Dick Tracy, Disney MGM Studios?

[FairestOfThemAll]

I seem to recall reading a long time ago in an issue of "Storyboard" magazine when the film Dick Tracy was coming out that Disney was planning on creating a themed show (much like the Beauty and the Beast one there now) for the then named MGM park. I remnember they had concept art and stuff like that but I never got to the park at the time to see if it became a reality.

I was wondering if this actually came to be and if anyone had any info or even better, pictures of it?

Please correct me if I am wrong about its proposed location though, it was a long time ago =)

[RandySavage]

You're correct. It was a show called "Diamond Double Cross" and played at the Theatre of the Stars (before Sunset Boulevard opened) from 1990-91. There is a video of the identical(?) Disneyland show here:

Dick Tracy starring in Diamond Double-Cross (1of4) - Videopolis Stage at Disneyland's Fantasyland.

Sadly, the E-ticket Dick Tracy Crimestoppers attraction never came to be at the studios.

[aimster]

Probably because the movie kind of flopped.

[Angie_Duke]

Originally Posted by aimster

Probably because the movie kind of flopped.

Might want to check your facts there before posting comments like that amister. Last time I checked making $103 million in it's domestic run and costing $47 million isn't "flopping".

[FairestOfThemAll]

Originally Posted by RandySavage

You're correct. It was a show called "Diamond Double Cross" and played at the Theatre of the Stars (before Sunset Boulevard opened) from 1990-91. There is a video of the identical(?) Disneyland show here:

Dick Tracy starring in Diamond Double-Cross (1of4) - Videopolis Stage at Disneyland's Fantasyland.

Sadly, the E-ticket Dick Tracy Crimestoppers attraction never came to be at the studios.

wow! Thanks so much.....I'm so glad I want imagining this....lol

[FairestOfThemAll]

Originally Posted by Angie_Duke

Might want to check your facts there before posting comments like that amister. Last time I checked making $103 million in it's domestic run and costing $47 million isn't "flopping".

I happen to love the movie a lot....Danny Elfman, Disney, Dick Tracy and Sondheim.....LOVE.

[Angie_Duke]

Originally Posted by FairestOfThemAll

I happen to love the movie a lot....Danny Elfman, Disney, Dick Tracy and Sondheim.....LOVE.

It is great, deserves a significantly better DVD/Blu-ray release too.

[sailerm]

Originally Posted by Angie_Duke

$103 million in it's domestic run and costing $47 million isn't "flopping".

It's not a success either. On average a film has to make 3 times what it cost to make to be considered a hit, and given all the hype that surrounded this film it really underperformed.

Still it deserves a better DVD release

[Angie_Duke]

Originally Posted by sailerm

It's not a success either. On average a film has to make 3 times what it cost to make to be considered a hit, and given all the hype that surrounded this film it really underperformed.

Then The Little Mermaid was not a hit because it's domestic gross ($84m) was not 3x it's production budget ($40m). This is where perception comes into play. The facts are that Tracy made more money and did better at the Oscars than Mermaid, was in the top 10 hits for 1990 and was acknowledged as making a significant profit for the studio (by Eisner specifically). The bigger issue was not Tracy's apparent "underpreformance" but that fact that it and Pretty Woman were the only hits the studio made that year. Had Arachnophobia, The Rescuers Down Under and Ducktales: The Movie been bigger hits I doubt anyone would have had an issue which Tracy not making $300m.

It is true that the film was not as big as hit as Batman and may not have lived up to some individuals expectations based on hype, but to suggest it did not make money (either alot or none at all) is a lie.

Back on topic, the show looks like fun and has a catchy theme song for sure. Wish it was still at DHS and not that lousy BatB show.

[tasman]

Dick Tracy certainly made a lot less money than Disney wanted it to. Disney was expecting a hit along the lines of Tim Burton's Batman and that didn't transpire. Worldwide gross of 162 million (of which studio received about half) was barely enough to cover production and promotion costs. Not a loss but certainly not a big hit either.

That being said, I am sad that a Dick Tracy ride didn't get built at DMGMS. It would have been great attraction (a ride can be good even if the movie wasn't) and thematically appropriate for DMGMS. If anyone hasn't seen them, check out the great pieces of concept art available at Alain Littaye's Disneyandmore blog. Browse through the archives at the right side of the page and you should be able to find them.

[sailerm]

The fact that Little Mermaid made $84 Million was a surprise to everyone including Disney. Animated films had only been grossing about $20 - $30 mil at the time. Given that it also had to compete with All Dogs Go to Heaven and Prancer for the same dollar shows how well tis film did in initial run (Thank You Alen Menken and Howard Ashamn). The biggest legacy is that Disney created a new Masterpiece that issued a resonance of new Disney animated films.

In contrast Dick Tracy had the pedigree, marketing, opening date all working over drive to make it a hit, and in the long run it wasn't. Yes perception is everything in Hollywood, that's why NO movie in Hollywood ever 'turn's a profit' (on paper anyway)

[aimster]

Most people I know only remember Dick Tracy because Madonna was in it.

[Angie_Duke]

Originally Posted by aimster

Most people I know only remember Dick Tracy because Madonna was in it.

That's very sad IMO (though her album tied into the movie did well apparently). Especially since it was Al Pachino who got an Oscar nomination for his performance. But whatever, I just like all the different cameos from people like Dustin Hoffman, Dick Van Dyke, Estelle Parsons etc. and Beatty was good in the lead too. And NO movie looks like it did, and how often do you get a comic book movie with good songs (no offense Prince)?

The ride apparently got as far as testing phases for the vehicles, such a waste that it was never finished.

[Speedway]

A Madonna Audio Animatronic would have been fantastic.
A vogueing Madonna Audio Animatronic would have been fabulous.

[Thorpeedo]

Originally Posted by Speedway

A Madonna Audio Animatronic would have been fantastic.
A vogueing Madonna Audio Animatronic would have been fabulous.

Of course it would !