Issues@Hand
AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs
August 1996 – A priority in Disney’s current philosophy of movie-making seems to be “pushing the envelope.” Roughly translated, that means including as much sexual content as possible and defending it with high sounding arguments about artistic integrity, but still having the public buy it in huge numbers.
Case in point – the new animated film The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Composer Alan Menken is part of the team that scored the movie and he describes one song in the movie, Hellfire, like this, “With Hellfire, we weren’t just expanding the envelope, we were taking it into another room. It really tests the limits of what we can get away with. In one song, we have Frollo sing the church liturgy, but also sing of twisted sexual fantasies: Hellfire, Hellfire, there’s a fire in my skin/This burning desire is turning me to sin.
The drifting of Disney from its family friendly heritage does not come without the knowledge of the people in charge. In fact, it seems to be encouraged from the pinnacle of Disney’s corporate ladder, Chairman Michael Eisner. Actor Tony Jay, who supplies the voice for the character Frollo talks about the way his character was scripted. “It’s quite graphic. I told Michael Eisner, ‘I’m surprised how far they’re going with Frollo.’ He said to me, ‘We can’t keep making Dumbo forever.’” Composer Menken also remembers a conversation with Eisner: “He said even if it goes to PG, he would not compromise the material.”
Esmeralda, the female lead in Hunchback, is described by USA Today as a voluptuous, raven-tressed Gypsy dancer who draws a reaction of “…pure unadulterated lust” from Frollo. Not surprising, considering Demi Moore (Striptease) is providing the voice for Esmeralda.
Perhaps one of the most telling indictments of the film comes from another of the actors involved in the project. Jason Alexander, who provides the sounds for a gargoyle character, has this to say about the film: “Disney would have us to believe this movie’s like the Ringling Brothers, for children of all ages. But I won’t be taking my four-year-old.”
It’s wholesome family entertainment, as Disney sees it.
USA Today, 6/14/96, Entertainment Weeky, 6/21/96
Disney takes high profile on ABC
Disney’s control of the ABC Television network is an ominous prospect that bears watching. Will Disney use ABC to push its agenda like it uses Miramax and Hyperion Press (published two pro-homosexual books)? One thing is for certain, Disney will have a say in the content that airs on ABC.
Many shows on the network have managed to work references to vacationing at Disney World into the script. ABC even went as far as building an entire evening’s programming around the Disney vacation theme.
In June, ABC created a show called Disney’s Most Unlikely Heroes, which analyzed several of Disney’s characters and served as a promotional tool for The Hunchback of Notre Dame movie.
It’s obvious Disney intends to cross promote between its various properties, and with control of ABC, ESPN, and a hand in Lifetime and A&E, Disney has unequaled access to deliver whatever message it wants to.
First quarter loss of $25 million may mean changes at Disney
Is Disney in trouble? Not yet, but the red ink is starting to trickle at the company. Struck by a $25 million loss in the first quarter of 1996, Disney is starting to downsize in its live action film division following financial reports that saw movie profits drop 35% in 1995.
Joe Roth, chairman of Disney Studios, says the company will cut its output of live action films in half over the next year and may drop releases further in subsequent years. Disney is also expected to shut the door on its Hollywood Pictures division and make some changes at the controversial Miramax Film unit. 
