Walt Disney Art Classics Convention 2004 - Part 2
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Another project Thornton mentioned was the 40th anniversary release of Mary Poppins. For the first time, the entire score, with individual songs placed in proper order would be made available. A second disc would include a variety of rare audio recordings, never before released. Included would be the first story meeting with Walt Disney, screen writer Don da Gradi, the Sherman Brothers, and Mary Poppins author P. L. Travers. The discussion covers the treatment of the Admiral Boom sequence, and includes a song not heard in the film, The Land of Sand. Another gem is a radio interview with Julie Andrews, DickVan Dyke, the Sherman Brothers, Music Supervisor Irwin Kostal, and announcer Dick Tufeld. Thornton also mentioned finding a discussion of Mary Poppins that was conducted in a Broadway theater, as well as a full version of a demo song that has been heard in excerpted form in many previous compilations.
As the audience digested this bit of information, Hodgkins returned to Corey Burton. He said that talking to Burton was like having 1200 people on the platform. Had Disney ever asked him to recreate a voice he felt he couldn’t do?
Burton admitted he couldn’t think of any. When asked about Gregory Peck, he said if he could hear a voice, he would just try an do it. Thornton added that, if available, Burton would usually suggest they simply get that person in mind, such as Gregory Peck or Dick Tufeld. Burton laughed and kidded, “Why take away their job?�? And, Thornton finished, he will also tell us, “I’ll give you that flavor.�?
As time for the “class�? was drawing to a close, Hodgkins called for questions from the audience. The first was directed to Randy Thornton, and concerned the new Wonderland recordings. The questioned wanted to know if the visual materials that were part of the original record albums could be included as multi-media files on the new CDs. Thornton eagerly asserted that it was a good idea that hadn’t occurred to him before. He did add that there was a hidden track on one recording. If you go to the first track of the Enchanted Tiki Room CD, and then scan backwards, you will hear the original Barker Bird. Saying “Paul is dead!�? laughed Hodgkins.
Corey Burton was next asked how difficult it was to recreate a voice after a long period of time. Burton said that as long as there was a recording to listen to, it wasn’t too hard. The real problem, he said, is if he had a bad cold for the original session. Then he would have to recreate that, as well.
Another question for Corey Burton concerned the difficulties of working on the voices for Chip ‘n Dale. Burton smiled as he recalled playing Dale on Chip ‘n Dale’s Rescue Rangers.
Since the dialogue had to be speeded up to achieve the distinctive chipmunk voices, all lines had to be spoken slowly. Burton noted that it wasn’t easy, and that the process tended to swallow up one’s energy. Certain words, and even individual letters (such a “R�? and “L�?) had to be emphasized, stretched and shaded to keep them clear and understandable.
Randy Thornton was asked about his “wish list�? for future releases. Song of the South, he replied without hesitation.
He stated that there were masters for seven or eight different demo versions of songs from the 1946 release. Among them were tracks recorded by Cliff Edwards (who memorably played Jiminy Cricket), for a version in which Uncle Remus would have been animated. Thornton again mentioned another of his favorite unreleased projects, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, saying, “I intend to get this out before I am retired.�? He did express satisfaction that at least he had been able to get the albums for Bambi, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty on the shelves for five or six years.
Hodgkins asked if Corey Burton had any final words. Burton struggled for a moment, until Hodgkins gently requested that the words be strung together, in a complete sentence. Burton asserted that it was difficult to know who to mention in tribute: Jack Wagner, Dick Tufeld, Dick Wesson, Paul Frees, Hans Conried, Sterling Holloway, or Thurl Ravenscroft. He spoke their names warmly, concluding, “All inspired me to do what I do for a living… these people who are geniuses.�?