tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post7776410655890112354..comments2024-03-07T09:25:09.142-08:00Comments on Long-Forgotten: Here in This GalleryHBG2http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073387557562504315noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-72752439605727908352013-10-29T17:29:18.454-07:002013-10-29T17:29:18.454-07:00Yes! That's the "David Witt" link i...Yes! That's the "David Witt" link in the post above.HBG2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05073387557562504315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-42581297393054764602013-10-29T16:39:17.687-07:002013-10-29T16:39:17.687-07:00RE 'The Hunter' artwork by Davis...I'm...RE 'The Hunter' artwork by Davis...I'm sure you have seen this?...;)<br /><br />https://vimeo.com/6988088Kevin Karstenshttp://www.karcreat.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-56250119156194871442013-10-24T23:26:12.253-07:002013-10-24T23:26:12.253-07:00OK. Yeah, that's clearly fire coming out of th...OK. Yeah, that's clearly fire coming out of the roof and the roof has fire damage. I guess those little shadowy smudges in the lower window could be interpreted as people. The main focus is on the Arsonist himself, so only so much background detail could be put in once the Mansion was changed to a ride-through. Thanks for the clarifying photo!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08255693054896607411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-48511453137479162482013-10-13T22:12:36.700-07:002013-10-13T22:12:36.700-07:00There's no doubt about the Arsonist. There ar...There's no doubt about the Arsonist. There are even people trapped inside, visible in the lower windows. Gruesome.<br /><br />http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/danolson/stuf/kioug_zps09045c51.jpgHBG2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05073387557562504315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-67885718834183035012013-10-13T21:38:49.441-07:002013-10-13T21:38:49.441-07:00I knew that Dracula became a wolf in the novel and...I knew that Dracula became a wolf in the novel and that it's mentioned briefly in the 1931 film. I just figured that most people would've forgot that he turned into a wolf, considering how often he is associated with turning into bats and/or being around bats in pop culture imagery. I have no doubt that Davis remembered the undead "werewolf" aspect of Dracula, I'm just not completely sure Joe Mansion would (kind of like the Witch of Walpurgis' pitchfork not being used due to the popular image of the witch on the broomstick). I also wish they would've kept the werwolf transformation for the arsonist. Without the transformation, he makes little sense. What about him makes him an arsonist? I guess the background looks sort-of on fire, but it could also look like a bright sunset. He's not really spooky or mysterious like the other paintings, he just looks out of place. Is there a place I could find a clearer picture of the Arsonist painting, just to confirm the background is actually ablaze?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08255693054896607411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-44145481846897593452013-10-13T16:10:22.706-07:002013-10-13T16:10:22.706-07:00I'll assume you covered the subject in an earl...I'll assume you covered the subject in an earlier post. Looking at the hunter gag, I noticed the seven tiger heads are the seven dwarfs. Two of them are obvious(Sneezy, Grumpy), I know that's up to some interpretation. It could go into the seven deadly sins, I like the dwarfs angle better. <br /><br />What I really like is the tiger's tail, less fur on the tip. LOL<br />Marc was a very clever guy. I like how he ads more than just one joke in his work. <br /><br />The Moby Dick painting is really striking. Commander Maxhttp://www.the-grey-ghost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-67902122919188599342013-10-11T19:57:34.446-07:002013-10-11T19:57:34.446-07:00That's a good observation; the motif is used i...That's a good observation; the motif <i>is</i> used in Sleeping Beauty, and Anderson would have been very much aware of it, so it's possible that he thought about incorporating the idea into his Ghost House. I suspect that the idea of a hidden passageway behind a fireplace probably isn't original to SB, though.HBG2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05073387557562504315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-68510428766547548572013-10-11T17:29:57.066-07:002013-10-11T17:29:57.066-07:00I'm just a casual reader of the blog, but I ca...I'm just a casual reader of the blog, but I can't help but wonder if the idea of walking through a fireplace can be linked to Ken Anderson's work on Sleeping Beauty, where walking through a fireplace is actually used to creepy, climatic effect. It would seem that the timing would fit and maybe even precede his Ghost House blueprint since story work for the film began in '51 and animation production ran from '53 through '58. Any thoughts on that? Your knowledge is broader than mine.Alicianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-72096291087477055952013-10-11T15:29:58.743-07:002013-10-11T15:29:58.743-07:00Fun stuff. I always snickered at those pirates. ...Fun stuff. I always snickered at those pirates. I teach using "old master" paintings as adjuncts to my topical material, and I am always looking for the symbols and subtexts in the visual work, since I want subliminal tie-ins to my otherwise unrelated topic. <br /><br />I've also noticed that the ability of artists to dream them up and include them has declined in parallel with the viewers' abilities to recognize them and interpret them. <br /><br />Nowadays, a symbol has no semantic value unless it's a brand logo or a cartoon character. You can show people cues like the rooster, but they can't see them as a narrative, much less as a joke. <br /><br />I suspect this is why there have been no more attractions like the Pirates or the HM; today's audiences (and Imagineers too) are unable to construct an "open-ended" narrative out of a group of loosely connected vignettes like these attractions do. <br /><br />Today, we need the crutch of familiarity with the external story like Star Tours or even Peter Pan to help us enjoy the tableaux. And that's part of the brilliance of these old Disneyland attractions like Jungle Cruise, Nature's Wonderland, Tom Sawyer's Island, even the Primeval World; their narrative takes place in your mind, created only by the images you see and the "prototypes" or symbols you bring to the party yourself (well, ok, the patter of the boat pilot helps too). Everyone has a different experience, uniquely their own, due to their interpretation of an open-ended story, instead of seeing a fully scripted event.<br /><br />This is why I resent the attempts by Disney (now) and other fans to create a consistent backstory for the HM. It never had one, which is why creating a consistent one is difficult, and doesn't need one, since the open story is better than any fixed narrative could ever be.<br /><br />JGJGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456196709930408585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-38514719480901536372013-10-07T09:19:46.031-07:002013-10-07T09:19:46.031-07:00Okay, I was wrong about a number of things. It...Okay, I was wrong about a number of things. It's 1931 for the film. He mostly turns into a bat in that, but it's implied he can do more than that. In the novel he's quite a shape-shifter, appearing as a wolf, a bat, and a cloud of mist, and a rat. In <i>Nosteratu</i> there's definitely the wolf, and I can't remember any bats. Anyway, his ability to turn into a wolf is well-attested.HBG2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05073387557562504315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-73166801305315663012013-10-06T16:39:03.626-07:002013-10-06T16:39:03.626-07:00Actually, if I recall correctly, in the 1930 Bela ...Actually, if I recall correctly, in the 1930 Bela Legosi Dracula, it's strongly suggested that he turns into a wolf, even though it isn't shown. He is averse to wolf-bane and crucifixes (no garlic in sight). They don't show him turning into a bat either, and I don't <i>think</i> it's even mentioned. My recollection is that the Bram Stoker novel is similar, with Dracula's most usual and possibly <i>only</i> transformation changing into a wolf. (Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, I'm sure.)HBG2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05073387557562504315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-4015608668115842922013-10-06T12:29:30.648-07:002013-10-06T12:29:30.648-07:00I think it's true that you have to be smart to...I think it's true that you have to be smart to be funny. As they say "If you have to explain the joke, it isn't funny." I find the great white hunter and tiger funny because deep down we all like a good butt joke, no matter how old we are. Disney is very much about about getting both the young and the young at heart to have fun. Davis clearly also had a very fine eye for the arts and the concept art for the Portrait Hall is gorgeous! I'm glad that much of the what's in the concept art showed up in the actual attraction. One thing I've never understood is the Dracula/Wolf painting though. I'm pretty sure there was no film version of Dracula at the time that had him becoming a wolf, so I always felt that this painting didn't read at a glance. Am I alone on this one?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08255693054896607411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-27086170305592573052013-10-02T02:13:19.056-07:002013-10-02T02:13:19.056-07:00You have a gift, HBG2!You have a gift, HBG2!Eccentric Scholarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14316310165037320995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-72661659478401495532013-10-01T19:56:04.008-07:002013-10-01T19:56:04.008-07:00An amazing review of 'triviality' HBG2.
...An amazing review of 'triviality' HBG2. <br /><br />Marc Davis' art always - to me anyways - evokes something much more cerebral once you get past the 'Low Brow Punnery' presented at face value. I appreciate you presenting the parallels, as well as some original Marc Davis art side by side to prove this point. <br /><br />Job well done sir. <br /><br />MFTAhamjenkinsIIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07419984334139552652noreply@blogger.com