Twice Upon a Time
Encyclopedia
Twice Upon a Time is a 1983
animated movie directed by John Korty
and Charles Swenson. This film had an unusual history in terms of release and editing, but it has been named one of the most important films in the history of stop-motion animation. This was also the first animated film George Lucas
produced.
The film uses a form of cutout animation
, which the filmmakers called "Lumage," that involved prefabricated cut-out plastic pieces that the animators moved on a light table
.
Meanwhile, two misfits known as Ralph The All Purpose Animal (named so for his somewhat unreliable shapeshifting abilities), and Mumford, a Chaplin-esque mime, are held put on trial for their incompetence at work. Determined to prove they can do something right, Ralph and Mumford take on the job of garbagemen. As they dump garabge over a large hill, they meet Flora Fauna, Greensleeves's niece, who has found her uncle's S.O.S and wants to find him. Botch spies on the three through Ibor, his robot gorilla, and uses Ralph and Mum's desire to be heroes to his advantage. After introducing himself as a friend of "Greenie", he cons the three that in order to save Greensleeves, they need to go into Din and steal the main spring from the Cosmic Clock. Flora stays behind to act the part of the damsel in distress for Botch's nightmares. Mumford and Ralph release the spring which causes time to freeze. They chase the spring throughout Din, but Botch sends his vultures to steal the spring from them and begin planting nightmare bombs. A Fairy Godmother
, or FGM as she likes to be called, twinkles in to tell our heroes that they have been tricked and gives them three dimes to make a phone booth appear in case they need her help. FGM also recruits the help of the dim-witted but musclebound Rod Rescueman to aid them. Rod is more interested in rescuing Fauna, however, and abandons the boys to find her.
Ralph and Mum find nightmare bombs scattered all over an office, ready to be set off by Botch once he starts time starts again. Mumford accidentally sets a bomb off and the two are trapped in a nightmare where they are chased and nearly killed by office supplies come to life. When they are finally freed from the nightmare, the Fairy Godmother transports them back to Frivoli and tells they're better off giving up after all the mistakes they've made. This only further strengthens Ralph and Mum's resolve to do right. Meanwhile, Rod "rescues" Flora from the Murkworks and attempts to get a kiss from her. She tries to escape from his floating apartment in the sky and falls. She survives, however, when she lands on a mechanical serpent that attempts to stop Ralph and Mum from reaching the Murkworks. The trio and Rod storm their way in with the help of Scuzzbopper, Botch's former nightmare screenwriter, who decides to aid them after Botch destroyed his recently completed novel. Rod and Flora rescue Greenie and the Figs but have to contend with Ibor. Rod tries to save Flora again but fails, and Flora destroys the robot herself. Mum and Ralph take on Botch as the vultures fly the spring back to Din. When it seems Botch has killed Mum, Ralph finally manages to control his shapeshifting and tricks Botch into pushing "The Big Red One", detonating every bomb before time is restarted. One last nightmare bomb appears and rolls toward Botch. Terrified at being subjected to his own nightmare, Botch leaps out the window and is carried away by his angry vultures. Ralph finds the bomb was really Mumford, who survived Botch's attack and hid in an empty shell. The two now consider themselves heroes and earn kisses from Flora. The spring returns to the Cosmic Clock of its own will, and restores time at a pace where the Rushers can enjoy life at a normal pace.
, was about to go bankrupt at that point and had a choice of either putting Twice Upon a Time into limited release or worldwide release. They also had the same problem with The Right Stuff. Since Twice Upon a Time was animated, it was put into limited release and failed at the box-office. The Right Stuff also suffered the same fate when it premiered worldwide and caused The Ladd Company to die out. Still today, it has created a cult following, it is accepted by movie fans and kids alike with its witty humor and catchy dialogue.
In one version, where Greensleeves is not kidnapped by Botch's vultures, Ralph and Mumford stop by a bar, before seeing the Fairy Godmother, and meet Greensleeves. He tells the boys to get the spring, after they tell him that they released it. Later, the spring escapes the vultures and meets Greenie, who is then asked to put the spring back in the cosmic clock. At this point, the vultures swoop in and kidnap the spring and Greensleeves.
There were at least two versions of the movie: one with adult language and one with PG-rated language. From the outset, John Korty
didn't want to use the dialogue of the original script, but Marshall Efron thought his lines were perfect and played up the raunchier aspects of his character. Some lines were selected by Bill Couturié
. Korty was unaware of this until opening night and was very angry about how Marshall Efron's lines were delivered from the script.
Years later, Twice Upon a Time was shown by HBO. However, the version that HBO received and showed was the version that Couturié liked. When Korty found out, he immediately contacted HBO, threatening legal action if this version was aired again. So, after only three showings, HBO suspended broadcasts of the film until supplied with a new cut from Korty. This new cut filled out the remaining showings of Twice scheduled that month, prompting complaints of "censored" movies being shown on HBO. After the complaints, HBO chose to never air the film again on their service. Two months later, Showtime and over-the-air pay television service Spectrum acquired rights to show the film, but only the Korty-approved version. Interestingly enough, this version had the complete scene of "Out on My Own" as well as the uncut final reel of the film absent from the later home video version.
In 1991
, the film was finally released to videocassette
and laserdisc
. However, the laserdisc was only pan and scan with one side CAV and no supplements. Apparently, John Korty won the battle, as the version released is very cleaned-up and a bit shorter in certain scenes. The basic story is there, but with the original scenes and dialogue altered, this version is incomplete in its final presentation.
To date, the film has yet to see any form of DVD release, and Warner Home Video
has not stated if there is one planned. Though when the film was uploaded to various viral video sites, its minor cult status was boosted, prompting online retailer Amazon
to offer used VHS copies on its "Used and New" section. Amazon also made the film temporarily available for rental download via Amazon Unbox
, although the company has since rescinded the offer, citing licensing restrictions http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SW16A8. Perhaps in response to the lack of official support for the film, several bootleg copies of the original, uncut version are available via bittorrent.
and her. Also included is one song performed by Bruce Hornsby
written by his brother John
and him, as well as one track performed by Lawrence Welk
and His Orchestra.
animator and Sheridan Professor Kaj Pindal appears on board an airplane in the films during the spring retrieval sequence.
1983 in film
-Events:*February 11 - The Rolling Stones concert film Let's Spend the Night Together opens in New York*May 25 - Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, the final film in the original Star Wars trilogy, is released. Like the previous films, it goes on to become the top grossing picture of...
animated movie directed by John Korty
John Korty
John Korty is an American film director and animator, best known for the television film The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and the documentary Who Are the DeBolts? And Where Did They Get Nineteen Kids?, as well as the theatrical animated feature Twice Upon a Time...
and Charles Swenson. This film had an unusual history in terms of release and editing, but it has been named one of the most important films in the history of stop-motion animation. This was also the first animated film George Lucas
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...
produced.
The film uses a form of cutout animation
Cutout animation
Cutout animation is a technique for producing animations using flat characters, props and backgrounds cut from materials such as paper, card, stiff fabric or even photographs...
, which the filmmakers called "Lumage," that involved prefabricated cut-out plastic pieces that the animators moved on a light table
Light table
A light table is a viewing device that is used to review photographic film or artwork placed on top of it. It provides even illumination of the subject from below through a translucent cover and fluorescent lights that emit little heat. They can also be found mounted on the walls of hospitals and...
.
Cast
- Lorenzo MusicLorenzo MusicLorenzo Music was an American actor, voice actor, writer, television producer and musician. His best-known roles include voicing the animated cartoon cat Garfield, and Carlton the doorman on the CBS sitcom Rhoda...
- Ralph, The All-Purpose Animal - Julie Payne - Flora Fauna
- Marshall EfronMarshall EfronMarshall Efron is an American humorist originally known for his work on the listener-sponsored Pacifica radio stations WBAI New York and KPFK Los Angeles, and later for the PBS television show The Great American Dream Machine...
- Synonamess Botch - Hamilton CampHamilton CampHamilton Camp was an English-American singer, songwriter, actor and voice actor.-Early life:Camp was born in London, England, and was evacuated during World War II to the United States as a child with his mother and sister. He became a child actor in films and onstage...
- Greensleeves - James Cranna - Rod Rescueman / Scuzzbopper / Frivoli Foreman
- Paul FreesPaul FreesPaul Frees was an American voice actor and character actor.-Biography:He was born Solomon Hersh Frees in Chicago...
- Narrator / Chef of State / Judges / Bailiff - Judith KahanJudith KahanJudith Kahan , is a longtime American actress and television writer. Although she has been mostly seen on film and television, she has done a number of theatre shows, including a co-starring role as Fredrika Armfeldt on the original Broadway show of A Little Night Music from 1973-1974.-Actress:*...
(credited as Judith Kahan Kampmann) - The Fairy Godmother
Plot
In the faraway eternally busy city of Din, live the black-and-white Rushers, who constantly go about their business in a fast-paced way and stop only to sleep. Din lies in between two worlds that create dreams to deliver to the sleeping Rushers - one is the bright and cheerful Frivoli, where Greensleeves and his Figmen of Imagination bring sweet dreams, and the other is the Murkworks, a dark and dingy factory home to vultures who drop nightmare bombs. The evil Synonamess Botch, maniacal ruler of the Murkworks wants to foil Greenie's efforts and subject the Rushers to non-stop waking nightmares. He uses his vultures to kidnap the Figs and Greensleeves, but not before Greensleeves writes an S.O.S. to Frivoli.Meanwhile, two misfits known as Ralph The All Purpose Animal (named so for his somewhat unreliable shapeshifting abilities), and Mumford, a Chaplin-esque mime, are held put on trial for their incompetence at work. Determined to prove they can do something right, Ralph and Mumford take on the job of garbagemen. As they dump garabge over a large hill, they meet Flora Fauna, Greensleeves's niece, who has found her uncle's S.O.S and wants to find him. Botch spies on the three through Ibor, his robot gorilla, and uses Ralph and Mum's desire to be heroes to his advantage. After introducing himself as a friend of "Greenie", he cons the three that in order to save Greensleeves, they need to go into Din and steal the main spring from the Cosmic Clock. Flora stays behind to act the part of the damsel in distress for Botch's nightmares. Mumford and Ralph release the spring which causes time to freeze. They chase the spring throughout Din, but Botch sends his vultures to steal the spring from them and begin planting nightmare bombs. A Fairy Godmother
Fairy godmother
In fairy tales, a fairy godmother is a fairy with magical powers who acts as a mentor or parent to someone, in the role that an actual godparent was expected to play in many societies...
, or FGM as she likes to be called, twinkles in to tell our heroes that they have been tricked and gives them three dimes to make a phone booth appear in case they need her help. FGM also recruits the help of the dim-witted but musclebound Rod Rescueman to aid them. Rod is more interested in rescuing Fauna, however, and abandons the boys to find her.
Ralph and Mum find nightmare bombs scattered all over an office, ready to be set off by Botch once he starts time starts again. Mumford accidentally sets a bomb off and the two are trapped in a nightmare where they are chased and nearly killed by office supplies come to life. When they are finally freed from the nightmare, the Fairy Godmother transports them back to Frivoli and tells they're better off giving up after all the mistakes they've made. This only further strengthens Ralph and Mum's resolve to do right. Meanwhile, Rod "rescues" Flora from the Murkworks and attempts to get a kiss from her. She tries to escape from his floating apartment in the sky and falls. She survives, however, when she lands on a mechanical serpent that attempts to stop Ralph and Mum from reaching the Murkworks. The trio and Rod storm their way in with the help of Scuzzbopper, Botch's former nightmare screenwriter, who decides to aid them after Botch destroyed his recently completed novel. Rod and Flora rescue Greenie and the Figs but have to contend with Ibor. Rod tries to save Flora again but fails, and Flora destroys the robot herself. Mum and Ralph take on Botch as the vultures fly the spring back to Din. When it seems Botch has killed Mum, Ralph finally manages to control his shapeshifting and tricks Botch into pushing "The Big Red One", detonating every bomb before time is restarted. One last nightmare bomb appears and rolls toward Botch. Terrified at being subjected to his own nightmare, Botch leaps out the window and is carried away by his angry vultures. Ralph finds the bomb was really Mumford, who survived Botch's attack and hid in an empty shell. The two now consider themselves heroes and earn kisses from Flora. The spring returns to the Cosmic Clock of its own will, and restores time at a pace where the Rushers can enjoy life at a normal pace.
Release
The studio that was distributing, The Ladd CompanyThe Ladd Company
The Ladd Company is a film production and distribution company founded by Alan Ladd, Jr. in 1979, after ending his job as President of 20th Century Fox. Under Warner Bros...
, was about to go bankrupt at that point and had a choice of either putting Twice Upon a Time into limited release or worldwide release. They also had the same problem with The Right Stuff. Since Twice Upon a Time was animated, it was put into limited release and failed at the box-office. The Right Stuff also suffered the same fate when it premiered worldwide and caused The Ladd Company to die out. Still today, it has created a cult following, it is accepted by movie fans and kids alike with its witty humor and catchy dialogue.
Alternate versions
There were many different versions of this movie, because the producers could only hire improvisational comedians.In one version, where Greensleeves is not kidnapped by Botch's vultures, Ralph and Mumford stop by a bar, before seeing the Fairy Godmother, and meet Greensleeves. He tells the boys to get the spring, after they tell him that they released it. Later, the spring escapes the vultures and meets Greenie, who is then asked to put the spring back in the cosmic clock. At this point, the vultures swoop in and kidnap the spring and Greensleeves.
There were at least two versions of the movie: one with adult language and one with PG-rated language. From the outset, John Korty
John Korty
John Korty is an American film director and animator, best known for the television film The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and the documentary Who Are the DeBolts? And Where Did They Get Nineteen Kids?, as well as the theatrical animated feature Twice Upon a Time...
didn't want to use the dialogue of the original script, but Marshall Efron thought his lines were perfect and played up the raunchier aspects of his character. Some lines were selected by Bill Couturié
Bill Couturié
Bill Couturié is a film director, best known for the Academy Award-winning documentary Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt which he produced and his multi-Emmy Award Winning film Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam, which he wrote, produced, and directed...
. Korty was unaware of this until opening night and was very angry about how Marshall Efron's lines were delivered from the script.
Years later, Twice Upon a Time was shown by HBO. However, the version that HBO received and showed was the version that Couturié liked. When Korty found out, he immediately contacted HBO, threatening legal action if this version was aired again. So, after only three showings, HBO suspended broadcasts of the film until supplied with a new cut from Korty. This new cut filled out the remaining showings of Twice scheduled that month, prompting complaints of "censored" movies being shown on HBO. After the complaints, HBO chose to never air the film again on their service. Two months later, Showtime and over-the-air pay television service Spectrum acquired rights to show the film, but only the Korty-approved version. Interestingly enough, this version had the complete scene of "Out on My Own" as well as the uncut final reel of the film absent from the later home video version.
In 1991
1991 in film
The year 1991 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*April 28 - Bonnie Raitt marries actor Michael O'Keefe in New York* Terminator 2: Judgment Day, became one of the landmarks for science fiction action films with its groundbreaking visual effects from Industrial Light & Magic.*November...
, the film was finally released to videocassette
Videotape
A videotape is a recording of images and sounds on to magnetic tape as opposed to film stock or random access digital media. Videotapes are also used for storing scientific or medical data, such as the data produced by an electrocardiogram...
and laserdisc
Laserdisc
LaserDisc was a home video format and the first commercial optical disc storage medium. Initially licensed, sold, and marketed as MCA DiscoVision in North America in 1978, the technology was previously referred to interally as Optical Videodisc System, Reflective Optical Videodisc, Laser Optical...
. However, the laserdisc was only pan and scan with one side CAV and no supplements. Apparently, John Korty won the battle, as the version released is very cleaned-up and a bit shorter in certain scenes. The basic story is there, but with the original scenes and dialogue altered, this version is incomplete in its final presentation.
To date, the film has yet to see any form of DVD release, and Warner Home Video
Warner Home Video
Warner Home Video is the home video unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., itself part of Time Warner. It was founded in 1978 as WCI Home Video . The company launched in the United States with twenty films on VHS and Betamax videocassettes in late 1979...
has not stated if there is one planned. Though when the film was uploaded to various viral video sites, its minor cult status was boosted, prompting online retailer Amazon
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
to offer used VHS copies on its "Used and New" section. Amazon also made the film temporarily available for rental download via Amazon Unbox
Amazon Unbox
Amazon Instant Video is an Internet video on demand service, only available in the United States, offered by Amazon.com which offers television shows and films for rental and purchase. The service became available on September 7, 2006 as Amazon Unbox...
, although the company has since rescinded the offer, citing licensing restrictions http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SW16A8. Perhaps in response to the lack of official support for the film, several bootleg copies of the original, uncut version are available via bittorrent.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack features several songs performed by Maureen McDonald written by Tom Ferguson, her brother MichaelMichael McDonald (singer)
Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan...
and her. Also included is one song performed by Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...
written by his brother John
John Hornsby
John Hornsby is an American composer, musician and actor. He is a brother of musician and composer Bruce Hornsby, and the two have collaborated often....
and him, as well as one track performed by Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
and His Orchestra.
Trivia
Famous NFBNational Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
animator and Sheridan Professor Kaj Pindal appears on board an airplane in the films during the spring retrieval sequence.
External links
- Twice Upon a Time: The Movie Time Forgot (Part 1) - Interview with writer and animation historian Taylor Jessen.
- Twice Upon a Time: The Movie Time Forgot (Part 2) - Interview with art director Harley Jessup.
- http://www.reocities.com/Area51/Dimension/9049/twice1.htmlThe OTHER "Twice Upon a Time" Page