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Oliver and Company - Katzenberg involvement?
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2003 10:23 pm
by Prince Phillip
In the many debated discussions of Katzenberg(urg?) mainly between MickeyMouseBoy and 2099net, the subject of his involment in many movies from lare 80's early 90s has been brought up, as well as the fact that he pushed for genie celebrity voice, which was the first time disney campaigned it's celebrity voice in previews, but isn't Oliver and Company the first ot do that? "... Songs perfromed by Billy Joel and Bette Midtler"
Just curious and thought I'd bring attention to this.
Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2003 3:34 am
by 2099net
Possibly. I don't think the Bette Midler was that big a name at the time though. She was mainly known for working at the Disney studios (although for films by their other movie-making divisions).
Before then they had Kurt Russell performing a voice for The Fox and the Hound who was quite a big name (as well as a Disney name) but they didn't really promote that.
This could be the beginning of the celebrity voice era, or it could just be that they filmmakers really did think Billy Joel was the right voice for the job.
I still think Aladdin was the first 'proper' celebrity voice work for an animated film as Robin Williams was the first actor who could literally demand millions for a movie role if he wanted to. Robin's involvement in Aladdin was definitely down to Katzenberg's involvement.
More on Williams and Katzenberg here
http://www.jimhillmedia.com/articles/archive.0010.1.htm