Film: The Jungle Book 1967 Flashcards
Who produced and distributed JB?
Walt Disney Productions
What had happened to the previous Disney film, The Sword and The Stone?
It had flopped at the box office
Why was Walt Disney so personally involved in JB?
Due to the poor response to The Sword and The Stone
Why did Disney change the script?
Because he felt the script was too dark for family audiences
Who was the chief animator?
Floyd Norman
Who was the final scriptwriter who was tasked with making it more lighthearted?
Larry Clemmons
What was innovative about how the characters were produced?
The drawings were based on the actors (instead of vice versa)
Who directed JB?
Walter Reitherman
Why was Phil Harris chosen to be a voiceover?
Disney head him sing as a band leader and knew he was Baloo
How did Harris change the film?
Baloo had been a minor character but became the co-star after Harris took over the voiceover
Who wrote most of the songs?
The Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins)
How were the backgrounds created?
They were handpainted
What technology was used in filming?
Multiplane camera to create a notion of depth. It also allowed for special effects to be created.
How was the JB created?
On transparent “cels” which meant they could be re-used and did not need to be re-painted each time
What other technology was used?
Xerography - copying the animator’s drawings onto a light-sensitive aluminium plate and then onto cels, unlike the old, painstaking hand-inking process, tracing them from paper drawings
How is politics reflected in JB?
Disney’s right-wing views meant that the black civil rights movement was ignored and equating black jazz music with monkeys
When was JB relased?
October 67
When was JB re-released?
1978, 1984, 1990 in US and throughout the 80s in Europe
Why are the re-release’s important?
Box office takings were maximised
What was the budget?
$4 million
How much has the JB grossed in the US?
$141 million (29th highest grossing film of all time in the US)
How much has the JB grossed worldwide?
$205 million
When was it released on VHS and DVD?
1991 and 2007
What is “vaulting”?
When films are not available for purchase
Why is vaulting used?
Pushes up demand
What is interesting about the vinyl soundtrack?
It was the first record to achieve gold status in the USA from an animated feature film
How was JB vertically integrated in 67?
It was distributed through Buena Vista Distribution Company (owned by Disney). Disney had also diversified into theme parks, TV and merch
How influential was Disney on the animated film industry?
It was immeasurable including founding California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)
How do we know Walt Disney has a strong personal influence on the company?
Because the company began a decline for decades after his death
What is the main regulation for JB?
Copyright which protects the film, music, design, dvd cover etc etc
Why was JB not given a classification?
The rating system was only established in 1968 in the US
How did Walt Disney use synergy?
Cross-promotion through Company’s to tie-in with the release (eg MacDonald’s Happy Meals), character merchandise, TV shows, theme park, video games
What time of year was it released?
October - random time but there were no key seasons/peak times in the 60s for cinema distribution
What was Disney reliant on for income?
Mostly re-releases (and merch to some extent) but they were very limited streams of income
Who was the merch and trailer aimed at?
Children
Why was the roll-out of the film so slow?
Because it was based on expensive copies of the master being physically distributed to cinemas
What classification has the JB been given by BBFC?
U
