(no subject)
1. Clock Cleaners (Category C): Fundy activist Donald Wildmon once claimed that Donald Duck could clearly be heard saying "fuck you" in his fight with a clock spring in the 1937 short Clock Cleaners. This short was featured on a small compilation called "Fun on the Job" and for a short time Wildmon got Wal-Mart to pull the tape from their shelves. Apparently Wal-Mart and Wildmon forgot about it later as the tape showed up in the bargain bins once it went out of print.
2. The Rescuers (Category A): All too true--two frames of a topless model can be seen as Bernard and Bianca take off on the albatross and swoop down through the city. You have to be quick to see it, and you have to have a special copy of the video. The shot was done by a layout artist and a scene planner who worked out the camera moves on the shot. Everyone at Disney knew it was there, but it seemed less of a problem, this being before the days of home video. It was in the original theatrical release and was painted over for its first video release. Either someone at Disney forgot it was there or the new version was made from a different print because when the movie was re-released on video last year, the two frames were there. Disney ended up recalling the entire first run and re-releasing it a few months later with the offending frames cut out. I have a copy of the first release. Ha ha.
3. The Little Mermaid (Category A): A couple of points we should cover here. One is the infamous "penis" cover art that was supposedly done by a disgruntled artist the day before he was scheduled to be fired. This is not true--the artist was one of Disney's top layout artists who has worked on and off for Disney since the fifties and still does. To quote my source, "He did intend for the tower to look like a penis, but when he finished it, he realized it was bit too obvious. (Artists often put hidden images in their work . . . there are a lot of classical paintings with subliminal skulls and sexual imagery in them. It isn't a recent thing at all.) The painter was on a deadline to turn it in, so he didn't have time to fix it. He pointed it out to the production person at Disney and offered to paint it out if they wanted him to. The painting was sent up to a committee of marketing execs for approval. The artist never got a call to change it, so he assumed they liked it with the semi-subliminal penis in it."
The other question is about the "priests' boner" (Category C). During the scene where Eric and Ursula are about to be married, it appears that the priest is getting an erection. Closer inspection reveals that it is only the priest's knee.
Another interesting non-subliminal feature of "The Little Mermaid" to look for: Watch carefully at the beginning when King Triton swoops down over the crowd. After he passes across the screen, below him and to his left Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy can be seen sitting in the crowd.
4. Aladdin (Category C): According to some far-right Christian groups, in a scene where Aladdin is attempting to woo Jasmine and Rajah the tiger is accosting him, Aladin is heard saying, "Good teenagers take off their clothes." It certainly sounds like it if you're told what to listen for. But that's probably not what he's saying. For one thing, it makes no sense to the plot. For another, Disney, who never does anything nowadays without looking at the bottom line, surely doesn't see any market value to their customers in naked teenagers.
Never mind. Let's go on.
5. The Lion King (probably Category A): The word SEX is supposedly formed in the clouds above Simba's head after he watches his father die. Once again, this one you can see if you know exactly what to look for. What the meaning is is anyone's guess. Many have said the letters are actually "S-F-X," which stood for Disney's special effects department. This explanation is less than satisfying, but probably true. The lettering is difficult to make out, even when viewing the still frames. It may just be a Rorschach effect in a random cloud. At any rate, if Disney did it on purpose, and it has some subliminal value as some assert, it's difficult to see any market value in movie-goers heading out to the lobby for a quickie in the middle of the movie.
6. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (Category C): Because of the nature of the movie and the overtly sexual nature of a few of the characters, this film has attracted more than its share of suspicion. To begin with, supposedly, during the onstage duel between Daffy and Donald Duck, at one point Donald calles Daffy a "goddamn stupid nigger." Once again, you can hear it if you know what to listen for. If you don't it just sounds like Donald's usual gibberish. Another Rorschach test.
One possible gag (Category A) was the inclusion of Michael Eisner's home telephone number on a wall in ToonTown in the theatrical release. Supposedly it was erased for the video release.
The other issues are with sexuality (Category C). Rumors surfaced at one time that there was a single frame featuring a naked Betty Boop in the original theatrical release that was excised for the video version. The other instance, which is still extant, is the two-frame sequence where viewers claim they can see Jessica Rabbit's vagina during a sequence where she is bounced out of the taxicab. Whether you see it or not depends on how you interpret a small patch of brown ink between her legs in these frames. Could be pantyhose, could be something else.
Wizard Of Oz as well.
In the background of the original film, instead of paying attention to some conversation between Dorthy and the scarecrow, there is a little man in a tree. He ties a rope around his neck and jumps off the tree. That is why I will never watch the Wizard of Oz. Sorry Jamime. Or however your name is spelled.