Celebrating Angela Lansbury

Angela Lansbury

Mrs. Potts, Beauty & the Beast

B. October 16, 1925, D. October 11, 2022

Original theatrical release poster, 1992

On Tuesday October 11, the animation world lost the memorable and talented voice artist, Angela Lansbury.  Cast to play the delightful and warmly regarded Mrs. Potts in Disney's animated feature, Beauty & Beast released in 1992, Angela Lansbury was the embodiment of everyone's nurturing mother or grandma. 

                    Original Production Drawing, Graphite & colored pencil on 16 field animation paper

                    Artist:  Disney Unknown

                    Acquired:   June 15, 2019

                    

So to commemorate the Disney legacy she left us, I would like to share two things: this wonderful production layout drawing of Mrs Potts with Maurice......and a quick story that I just learned from a friend of mine.   My best friend from college was performing with the Alaska Repertory Theater in 1998 and insisted that I come down for visit and to meet this special "Disney" person that had come to Juneau.  The Disney person would later turn out to be none other than David Friedman who was music director for Disney's film Beauty & the Beast as well as the original broadway production.  It was a great weekend trip by all and David shared with us at the time that he was working on the music for an upcoming re-release for Beauty & Beast with the newly added animated scene of "Human Again" based upon the broadway success.  He shared with us a rough cut animation sequence for the music he had just recorded in the studio.  What fun insight and firsthand viewing!  This past week David shared his wonderful story on Facebook about how he was asked to help to get Angela Lansbury to play the part of Mrs. Potts.  She almost didn't take the part!  I thought this was fun and memorable.  So read below for more.  

Angela Lansbury's vocals were perfect for bringing this Disney character to life singing one of the most iconic Disney songs in the modern animation era.  May you rest in peace...and know that your contribution is a "tale as old time, song as old as rhyme!"  

From David Friedman's Facebook Post on October 11, 2002:

David Friedman

October 12 at 6:56 AM  · 

ANOTHER ANGELA LANSBURY STORY

One day, when we were in the earlier stages of preparing to do the movie Beauty & The Beast, I got a call from Disney asking me to fly up to Boston to convince Angela to take the roll of Mrs. Potts because she was resisting doing it. I said, "OK. I don't know if I can do that, but I'll try my best."

So, on the appointed day, I flew up to Boston (I had gone to college there, New England Conservatory, so I knew the town well), took a cab to the Copley Plaza hotel, went up to the front desk and said, "I'm David Friedman, I'm here to see Angela Lansbury." The clerk said, "Yes, Mr. Friedman, she's expecting you."

He escorted me to the private dining room where she was sitting at a table with her husband. She leapt to her feet, said, "Oh, Hello. You must be David. This is my husband, Peter. You must be hungry after your trip. Sit down and have something to eat."

I was daunted to be meeting the great Angela Lansbury, but she made me feel immediately at ease. After a while, we got up to go across the hall to a club with a piano that the hotel had cordoned off for our use.

The minute we stepped out of the dining room and into the hall, cameras started flashing, with reporters calling out, "Miss Lansbury, look this way," etc. She was very gracious but it was getting to be a bit intrusive, so I stepped in and said, "Miss Lansbury has to go now.” We said goodbye to the reporters, walked into the empty club, and shut the door. The moment we were inside, Angela said, "Whew! It was never like this before TV. It's television that's created this."

The club was closed so all the chairs were on top of the tables. Angela immediately grabbed a couple of the chairs, put one in front of the piano for me and sat in the other. There was absolutely no star stuff in her. The chairs had to be taken down, so she did it before I had a chance to.

I looked at her and said, “So what’s the problem?” She said, “I can’t sing these songs.” I said, “Why don’t you sing them for me, and let’s see what’s going on.”

She sang Beauty and the Beast, and I said, “That’s great! I could give you a few technical pointers, but you’re fine.” She said, “Oh darling, I have no technique. I don’t know what I’m doing as a singer.” I looked at her and said, “OK, what’s bothering you?” She said, “These are pop songs, I can’t sing them.”

I said, “Ah. Alright. Would you do me a favor, forget about the sound, forget about the style, and just be Mrs. Potts singing to Chip.”

What came out was extraordinarily beautiful. Real, touching, and connected. Very close to what she ended up doing in the film.

I said, “That’s it!” She said, “You’ll let me do that?” I said, “That’s what we want you to do!” With that, she said, “OK. I’m in!”

I realized, in that moment, that Angela was such a connected actress that she could not sing a song unless she knew who she was, where she was and to whom she was singing. And once she had that, she was home free and brilliant.

Four months later, we went into the studio and recorded the song, with Angela singing it directly to me in the booth. (I was Chip for a day.)

After her take (I think she may have only done one or possibly two, she was that spot-on) we went into the control room to listen back, and when Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and the producers and engineer all applauded her, she pointed at me and said, “He did it.”

I couldn’t get over what a gracious and personal gesture that was. Needless to say, it was one of the most gratifying experiences of my career.

P.S. Years later, I found out that the reason Angela had been so reticent to sing the songs was because they had accidentally sent her the pop demo (a demo for the version that Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson eventually sang). No wonder she thought she couldn’t sing it.

I’m forever grateful that we were able to work all that out, not only so that I could have one of the most gratifying personal and professional experiences of my life, but so that the world would get to experience the joy of hearing Angela sing Beauty & The Beast for all time.

She may be gone, but her legacy lives in our hearts and on the work she left behind.

Happy Anniversary Dumbo!

 

Dumbo

Released:  October 23, 1941

Happy 81st Anniversary!

Original Theatrical Release Movie Poster, 1941

On this day in 1941, Walt Disney released it's fourth animated feature film Dumbo, which was based upon a childrens story by Helen Aberson-Mayer and Harold Pearl.  This day marks the 81st anniversary of the film's release and the film has continued to be an ongoing financial & animation success story all these years.  

Being one of the shortest in terms of screen time, clocking in at 64 minutes, Dumbo is not short on heartfelt story and wonderful art.  I have always loved this film and its masterful use of watercolor backgrounds.  So, to commemorate this classic film, I am sharing a couple of my favorite pieces in my collection.  It is hard to believe that I have enjoyed these pieces on my wall for over 20 years!

                                Original watercolor concept painting on 12 filed watercolor paper

                                Artist:  Disney studio, unknown

                                Acquired:   April 28, 2002

This cel setup of the mother Giraffe and baby Giraffe from the opening stork delivery sequence near the beginning of the film was the first piece of Dumbo art that I found.  I particularly love Giraffes and love this cel setup!  Enjoy!

                                Original Courvoisier Cel Setup, gouache on cellulose nitrate, watercolor on board

                                Artist:  Disney studio, unknown

                                Acquired:  August 7, 2001

 

Happy Birthday Jungle Book!

 

The Jungle Book 

Released:  October 18, 1967

Happy 55th Birthday!

On this date in 1967, the Walt Disney Studios premiered the release of Disney's 19th animated feature film, the Jungle Book.  Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, Disney Legend and one of the Nine Old Men, the Jungle Book was the last feature film to have Walt Disney's direct influence.  At the time in 1967, it was Disney's second highest gross animated film in terms of box office receipts.  It is hard to believe that this film is only 55 years old!

This day is also special in another way as it is the birthday of my very first nephew Cameron.  So to commemorate both, I thought I would share a piece of concept art that is one my favorites in the collection.  I don't know a great deal about the piece and would love to learn more if anyone has something to share.  It is a great little painting of Mowgli and Bagheera at the edge of the jungle with wonderful bright colors.  I had previously posted this piece on my blog about 8 years ago, but thought it would be fun to share again.  Also, if you follow Andreas Deja blog, you can find a reference to the concept piece in his blog as well.   Concept art from the Jungle Book is very rare to find outside of the Disney Archives.  

                                Original Production Concept Painting, gouache on board 

                                Artist:  Disney Studio, unknown

                                Acquired:  February 12, 2009

Coincidently, on one of my auction buying trips to Los Angeles, I flew Cameron from Ohio to join me for a fun filled weekend at Howard Lowery's, Bonhams and Disneyland in 2005.  This little painting was up for sale in Bonhams animation sale and I was interested it.  You can just see the smaller concept behind the larger one on the right.  I had a fun time treating Cameron on this trip for his birthday.  

 

Happy Birthday to the Jungle Book!

Happy Birthday Cameron!

Mr. Toad's Big Day!

 

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

Released: October 5, 1949

Original Release Movie Poster, 1949

On this day in 1949, the Walt Disney Studios released its 11th animated feature film, "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad."  I have always enjoyed seeing the sequence of Mr. toad as it reminded me of my childhood experience going to Disney World for the first time and riding Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.  I also enjoyed the story of the headless horseman and love the way Disney's visuals came to life on screen. This is the beginning of Mary Blair's influence at Disney and the subsequent films to come in the 1950s. This segment of the movie also compliments my interest in Halloween and everything spooky fun.

I have always wanted to get a piece of art from either of these segments, but it has eluded me over the years. One just has to keep dreaming that one day perhaps a special piece of art will come along.  So for now here are a couple of photos from the Mr. Toad sequence of a production drawing (possibly by Frank Thomas) and some maquettes that were up for sale in 2005 at the last Howard Lowery auction I went to.

Original production drawing of Mr. Toad close-up

                       Original production maquettes of Mr. Toad and what appears to be Ratty as seen in the film.

Happy anniversary Mr. Toad! 

Bagheeeeera!!!!

 

The Jungle Book

Released:  October 18, 1967

This past week I was excited to learn about a scene with Bagheera and Baloo from Disney's The Jungle Book.  If you are not aware, Andreas Deja, Disney Legend and master animator, also publishes a regular blog on animation and related topics.  On September 20, 2022 he posted a story about the scene where Bagheera comes to the aid of Baloo after King Louis's monkey friends kidnap Mowgli.   I was excited to see the animation drawing images he shared as they were drafted by another Disney Legend and one of Disney's Nine Old Men, Milt Kahl.   He posted a series of 30 sequential rough drawings of Bagheera from this scene.  I love seeing sequential animation drawings and learning who and how they are created. 

So, up for this week's post is a Bagheera drawing numbered 27 from this same sequence, but 10 frames before his first pictured drawing numbered 37.  It is always exciting to learn new things about art in your collection.  I have had this drawing in the collection for a number of years and particularly love this piece.  Milt Kahl beautifully drew one of my favorite animals, cats.  Check out Andreas Deja's post here to learn more about this scene as well.

If you get a chance to visit the Walt Disney Family Museum exhibit on the Jungle Book this summer, you will discover a great section on Milt Kahl and his ability to draw cats and in particular Bagheera.

                            Original Production Drawing, graphite and red pencil on 16 field animation paper

                            Artist:  Milt Kahl

                            Acquired:  July 27, 2010

Original film frame, copyright Walt Disney Company