The Haunted Mansion (film)
This article is about the 2003 film. For the 1998 Hong Kong horror film, see Haunted Mansion (1998 film).
| The Haunted Mansion | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Rob Minkoff |
| Produced by | Andrew Gunn Don Hahn |
| Written by | David Berenbaum |
| Based on | Walt Disney's The Haunted Mansion |
| Starring | Eddie Murphy Jennifer Tilly Terence Stamp Marsha Thomason Nathaniel Parker |
| Music by | Mark Mancina |
| Cinematography | Remi Adefarasin |
| Distributed by | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Release date(s) | November 26, 2003 |
| Running time | 88 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $90 million[1] |
| Box office | $182,436,254[1] |
Plot
Jim Evers (Eddie Murphy) is a workaholic real estate agent who has little time for his family, wife Sara (Marsha Thomason), thirteen-year-old daughter Megan (Aree Davis), and ten-year old son Michael (Marc John Jefferies). After missing his own wedding anniversary to seal a business deal, Jim promises his family to go on a weekend away to a nearby lake. Sara is contacted by the occupants of Gracey Manor, located in the bayou swamps of New Orleans, and an eager Jim drags his family along to do business at the house. They meet Master Edward Gracey (Nathaniel Parker), his stern butler Ramsley (Terence Stamp), and other staff Emma (Dina Waters) and Ezra (Wallace Shawn). Master Gracey invites the family to stay the night when a rainstorm floods the river. Jim is taken to the library by Ramsley; he becomes trapped in a secret passageway. Michael and Megan encounter a "ghost ball" which leads them to the mansion's attic where they find a portrait of a woman resembling Sara. Sara meets Master Gracey who explains that his ancestor's lover Elizabeth Henshaw (also portayed by Marsha Thomason) seemingly committed suicide via poison, and his ancestor followed suit via hanging.However, Jim encounters gypsy woman Madame Leota (Jennifer Tilly), whose head is encased in a crystal ball. After briefly being scared away, Jim and his children learn that all of the mansion's residents are actually ghosts, cursed to be trapped in the mansion until Master Gracey and Elizabeth's ghosts are reunited, and Master Gracey believes that Sara is his lover reincarnated. In order to break the curse, Madame Leota sends the Evers family, minus Sara, into the mansion's cemetery and to a mausoleum to fetch a key that Madame Leota claims is required for "the truth to be known". Jim and Megan locate the key, but awaken all of the mausoleum's undead inhabitants; they escape unharmed thanks to Michael overcoming his arachnophobia and rescuing them. Madame Leota points the family to a trunk in the attic, where Jim finds an old letter from Elizabeth to Edward with the promise of marriage, revealing that her suicide was false. Ramsley appears and reveals that he murdered Elizabeth to prevent Master Gracey from abandoning his home and heritage. To hide the truth, he traps the children in a trunk and literally throws Jim out of the mansion, the curse on the mansion 'healing' any damage caused when Jim attempts to break back in through the windows.
Master Gracey reveals to Sara his ghostly self, and obsessively believes she is Elizabeth. Ramsley approaches Sara and blackmails her into marrying Master Gracey for the sake of her children. During the wedding ceremony, Ramsley poisons Sara's drink so that she will die and return as a ghost and end the curse. Madame Leota gives Jim the confidence to ram his BMW into the house- thus causing so much damage that the curse cannot repair it before he enters the house-, save his children and confront the ghosts. He gives the letter to Master Gracey, revealing him the truth about Elizabeth's death, and Master Gracey confronts Ramsley for murdering Elizabeth. An enraged Ramsley tries to summon wraiths to kill the group, but this backfires as a fiery dragon emerges from the fireplace and drags Ramsley into the mouth of hell for his actions. Ramsley seizes Jim and attempts to pull him down with him to hell for ruining his plans, but then Master Gracey rescues Jim while Ramsley is dragged into hell forever. Sara succumbs to the poison, but the ghost ball arrives and possesses her body, revealing itself to be Elizabeth's ghost. Elizabeth and Master Gracey kiss, and Sara is revived. In gratitude and seeking redemption, Master Gracey gives the Evers the deed to the house, allowing them to do what they want with it as long as they remain happy. The ghosts all depart the mansion and move on to heaven.
The film ends with the Evers driving off on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, accompanied by Madame Leota and four singing busts who end the film with their own rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In". After the end credits, Madame Leota bids farewell to the audience and invites them to join the dead.
Cast
- Eddie Murphy as Jim Evers: A workaholic real estate agent who is often late for family gatherings or celebrations, and tries his best to make up for it. He is the protagonist.
- Jennifer Tilly as Madame Leota: A gypsy woman whose spirit is encased in a crystal ball as a head shrouded by green mist. She speaks in cryptic riddles.
- Terence Stamp as Ramsley: The English butler of Gracey Manor and the main antagonist who serves as a fatherly figure to Master Gracey.
- Nathaniel Parker as Master Edward Gracey: Owner of Gracey Manor. He is a polite and friendly man, who longs for his lost love Elizabeth to return to him after her apparent suicide.
- Marsha Thomason as Sara Evers/Elizabeth Henshaw: Jim's supporting wife. Master Gracey befriends her and believes she is a reborn Elizabeth.
- Marc John Jefferies as Michael Evers: Jim's 10-year-old son who is very arachnophobic.
- Aree Davis as Megan Evers: Jim's 13-year-old daughter, who is impatient and stroppy.
- Wallace Shawn as Ezra: A bumbling footman who worries about getting into trouble.
- Dina Waters as Emma: A nervous but helpful maid who seems terrified of Ramsley.
Production
The mansion scenes were filmed at Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita, California. The main building was constructed over a period of weeks while the cupola and chimneys on the top of the mansion were computer generated. The paperboy in the opening scene is the nephew of the director, Rob Minkoff. A Hidden Mickey is briefly seen when Ramsley pours the poison in the goblet of wine during the wedding.The costume and special effects designers wanted the ghost characters to become "more dead" the farther they were from the mansion. Note that while Ezra and Emma look human in the house, their leaving it causes them to become blue and transparent. The zombies in the mausoleum are the "deadest", as they are farthest away.
This was the first movie to air on Disney Channel to contain any profanity beyond "Hell" or "Damn" for years. It also aired the phrase "Big ass termites!", which was stated by Murphy. In addition, the scene where Edward hangs himself is usually cut from the broadcasts.[citation needed]
The design of the mansion is loosely based on Disneyland's version of The Haunted Mansion while the iron/glass conservatory was based on Walt Disney World's version of the ride.
In the opening scene of the film, Nathaniel Parker had great difficulty trying to carry Elizabeth up the staircase, which is shown on the expressions of his face. This was due to her slippery silk dress.
Article Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/
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