Conference noted::sf

51.0. "SPLASH! (Film, 1984)" by EDEN::MAXSON () Mon Apr 09 1984 18:18

	An earlier note predicted that Disney would release a movie called
	Splash! in the SF genre'. Well, yes and no...

	I went to see Splash this weekend (it's been out for a few weeks)
	and it's not too bad at all. It's not a Science Fiction film, in
	my judgement, more of a romantic comedy. (Was "Bewitched" a SF TV
	show? "I dream of Jeanne"?) As a comedy, it's good. John Candy and
	Eugene Levy of SCTV fame provide considerable comic relief, and the
	writing is superb. The special effects are limited but good, the
	plot moves right along, and the material is quasi-adult. The male
	lead was interviewed on "Late Night with David Letterman" last week,
	and said that while the money was put up by the Disney people, they
	stayed clear of the script and production - their own films, while
	wholesome, have been going down the toidy lately. A bit of nudity,
	some obscenities (in Swedish, subtitled to English) - a modern film.
	Walt may be turning in his cryogenic vault, but this film is a
	boxoffice hit. Interesting: Directed well by Ron Howard of Mayberry,
	R.F.D. fame.

	I wouldn't miss this one.

I'm sure Mr. Howard would rather be known for "Happy Days" and "Night Shift",
a very nice little comedy he directed a few years back. But we digress from
SF...

-- Bill

Well, maybe we can veer back to SF: the reference to Walt's cryogenic
vault reminded me of the many times I have heard two things about Disney.
It's often said that he is cryogenically preserved somewhere, and also
that he carefully plotted the development of his business empire, year
by year, for several decades.  Supposedly the Disney leadership gathers
periodically to view a videotape prepared by Walt, in which he gives them
instructions for the coming year.

Why do these stories circulate?  Maybe this response belongs in the Urban
Folklore note in the TRIVIA file...

Mike