016, and listeners were finally able to enjoy the lush score with its multiple references to Buddy Baker's original score for the Haunted Mansion attraction. "Minkoff asked Mancina to capitalize on the "Grim Grinning Ghosts" melody and he did so with gusto," writes Tim Greiving in the album's liner notes. "I love that theme," Greiving quotes Mancina as saying. "The movie really has extremely little to do with the ride, but that was the one thing we could really call back to, and throw in here and there and have fun with," Mancina added.
Listen to an excerpt from "Drive to the Mansion," a track from Mark Mancina's score from "The Haunted Mansion." This is an example of Mark's arrangement of Buddy Baker's original tune.
Listen to an excerpt from "Haunted Mansion Opening Title." This is a small portion of the dramatic opening to the film which helps establish some recurring themes inside of the soaring, rich orchestrations.
McDonalds promotes frightfully fun Happy Meals
As part of a long-standing contract between Disney and McDonalds, the fast-food chain offered Haunted Mansion-themed Happy Meals during the release of the film. Six toys were produced, all of which were amazingly intricate and fun offerings. The toys included a "camera" that would display images from the film through the viewfinder; a coffin with a finger-grabbing "pop-up" ghost; Madame Leota's crystal ball, with an illuminated inverted head that mimics a popular effect from the attraction; an attic chest with a "pop-up" ghostly hand inside; a mysterious mirror that would display ghosts; and a singing bust with a sound chip inside. The toys proved to be a very popular promotion, and offered very affordable Haunted Mansion movie souvenirs.
Millionaire Playboy reviewed the McDonalds toys positively: "My favorite toy is the Madame Floating Head's crystal ball," states the reviewer. "There are two pieces - a really nicely detailed base, and the light up ball. The ball features an inverse relief of the Madame's head. You're familiar with this concept, if the face is reversed (like the mold of a face) you can move your head from side to side, and it appears as if it's following you. There is a switch on the back that lights up the face with an eerie green glow, and the effect is the best I've seen. Seriously, I've had toys in the past, or seen this "follow you wherever you go trick" a thousand times, and only half of the time does my brain really believe it. This is actually pretty cool."
A special display at El Capitan Theatre
For the world premiere of the Haunted Mansion film, Disney pulled out the stops with an event surrounding the film at Hollywood's historic El Capitan Theatre. From November 26, 2003 through January 4, 2004, many of the extravagent film sets and properties from Barwick Studios were set up and displayed in a space adjacent to the theater. Guests could literally walk through some of the fantastic spaces created for filming. Interactive kiosks and displays were also included in the experience - including the opportunity to have yourself photographed among the set pieces and props, and then have the photos emailed to yourself instantly. No matter what the participants' opinion of the film may have been, reviews for "The Haunted Mansion in Hollywood" installaion at the El Capitan were almost unanimously high praise.
Lylle Breier, senior vice president of Worldwide Special Events for The Walt Disney Studios, said, "The filmmakers behind "The Haunted Mansion" wanted to make a film where the world of the mansion is unlike that of any other movie. We felt that they hit the mark, and wanted to create something equally impressive for moviegoers. "The Haunted Mansion in Hollywood" gives our guests at the El Capitan a special opportunity to find out how six-time Oscar-winner Rick Baker built a better zombie, or how costume designer Mona May got her outfits to glow and seem to come alive, or how Madame Leota's head got into that crystal ball. This is a perfect family outing - and for the budding filmmaker in all of us, this is a rare chance to go behind the scenes and see how the magic comes to life."
Other features of "The Haunted Mansion in Hollywood" included a step-by-step demonstration on “building a zombie” by make-up designer Rick Baker, innovative costumes by Mona May, exhibits in cinematography with Academy Award-nominated director of photography Remi Adefarasin, and opportunities to virtually design a set and storyboard a scene. There was also an exhibit about the visual effects which demonstrated how the movie’s ghosts were accomplished. All of these features were located around the actual sets used in the film – built by Academy-Award-winning production designer John Myhre, and visitors could move right through the sets and explore.
Fiendishly fun promotions
Pictured to the right is a sand sculpture exhibition in Australia in early 2004 promoting various Disney productions, one of which was the Haunted Mansion film. The film inspired many promotional installations, exhibitions and events upon its release. In the United States, Disney hosted a "Ghost Vision 3D" mall tour, which hosted some props and costumes from the movie while providing a creepy-cool walk-through experience that utlized special cardboard glasses which separated the color spectrum to make items appear to extrude and float based on their colors - a popular gimmick that was making its way through the haunted attraction industry at the time. Walt Disney World also hosted some props and sets, most notably the organ and ballroom set, which guests could visit at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Soundstage Four.
One event worth noting was a private dinner hosted at Disney Hollywood Studios inside of the Haunted Mansion ballroom set (pictured, left). Janet2K had an anniversary party there catered by Disney, and they left no gravestone unturned - from the hand-charred edges of the parchment menus (dated 1874) to the incredible "Blood Orange Sorbet Served Inside of an Ice Skull" to the dead flower arrangements, brought over from the actual movie sets. The dinner for twelve began with a short talk and book signing by author/Imagineer Jason Surrell. Visit Janet2K's flickr page to see photos from the event.
About anywhere that Walt Disney Pictures could commemorate or celebrate the new film, they did. This button (right) commemorated the film's premiere aboard the Disney Cruise Line, which would premiere Disney films concurently with their releases on land. Disneyland's Club 33 members were able to enjoy a special evening dinner and talk celebrating the new movie. Even Disneyland's Blue Bayou printed up some special menus with the movie's one sheet image bleeding off of the front of the menu, with the phrase "Blue Bayou celebrates Walt Disney Pictures 'The Haunted Mansion,' only in theaters this holiday."
Silly Miss Tilly
DoomBuggies.com adores Jennifer Tilly; particularly the way she refuses to take herself too seriously. Her performance as Madame Leota in the Haunted Mansion movie was picture perfect for the role as it was written. However, back in March of 2003 - more than half a year before the Haunted Mansion film hit the theaters, Tilly gave an interview to TV Guide which caused quite a stir among Haunted Mansion fans. Looking back, the whole hubbub is really just another charming incident in the Jennifer Tilly oeuvre, but at the time... well, consternation was perhaps too light a word to use in describing the typical fan response. We publish the article below for you to read for yourself.
Jennifer Tilly: Horror Icon?
Shady lady roles are what actress Jennifer Tilly does best. A mobster's moll in Bullets Over Broadway! A same-sex smoochin' bad girl in Bound! A living devil doll in Bride of Chucky! "That's one of my favorite parts I ever did, and people love that movie," Tilly tells TV Guide Online. "We're still trying to make Bride of Chucky 2. I have a sequel deal in place and a script is written, so we're trying to get a green light on it."
While waiting to make that fifth Child's Play movie — rumored to be about Chucky and Tiffany's freaky baby — Tilly's keeping busy. She's a hooker in Dirt (in limited release April 25). Then, she gets more kid-friendly for Disney's The Haunted Mansion (due out Nov. 26). "It's based on the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland," she enthuses. "When you go into the ride, there's a gypsy fortune teller's head in a crystal ball, saying, 'Go back, Go back!' You know, Madame Leota. That's gonna be me!
"I'm Eddie Murphy's sidekick in the movie," she previews. "He carries my head around, and I get bossy with him. I have lots of hair, I'm a smart ass, and I'm very cryptic. I know all, I see all... If the movie's really successful, Disney's gonna revamp the ride and I'll be the head in the ball at the beginning of it! They're gonna totally update it. So that's why I wanted to do this movie — I want to be a bigshot at Disneyland. I'm hoping I'll become another American icon."
Ah, but does Tilly fear the original Madame Leota's wrath? After all, she might curse the actress for usurping her post! "It's very sad, because I love the ride the way it is, but I guess everything has to get updated," Tilly winks. "Besides, I'll be Madame Leota now, so I'll inherit the curse giving ability." — Daniel R. Coleridge
Well... come in!
Continue reading about DoomBuggies.com's visits to the sets of the Haunted Mansion as filming was taking place.
And be sure to read The Legend of Gracey Manor, an official history of the movie's Gracey family mansion written by the film's writers at the Walt Disney Studios exclusively for vistors of DoomBuggies.com.
