Discovering Roger Rabbit?HUM 3085: Florida Culture

Fall 2010Dr. Perdigao

October 20, 2010

Framing Roger

Tracing Roger

Hit lists• Director Robert Zemeckis (Beowulf (2007); The Polar Express (2004); Cast Away

(2000); Contact (1997); Back to the Future, Back to the Future II, Back to the Future III (1985, 1989, 1990) (Terry Gilliam had declined)

• Produced by Disney, released through Touchstone Pictures, co-produced by Amblin Entertainment; Eisner encouraged project in 1985; greenlighted at budget of 29.9 million, largest budget for animated film; ends up being second highest grossing film in 1988 behind Rain Man, 20th at time of release

• Gary K. Wolf’s Who Censored Roger Rabbit? (1981)

• Set in 1947 Hollywood

• Roger Rabbit, Jessica Rabbit• Eddie Valiant• Judge Doom• Dolores• Marvin Acme: owner of Toontown, Acme Corporation• R.K. Maroon: Maroon Cartoon studios, RR as star• Baby Herman

• Animator Richard Williams stated Roger Rabbit’s design drawn from Oswald’s overalls, Mickey’s gloves, Porky the Pig’s bowtie

“Lending” characters

The gang’s all here

Disney film noir?• Cloverleaf Industries—taking over Toontown after Maroon’s death, bought Pacific

Electric trolley cars (Red Car)

• Judge Doom’s plot to take over Cloverleaf, Toontown, trolley system, freeway

• Chinatown (1974) storyline about conspiracy in the water department; film followed by Two Jakes (1990) about the gas company; third to be “Cloverleaf” plot, real events of freeway development displacing (and forcing out) Red Car

• Film noir, investigation of affair, photographs taken, trickery with hiring as set up, revelation of corruption in plot about water supply

• Director Roman Polanski, star Jack Nicholson

If you’re going to build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style?

Technological revolution?

Redefining sex and power

Abandoning icons• Betty Boop—first appearance in 1930

• Disney animator Grim Natwick created her for Fleischer Studios

• Fleischer’s response to Mickey Mouse

• Dizzy Dishes, first appearance, humanized in 1932 with Any Rags

• Depression-era character, flapper image

• Sexualized, contrast to Minnie Mouse

• Motion Picture Production Code, adopted in 1930, put into effect in 1934, industry guidelines, abandoned in 1968 for ratings system

• As a result, Betty Boop’s sexualized image change, dress changes

• Like Mickey, popularity wanes in contrast to other characters

• Series ends in 1939

Metafilms

Almost unrecognizable Roger Rabbit

Homework• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49qhmMtPNto

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4qZx5P-sTM • (4:10, 7)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3suw_vb6-fY • (1:30)