Disney Villains and the Seven Deadly Sins
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:11 am
Happy Halloween everyone! To celebrate that, I created this post. Have a look!
POOR UNFORTUNATE SOULS:
A List of Disney's Most Wanted Villains
A great actor once said that it was always more fun to play the bad guy. After all, what better character than the villain to really be able to let loose, if not to chew the scenery, than to at least burn it down?
The villains in Disney films have always had an almost cult following, a special fondness in the hearts of movie fans, even if they were threatening to skin a puppy, devour our hero or even destroy a city. Villain merchandise is everywhere in the theme parks, where they are the "stars" of the popular "Fantasmic!" show. Famed animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston even devoted a whole book to the subject.
So why all this fascination with the dark side of Disney magic? Perhaps we are unable to fully care for the protagonist without a suitably hissable antagonist, a carry-over from other forms of entertainment, from literature to drama to mainstream motion pictures. After all, what would David be without his Goliath, or Sherlock Holmes without his Professor Moriarty, or Bugs Bunny without his Elmer Fudd, or Luke Skywalker without his Darth Vader? Or perhaps we see in these villains sides of ourselves that we keep hidden, letting these outrageous characters do what we would never dream of, a vicarious trip into the shadows of our own souls. Or maybe it’s just what that great actor felt: they are more fun.
But whatever the fascination with heavies, from Lady Macbeth, Hannibal Lecter and Goldfinger to the Wicked Witch of the West, the Joker and Bill the Butcher, the bad guy (and gal) has always been big, bigger than life, that is, and the Disney villains are no exception.
So in celebration of All Hallow's Eve, I'd liked now to "honor" these thieves, fiends and evil monarchs, and compare them to the Seven Deadly Sins they so readily embrace... and we so eagerly relish. This is Part One. We'll begin with the least deadly sins and work our way up the ladder to the most deadly sin of all.
LUST
Lust? In a Disney film? Sure, when the bad boy (or girl) wants want he (or she) can't have (i.e., the good girl (or boy)).
MORTIMER MOUSE
Film: "Mickey's Rival" (1936)
DVD: Classic Cartoon Favorites: Best Pals Mickey and Minnie
In all their many years of courtship, Mickey has only had one rival for the affections of his Minnie, and that was Mortimer Mouse. Smug, egotistical and just plain obnoxious, Mortimer is the exact opposite of our main mouse, and his cowardly nature is revealed when Minnie is endangered. Mickey, of course, comes to the rescue.
Occupation(s): Lover boy
Crimes Committed: None, technically, but still...
Quote: "Well, if it ain't my old sweetie, Minnie Mouse!"
Final Verdict: He leaves Minnie to fend for herself against a charging bull, but would eventually show up again years later on the "Mickey Mouse Works" and "House of Mouse" series.
DONALD'S DOUBLE
Film: "Donald's Double Trouble" (1946)
DVD: Classic Cartoon Favorites: Best Pals Donald and Daisy
After yet another one of their arguments between them, Daisy doesn't ever want to see Donald again, leaving Donald devastated. So our main duck hires a debonair look-alike lothario to try and win her back for him. Unfortunately, it all backfires when the duck's doppelganger falls in love with Daisy for real and takes her on a date to the amusement park. Naturally, Donald is not happy...
Occupation(s): Lothario
Crimes Committed: Again, none, technically, but still...
Quote: (to Daisy) "Darling, we'll paint the town vermilion."
Final Verdict: Both Donalds retreat from the park to escape the humiliated Daisy's wrath.
VICKY ROBINSON
Film: "The Parent Trap" (1961)
Actor: Joanna Barnes
DVD: Available
What's a glamorous socialite-slash-gold-digger to do? She's hooked a handsome and (more importantly) rich ranch owner, but just as she's reeling him in to the altar, not one but two bratty daughters are on the scene to keelhaul this loathsome deal. Then, to make matters worse, the ex-wife shows up, and she's not quite the spinster hubby-to-be made her out to be. And now what, camping???
Occupation(s): Lover girl
Partner(s) In Crime: Her mother, a very different kind of Mrs. Robinson
Crimes Committed: Terrorism, abuse
Quote: "First change I make in that household, off she goes to a boarding school in Switzerland."
Final Verdict: Doused with honey and licked by baby bears, Miss Vicky angrily calls off the engagement and storms off in a huff.
BARNABY
Film: "Babes In Toyland" (1961)
Actor: Ray Bolger
DVD: Available
The leering would-be lothario Barnaby wants Mary Contrary all for himself. There's just one problem: she is to marry Tom Piper, a problem easy enough to resolve: he dispatches his dim-witted lackeys to dispose of the boy. Naturally, the plan fails, and Barnaby must face off with a shrunken Tom and an army of toy soldiers in Toyland.
Occupation(s): Lothario
Partner(s) In Crime: Gonzorgo and Roderigo.
Crimes Committed: Kidnapping, attempted murder, trespassing, assault and battery
Gotta Sing-Sing: "Castle In Spain"
Quote: (trying to woo Mary through aforementioned song) "You'll eat nothing but cake, you'll drink naught but champagne, you'll be in on the take in our castle in Spain."
Final Verdict: Barnaby is shrunk, too, and is defeated by Tom in a swordfight.
GASTON
Film: "Beauty and the Beast" (1991)
Voice Actor: Richard White
Supervising Animator: Andreas Deja
DVD: Available
He's the golden boy of his provincial town, an ace hunter whom all the girls go ga-ga for and, oh yes, every last inch of him is covered with hair. So why can't Gaston nab the beautiful Belle for his bride? Must be all that reading she does. No matter, with an ego the size of his pecs, he is certain he'll win her over... if it's the last thing he does.
Occupation(s): Pub proprietor; town bully; hunter
Partner(s) In Crime: Lefou, Monsieur d'Arque, local yokels
Crimes Committed: Attempted murder, kidnapping, breaking and entering, wrongful imprisonment, assault and battery, arson, inciting a riot, trespassing
Gotta Sing-Sing: "Gaston"
Quote: "Were you in love with her, Beast? Did you honestly think she would love you when she could have someone like me?"
Final Verdict: While battling it out over Belle atop the Beast's castle, Gaston loses his footing and FALLS TO HIS DOOM.
CLAUDE FROLLO
Film: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1996)
Voice Actor: Tony Jay
Supervising Animator: Kathy Zielinski
DVD: Available
The poster boy for "Disney lust", Frollo has his beady eyes set on the voluptuous Esmeralda, a "burning desire" that haunts his very soul. He finally finds a use for his abused "foster son" Quasimodo, manipulating him into finding the gypsy for him, so he can burn her at the stake. What better way to show a girl you love her?
Occupation(s): Judge
Partner(s) In Crime: Phoebus (for a while), an army of soldiers
Crimes Committed: Attempted genocide, manslaughter, attempted murder, attempted infanticide, abuse of power, kidnapping, wrongful imprisonment, assault with a deadly weapon
Gotta Sing-Sing: "Hellfire"
Quote: "The gypsies live outside the normal order. Their heathen ways inflame the people's lowest instincts. And they must be stopped."
Final Verdict: Notre Dame itself seemingly comes to life to squelch his evil, sending Frollo to FALL TO HIS DOOM.
---
GLUTTONY
Whether it's for supremacy or, more likely, just for a taste of the protagonist, these antagonists are starving to death. Blood thirsty? You have no idea.
THE BIG BAD WOLF
Film: "The Three Little Pigs" (1933)
Voice Actor: Billy Bletcher
DVD: Walt Disney's Timeless Tales, Volume 1
Given the hit song about him, you'd think ol' Big Bad would get more respect, or at least a few pork rinds. All that huffin' and puffin' and blowin' down of one’s house must take a lot out of a wolf, not to mention those not-so-clever disguises (an innocent sheep, a Fuller Brush man) that take some talent to pull off as well. And what dedication: he comes back for more in three follow-up shorts.
Occupation(s): Predator
Partner(s) In Crime: His three little sons (in subsequent shorts)
Crimes Committed: None, wolves have every right to stalk prey
Quote: "By the hair on your chinny-chin-chin, I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in!"
Final Verdict: Slides down the chimney of the Practical Pig’s house, right into a pot of boiling oil, sending him howling into the distance. But he would keep coming back again and again to try and get a taste of the pigs...
THE WOLF
Film: "Peter and the Wolf" segment, "Make Mine Music" (1946)
DVD: Available
Certainly one of the most ferocious creatures in Disney lore, this wolf is also the only villain on this list to share title billing with the hero of their story. He's a hungry one, too; he wants to gobble up all of Peter's friends. But hey, that's only natural for this carnivorous predator.
Occupation(s): Predator
Crimes Committed: None, again, wolves have every right to stalk prey
Final Verdict: Young Peter is the local hero when he captures the beast by lashing him to a tree.
BRER FOX and BRER BEAR
Film: "Song of the South" (1946)
Voice Actors: James Baskett and Nicodemus Stewart
DVD: Not available... still
The Abbott and Costello of the wonderland of Uncle Remus, these two fumbling fools are actually their own worst enemies. In their persistent pursuit of the scrawny Brer Rabbit (who would hardly make much of a meal for either of them, let alone both), they are time and again tripping each other up, putting their collective foot in the tar, as it were.
Occupation(s): Predators
Crimes Committed: Attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, terrorism, assault with a deadly weapon
Quote: Brer Fox: "I got him! I got him this time!"
Brer Bear: "I'm gonna knock his head clean off!"
Final Verdict: Bamboozled by Brer Rabbit's "Laughing Place" gag, they get on the wrong side of a hive full of bees.
MASTER CONTROL PROGRAM
Film: "Tron" (1982)
Voice Actor: David Warner
DVD: Available
The corrupt Master Control Program is planning on ruling the world, one computer at a time (talk about your computer viruses). Its user Ed Dillinger has stolen Kevin Flynn's video game creations and rewrote them as his own. Now Flynn and some of his pals are out to put a stop to this... even if it means getting sucked into the computer realm to play games for dear life to do so. But the MCP and its partner Sark aren't about to let some User sabotage their plans...
Occupation(s): Computer program
Partner(s) In Crime: Ed Dillinger, Sark
Crimes Committed: Abuse, murder, attempted murder, theft, kidnapping, terrorism
Quote: "No one User wrote me. I'm worth a couple million of their man-years."
Final Verdict: During the final showdown between Tron and Sark (who now has the MCP's powers), Flynn leaps into the tower of light that is Master Control and distracts it, long enough for Tron to hurl his identity disc into the one break in the tower's barrier and destroys it (and Sark with it).
BIG BOY CAPRICE
Film: "Dick Tracy" (1990)
Actor: Al Pacino
DVD: Available
The Godfather of Four Color crime, "Big Boy" didn't earn his nickname from his big pronouncements, but from metaphorically devouring his opponents, as in a mobster massacre to rival St. Valentine's. He's back in business and on top of the world, ma, "leetle friend" ablazin'. But, mother of mercy, could Dick Tracy spell the end of Big Boy?
Occupation(s): Crimelord
Partner(s) In Crime: Mumbles, Flattop, Shoulders, Pruneface and many others
Gotta Sing-Sing: "More" (which he warbles while trying to teach Breathless Mahoney and her chorines the number)
Crimes Committed: Kidnapping, terrorism, attempted murder, theft, fraud, assault and battery
Quote: (to the other gangsters) "You get behind me, we all profit; you challenge me, we all go down! There was one Napoleon, one Washington, one ME!"
Final Verdict: In the final showdown with that pesky do-gooder Tracy, Big Boy FALLS TO HIS DOOM.
That is part one, watch for part two soon. What did you think of this, guys? Let's discuss!
POOR UNFORTUNATE SOULS:
A List of Disney's Most Wanted Villains
A great actor once said that it was always more fun to play the bad guy. After all, what better character than the villain to really be able to let loose, if not to chew the scenery, than to at least burn it down?
The villains in Disney films have always had an almost cult following, a special fondness in the hearts of movie fans, even if they were threatening to skin a puppy, devour our hero or even destroy a city. Villain merchandise is everywhere in the theme parks, where they are the "stars" of the popular "Fantasmic!" show. Famed animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston even devoted a whole book to the subject.
So why all this fascination with the dark side of Disney magic? Perhaps we are unable to fully care for the protagonist without a suitably hissable antagonist, a carry-over from other forms of entertainment, from literature to drama to mainstream motion pictures. After all, what would David be without his Goliath, or Sherlock Holmes without his Professor Moriarty, or Bugs Bunny without his Elmer Fudd, or Luke Skywalker without his Darth Vader? Or perhaps we see in these villains sides of ourselves that we keep hidden, letting these outrageous characters do what we would never dream of, a vicarious trip into the shadows of our own souls. Or maybe it’s just what that great actor felt: they are more fun.
But whatever the fascination with heavies, from Lady Macbeth, Hannibal Lecter and Goldfinger to the Wicked Witch of the West, the Joker and Bill the Butcher, the bad guy (and gal) has always been big, bigger than life, that is, and the Disney villains are no exception.
So in celebration of All Hallow's Eve, I'd liked now to "honor" these thieves, fiends and evil monarchs, and compare them to the Seven Deadly Sins they so readily embrace... and we so eagerly relish. This is Part One. We'll begin with the least deadly sins and work our way up the ladder to the most deadly sin of all.
LUST
Lust? In a Disney film? Sure, when the bad boy (or girl) wants want he (or she) can't have (i.e., the good girl (or boy)).
MORTIMER MOUSE
Film: "Mickey's Rival" (1936)
DVD: Classic Cartoon Favorites: Best Pals Mickey and Minnie
In all their many years of courtship, Mickey has only had one rival for the affections of his Minnie, and that was Mortimer Mouse. Smug, egotistical and just plain obnoxious, Mortimer is the exact opposite of our main mouse, and his cowardly nature is revealed when Minnie is endangered. Mickey, of course, comes to the rescue.
Occupation(s): Lover boy
Crimes Committed: None, technically, but still...
Quote: "Well, if it ain't my old sweetie, Minnie Mouse!"
Final Verdict: He leaves Minnie to fend for herself against a charging bull, but would eventually show up again years later on the "Mickey Mouse Works" and "House of Mouse" series.
DONALD'S DOUBLE
Film: "Donald's Double Trouble" (1946)
DVD: Classic Cartoon Favorites: Best Pals Donald and Daisy
After yet another one of their arguments between them, Daisy doesn't ever want to see Donald again, leaving Donald devastated. So our main duck hires a debonair look-alike lothario to try and win her back for him. Unfortunately, it all backfires when the duck's doppelganger falls in love with Daisy for real and takes her on a date to the amusement park. Naturally, Donald is not happy...
Occupation(s): Lothario
Crimes Committed: Again, none, technically, but still...
Quote: (to Daisy) "Darling, we'll paint the town vermilion."
Final Verdict: Both Donalds retreat from the park to escape the humiliated Daisy's wrath.
VICKY ROBINSON
Film: "The Parent Trap" (1961)
Actor: Joanna Barnes
DVD: Available
What's a glamorous socialite-slash-gold-digger to do? She's hooked a handsome and (more importantly) rich ranch owner, but just as she's reeling him in to the altar, not one but two bratty daughters are on the scene to keelhaul this loathsome deal. Then, to make matters worse, the ex-wife shows up, and she's not quite the spinster hubby-to-be made her out to be. And now what, camping???
Occupation(s): Lover girl
Partner(s) In Crime: Her mother, a very different kind of Mrs. Robinson
Crimes Committed: Terrorism, abuse
Quote: "First change I make in that household, off she goes to a boarding school in Switzerland."
Final Verdict: Doused with honey and licked by baby bears, Miss Vicky angrily calls off the engagement and storms off in a huff.
BARNABY
Film: "Babes In Toyland" (1961)
Actor: Ray Bolger
DVD: Available
The leering would-be lothario Barnaby wants Mary Contrary all for himself. There's just one problem: she is to marry Tom Piper, a problem easy enough to resolve: he dispatches his dim-witted lackeys to dispose of the boy. Naturally, the plan fails, and Barnaby must face off with a shrunken Tom and an army of toy soldiers in Toyland.
Occupation(s): Lothario
Partner(s) In Crime: Gonzorgo and Roderigo.
Crimes Committed: Kidnapping, attempted murder, trespassing, assault and battery
Gotta Sing-Sing: "Castle In Spain"
Quote: (trying to woo Mary through aforementioned song) "You'll eat nothing but cake, you'll drink naught but champagne, you'll be in on the take in our castle in Spain."
Final Verdict: Barnaby is shrunk, too, and is defeated by Tom in a swordfight.
GASTON
Film: "Beauty and the Beast" (1991)
Voice Actor: Richard White
Supervising Animator: Andreas Deja
DVD: Available
He's the golden boy of his provincial town, an ace hunter whom all the girls go ga-ga for and, oh yes, every last inch of him is covered with hair. So why can't Gaston nab the beautiful Belle for his bride? Must be all that reading she does. No matter, with an ego the size of his pecs, he is certain he'll win her over... if it's the last thing he does.
Occupation(s): Pub proprietor; town bully; hunter
Partner(s) In Crime: Lefou, Monsieur d'Arque, local yokels
Crimes Committed: Attempted murder, kidnapping, breaking and entering, wrongful imprisonment, assault and battery, arson, inciting a riot, trespassing
Gotta Sing-Sing: "Gaston"
Quote: "Were you in love with her, Beast? Did you honestly think she would love you when she could have someone like me?"
Final Verdict: While battling it out over Belle atop the Beast's castle, Gaston loses his footing and FALLS TO HIS DOOM.
CLAUDE FROLLO
Film: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1996)
Voice Actor: Tony Jay
Supervising Animator: Kathy Zielinski
DVD: Available
The poster boy for "Disney lust", Frollo has his beady eyes set on the voluptuous Esmeralda, a "burning desire" that haunts his very soul. He finally finds a use for his abused "foster son" Quasimodo, manipulating him into finding the gypsy for him, so he can burn her at the stake. What better way to show a girl you love her?
Occupation(s): Judge
Partner(s) In Crime: Phoebus (for a while), an army of soldiers
Crimes Committed: Attempted genocide, manslaughter, attempted murder, attempted infanticide, abuse of power, kidnapping, wrongful imprisonment, assault with a deadly weapon
Gotta Sing-Sing: "Hellfire"
Quote: "The gypsies live outside the normal order. Their heathen ways inflame the people's lowest instincts. And they must be stopped."
Final Verdict: Notre Dame itself seemingly comes to life to squelch his evil, sending Frollo to FALL TO HIS DOOM.
---
GLUTTONY
Whether it's for supremacy or, more likely, just for a taste of the protagonist, these antagonists are starving to death. Blood thirsty? You have no idea.
THE BIG BAD WOLF
Film: "The Three Little Pigs" (1933)
Voice Actor: Billy Bletcher
DVD: Walt Disney's Timeless Tales, Volume 1
Given the hit song about him, you'd think ol' Big Bad would get more respect, or at least a few pork rinds. All that huffin' and puffin' and blowin' down of one’s house must take a lot out of a wolf, not to mention those not-so-clever disguises (an innocent sheep, a Fuller Brush man) that take some talent to pull off as well. And what dedication: he comes back for more in three follow-up shorts.
Occupation(s): Predator
Partner(s) In Crime: His three little sons (in subsequent shorts)
Crimes Committed: None, wolves have every right to stalk prey
Quote: "By the hair on your chinny-chin-chin, I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in!"
Final Verdict: Slides down the chimney of the Practical Pig’s house, right into a pot of boiling oil, sending him howling into the distance. But he would keep coming back again and again to try and get a taste of the pigs...
THE WOLF
Film: "Peter and the Wolf" segment, "Make Mine Music" (1946)
DVD: Available
Certainly one of the most ferocious creatures in Disney lore, this wolf is also the only villain on this list to share title billing with the hero of their story. He's a hungry one, too; he wants to gobble up all of Peter's friends. But hey, that's only natural for this carnivorous predator.
Occupation(s): Predator
Crimes Committed: None, again, wolves have every right to stalk prey
Final Verdict: Young Peter is the local hero when he captures the beast by lashing him to a tree.
BRER FOX and BRER BEAR
Film: "Song of the South" (1946)
Voice Actors: James Baskett and Nicodemus Stewart
DVD: Not available... still
The Abbott and Costello of the wonderland of Uncle Remus, these two fumbling fools are actually their own worst enemies. In their persistent pursuit of the scrawny Brer Rabbit (who would hardly make much of a meal for either of them, let alone both), they are time and again tripping each other up, putting their collective foot in the tar, as it were.
Occupation(s): Predators
Crimes Committed: Attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, terrorism, assault with a deadly weapon
Quote: Brer Fox: "I got him! I got him this time!"
Brer Bear: "I'm gonna knock his head clean off!"
Final Verdict: Bamboozled by Brer Rabbit's "Laughing Place" gag, they get on the wrong side of a hive full of bees.
MASTER CONTROL PROGRAM
Film: "Tron" (1982)
Voice Actor: David Warner
DVD: Available
The corrupt Master Control Program is planning on ruling the world, one computer at a time (talk about your computer viruses). Its user Ed Dillinger has stolen Kevin Flynn's video game creations and rewrote them as his own. Now Flynn and some of his pals are out to put a stop to this... even if it means getting sucked into the computer realm to play games for dear life to do so. But the MCP and its partner Sark aren't about to let some User sabotage their plans...
Occupation(s): Computer program
Partner(s) In Crime: Ed Dillinger, Sark
Crimes Committed: Abuse, murder, attempted murder, theft, kidnapping, terrorism
Quote: "No one User wrote me. I'm worth a couple million of their man-years."
Final Verdict: During the final showdown between Tron and Sark (who now has the MCP's powers), Flynn leaps into the tower of light that is Master Control and distracts it, long enough for Tron to hurl his identity disc into the one break in the tower's barrier and destroys it (and Sark with it).
BIG BOY CAPRICE
Film: "Dick Tracy" (1990)
Actor: Al Pacino
DVD: Available
The Godfather of Four Color crime, "Big Boy" didn't earn his nickname from his big pronouncements, but from metaphorically devouring his opponents, as in a mobster massacre to rival St. Valentine's. He's back in business and on top of the world, ma, "leetle friend" ablazin'. But, mother of mercy, could Dick Tracy spell the end of Big Boy?
Occupation(s): Crimelord
Partner(s) In Crime: Mumbles, Flattop, Shoulders, Pruneface and many others
Gotta Sing-Sing: "More" (which he warbles while trying to teach Breathless Mahoney and her chorines the number)
Crimes Committed: Kidnapping, terrorism, attempted murder, theft, fraud, assault and battery
Quote: (to the other gangsters) "You get behind me, we all profit; you challenge me, we all go down! There was one Napoleon, one Washington, one ME!"
Final Verdict: In the final showdown with that pesky do-gooder Tracy, Big Boy FALLS TO HIS DOOM.
That is part one, watch for part two soon. What did you think of this, guys? Let's discuss!