DISNEY'S ALADDIN [1992]

Hello there everyone! Welcome back to my blog. Today we are taking a look at the 1992 animated masterpiece “ALADDIN”!

Did you know that the song “ARABIAN NIGHTS” had a controversial verse cut from the film?

Though considered one of the favored Disney movie openings nowadays, the song once contained a verse that resulted in some rather unsightly controversy.

Before we hopped a carpet and flew with this song, the original version had a verse that supposedly ignited some Islamaphobic imagery with the line "Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face. It's barbaric, but hey, it's home." This was changed in further releases

Well we are on the subject of music:

Did you know that a handful of songs didn’t make it into the movie?

More than twice as many songs were written that were not used in the final film. Famed Composer ALAN MENKEN first collaborated with the late legendary Songwriter HOWARD ASHMAN, and later popular Broadway Lyricist SIR TIM RICE after ASHMAN passed away during production. Some of the songs that ASHMAN composed, including “PROUD OF YOUR BOY,” were later repurposed for DISNEY’S Broadway adaptation of the animated film.

[MENKEN]

[ASHMAN]

[RICE]

Did you know that the performers that do the Singing Voices for “ALADDIN” and “JASMINE” first met during the first recording session of the song “A WHOLE NEW WORLD”?

BRAD KANE and LEA SALONGA provided the singing voices for “ALADDIN” and “JASMINE”, respectively. They met for the first time when they recorded the movie’s iconic ballad. “We're standing there singing to each other. It was weird. It was a strange situation, because when you just meet someone you know nothing about them,” KANE said.

[SALONGA and KANE at a recording session]

Did you know that “ALADDIN” was nominated for five “ACADEMY AWARDS”?

The movie won awards for “Best Original Song” [“A WHOLE NEW WORLD”] and “Best Original Score” and was also nominated for “Best Sound” and “Best Sound Effects Editing”, “Friend Like Me” was also nominated for Best Original Song.

[“THE OSCARS]

Did you know that “A WHOLE NEW WORLD” is currently the only DISNEY song to win “THE GRAMMY AWARD” for “Song Of The Year”?

The ballad took home one of “GRAMMY’S” most coveted trophies during the 1994 ceremonies. In addition, PEABO BRYSON and REGINA BELLE won for their rendition of the song that played over the films end credits. The ballad also continues to be the only song from a Disney animated film to top “THE BILLBOARD TOP 100 LIST”-- a feat that even “FROZEN’S” “LET IT GO” couldn’t match, peaking at No. 5.

[“THE GRAMMY AWARDS”]

Okay, I think that’s enough about music!

Now let’s talk about ROBIN WILLIAMS [“THE GENIE”]:

[WILLIAMS and “GENIE”.]

Did you know that the role of “THE GENIE” was created specifically for WILLIAMS?

There's no way we can talk about “DISNEY’S ALADDIN”, original or remake, without talking about the late great ROBIN WILLIAMS. The film wouldn't nearly be as successful or popular if it wasn't for the comedian's portrayal as the famous “GENIE”. In fact, it might not exist at all if it wasn't for this one character.

The role of “THE GENIE” was made for Williams before he even set foot in the studio. Animators even used one of his stand up routines to create test footage to sync the animation style with his off-the-wall humor. One negotiation later, the film had its biggest star.

ERIC GOLDBERG led the team of Animators who were in charge of creating “GENIE”. When he was first handed the script by Co-Directors RON CLEMENTS and JOHN MUSKER, GOLDBERG was also told to dig up some old ROBIN WILLIAMS comedy albums. “JOHN and RON said, 'Pick a couple of sections from his comedy albums and animate a “GENIE” to them,'" Goldberg told ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. "That’s essentially what I did."

WILLIAMS came in to see the test, and, GOLDBERG says, "I think what probably sold him was the one where he says, 'Tonight, let’s talk about the serious subject of schizophrenia—No, it doesn’t!—Shut up, let him talk!' What I did is animate “THE GENIE” growing another head to argue with himself, and ROBIN just laughed. He could see the potential of what the character could be. I’m sure it wasn’t the only factor, but then he signed the dotted line."

[“THE GENIE” Lead Animator ERIC GOLDBERG]

Did you know that WILLIAMS’ portrayal of “THE GENIE” changed the way movie stars looked at Voice Acting for the better?

WILL FERRELL, BRAD PITT, STEVE CARELL, TINA FEY, BILLY CRYSTAL, TOM HANKS ... the A-Listers who have voiced characters in animated films reads like the seating chart at “THE OSCARS”. And it’s all because of the Genie.

Prior to “ALADDIN”, “Real” actors seldom stooped so low to do voice work unless they were on the desperate end of their careers. Even BEA ARTHUR reportedly refused the role of “URSULA” in “THE LITTLE MERMAID”. The work was left to professional voice actors. Disney even kept a stable of regulars throughout the decades. (Think of “WINNIE THE POOH’S” original voice and “THE CHESHIRE CAT” from “ALICE IN WONDERLAND” [1951], “KAA THE SNAKE” from “THE JUNGLE BOOK” [1967], “THE STORK” in “DUMBO” [1941] ... These are just some of the characters voiced by the sweet quavery voice of STERLING HOLLOWAY.)

But then came “GENIE”, who was written exclusively with WILLIAMS in mind. His work on “ALADDIN”, combined with the rising quality of Disney films, gave a new respectability to voiceover work. Soon, celebrities were happy to lend their voices to talking toys and singing monkeys. But where did this leave professional voice actors, who spent years perfecting their relationship with a microphone? Are celebrities stealing work and exposure they don’t even need, or does their involvement help the profession?

According to VOICES.COM, the trade site for voiceover artists, a voiceover workshop posed that question to its participants and “The consensus was that 'No—celebrities actually raise the profession to a new level, making V.O. a more recognized career choice and perhaps even elevating the pay scale long term.'"

Did you know that “THE GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS” may have unintentionally predicted who will play “THE GENIE” in the 2019 remake?

THE HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION gave WILLIAMS “A SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD in 1993, citing how his performance didn’t fall into any of their traditional categories. During his acceptance speech, the camera briefly cut to WILL SMITH, the future live-action “GENIE”, cracking up at WILLIAMS’ hand puppet impression of MOTHER TERESA. While the speech was a typical, joke-filled affair, he ended the speech simply by saying, “This is extraordinary.” [Look for the video on YOUTUBE!]

[SMITH AND WILLIAMS]

[1992 “GENIE and 2019 “GENIE” split screen comparison. I’m sorry, this was the best shot of SMITH’S “GENIE” that I could find for a comparison!]

Did you know that the DISNEY tv network did a special dedication to WILLIAMS?

When WILLIAMS died in 2014, Disney honored him that week by airing Aladdin on their three children's channels (Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Junior) across three days, twice on each channel. At the end of the movie, just before the credits, they put up an image that read, "In Memory of ROBIN WILLIAMS, who made us laugh." using GOLDBERG’S tribute to him as a backdrop.

Another version of this image has a message from former DISNEY Chairman and CEO BOB IGER: "We're deeply saddened by the loss of ROBIN WILLIAMS, a wonderfully gifted man who touched our hearts and never failed to make us laugh. An incredible actor and a comedic genius, ROBIN will always be remembered for bringing some of the world's favorite characters to life, from his zany alien on ABC's “MORK & MINDY” to the irascible “GENIE” in “DISNEY’S ALADDIN”. He was a true “DISNEY LEGEND”, a beloved member of our family, and he will be sorely missed. We join ROBIN’S friends and fans everywhere in mourning, and offer our thoughts and condolences to his family during this difficult time."

Did you know that WILLIAMS laughed at one of Co-Star GILBERT GOTTFRIED’S improvised jokes?

When “IAGO” pulls a picture of him and “JAFAR” out of his cage, the line, "And, uh, how about this picture? I don't know, I think I'm making a weird face in it," was ad-libbed by GOTTFRIED, and WILLIAMS could not stop laughing when he heard it.

[Sorry, I couldn’t find a version of this image that was in a better quality!]

Did you know that the reason for why WILLIAMS did not play “THE GENIE” in the first sequel and the t.v. show is because DISNEY didn’t honor their contract with him?

ROBIN WILLIAMS provided the voice for “THE GENIE”, at a union scale rate (the lowest legal pay rate a studio can give an actor), on the provisos that his voice was not used for merchandising (i.e. toys and such), and that “THE GENIE” character not take up more than 25% of the space of a poster, ad, billboard, or trailer. When these wishes were not granted, he withdrew his support for DISNEY and the film. As a result, his name was not included in “THE ART OF ALADDIN” book (it makes constant references to "the voice of “THE GENIE””), and he was not available for the direct-to-video sequel “ALADDIN IN: THE RETURN OF JAFAR” (1994) or “ALADDIN: THE T.V. SERIES” (1994) [DAN “HOMER SIMPSON” CASTELLANETA filled in as the voice of “THE GENIE” for these productions). In an attempt to get back on good terms with WILLIAMS, former WALT DISNEY CEO MICHAEL EISNER apologized to him with a peace offering of an original PABLO PICASSO painting. Still angered and feeling betrayed by DISNEY, WILLIAMS would not accept the gift. It was not until Disney chairman JEFFREY KATZENBERG was fired and replaced by JOE ROTH that WILLIAMS returned to Disney. Through ROTH, a public apology was given. Promises to right wrongs were kept, and WILLIAMS was so touched that he returned to reprise his role as “THE GENIE” for the second direct-to-video sequel, “ALADDIN AND THE KING OF THIEVES” (1996). DISNEY was so thrilled that they threw out the previously completed recording sessions with CASTELLANETA

[CASTELLANETA and the many characters he voices!] [I’d show you images of the other people I just mentioned, but you probably don’t care about them!]

During the course of recording the voices, WILLIAMS improvised so much they had almost sixteen hours of material.

While recording this movie, WILLIAMS frequently received calls from STEVEN SPIELBERG, who at the time was working on the Holocaust film “SCHINDLER’S LIST” (1993). He would put him on speaker phone so he could tell jokes to the cast and crew to cheer them up. Some of the material that he used was material that he was using for this film.

[1993]

In the preview screenings for the movie, audiences did not applaud after the big song numbers. The animators wanted applause and so somebody stuck “THE GENIE” with an "Applause" sign at the end of "FRIEND LIKE ME." The joke worked and the sign was kept for the movie.

And now let’s move on to the rest of the movie:

While the frame story - “A THOUSAND AND ONE ARABIAN NIGHTS” - is set in the Middle East, the original "ALADDIN" actually took place in CHINA.

In "FRIEND LIKE ME", one of the lines is "SCHEHERAZADE” had a thousand tales." “SCHEHERAZADE” was, of course, the supposed author/teller of the stories from “A THOUSAND AND ONE ARABIAN NIGHTS”, from which “ALADDIN” comes. While there were not actually a thousand tales, she did supposedly keep the sultan entertained for 1,001 nights.

[One of many different published versions of the book that helped inspire the movie!]

On what came to be known among the animators as Black Friday, KATZENBERG told the team to scrap virtually everything they had been working on for months and start all over again, and he also refused to move the film's release date. MUSKER and CLEMENTS were able to completely turn around the film's new plot and screenplay in just eight days.

[JOHN MUSKER and RON CLEMENTS.]

Did you know that “ALADDIN” shares a vocal connection with another classic film?

FRANK WELKER, who voices “ABU THE MONKEY”, previously used the same voice for another pet “CAPUCHIN MONKEY” in the STEVEN SPIELBERG/GEORGE LUCAS film “INDIANA JONES AND THE RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK” (1981). Like “ABU”, the monkey in that film also wears a vest, and also engages in deception and misdirection in a desert city's public market.

[“ABU”]

[“CAPUCHIN MONKEY”]

In the 2004 “PLATINUM EDITION” release and current releases, after the End Title Duet “A WHOLE NEW WORLD” ends and the credits are finished, “GENIE” has an extra goodbye line over the closing logo.

The face Genie makes when believing Aladdin might not be honest about setting him free as his third wish resembles that of the titular character of ”WALT DISNEY’S PINOCCHIO” (1940).

Also whenever Aladdin tells a lie, the big purple feather on his turban falls and covers his face.

[“PINOCCHIO”]

[“GENIE” turning into “PINOCCHIO” when “ALADDIN” promises to use his third wish to set “GENIE” free.]

[“ALADDIN/PRINCE ALI” telling a lie.]

To quote a character from “THE INCREDIBLES” [2004]:

Did you know that PATRICK STEWART was originally considered for the voice of “JAFAR”?

PATRICK STEWART was the first choice to play the role of “JAFAR”, but he had to turn it down due to scheduling conflicts with his hit T.V. show “STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION”. STEWART really wanted the role and later said that one of his biggest regrets was not being able to make it so.

[STEWART as “CAPT. PICARD”]

Did you that “ALADDIN’S” look was inspired by another actor?

“ALADDIN” was initially modeled after MICHAEL J. FOX, but they realized that was a little too goofy, and they wanted someone more handsome. So he was modeled after TOM CRUISE and CALVIN KLEIN models. Clearly, they never saw MICHAEL J. FOX in his underwear [if you have seen “BACK TO THE FUTURE” - 1985 - then you will get this joke].

[CRUISE]

[FOX]

[The joke!]

”JASMINE” was modeled after JENNIFER CONNELLY [The version from “THE ROCKETEER” - 1991 - and not from”REQUIEM FOR A DREAM” - 2000.] as well as Supervising Animator MARK HENN’S sister.

[CONNELLY]

[HENN]

"Made you look" is ROBIN WILLIAMS’ last line in both this movie and “GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM” (1987), not including his pre-recorded radio broadcast or his “GENIE” DISNEY logo outro in the later “ALADDIN” DVD/BLU-RAY re-releases.

[“GOOD MORNING,VIETNAM”]

After proving his abilities to “ALADDIN” by getting them out of a collapsed cave, “GENIE” calls “ALADDIN”; "Mr. Doubting ”MUSTAFA”. In the classic tellings of the “ALADDIN” story, ”MUSTAFA” was the name of “ALADDIN’S” late father. In the third movie “ALADDIN AND THE KING OF THIEVES” [1996] his name is “CASSIM” and he is voiced by JOHN RHYS-DAVIES [ “SALLAH” from the “INDIANA JONES” series].

[“CASSIM”]

[RHYS-DAVIES as “SALLAH”]

Well that will do it for now! ADIOS, AMIGOS!