About Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a 1988 American live-action/animated comedy mystery film directed by Robert Zemeckis. The film ingeniously weaves traditional animation and live-action, creating an immersive universe where humans and cartoons interact seamlessly.

The story takes place in the 1940s Hollywood, where animated characters, also known as "Toons", and humans coexist. The plot revolves around a down-on-his-luck private investigator, Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins), who reluctantly takes a case involving Marvin Acme (Stubby Kaye), owner of Toontown and maker of gag products, accused of murdering Toon star Roger Rabbit's (voiced by Charles Fleischer) wife. The movie is filled with suspense, humor, and satirical nods to the golden age of animation.

Making / Production

The production of Who Framed Roger Rabbit was a astounding feat for its time. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis, produced by Frank Marshall and Robert Watts, and written by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman. The film is famous for its impressive and highly innovative blend of live-action and animation, effectively fusing traditional Disney animation with film noir influences. This was further enhanced by visual effects made by Industrial Light & Magic, transferring the smoothly animated characters into three-dimensional environments.

Actors

• Bob Hoskins as Eddie Valiant: Hoskins embodied the gritty and hardened Detective Valiant with standout believability, perfectly interacting with the animation.
• Christopher Lloyd as Judge Doom: Lloyd's portrayal of the mysterious Judge Doom was both chilling and compelling, creating a memorable villain.
• Kathleen Turner as Jessica Rabbit (Voice): Turner breathlessly voiced the sultry Jessica Rabbit, making the character an instant classic.
• Charles Fleischer as Roger Rabbit / Benny The Cab (voice): Fleischer's dynamic and lively voice work brought the frantic, lovable Roger Rabbit to life.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This movie marks one of the few times that Disney and Warner Bros. characters appeared together on screen.
• For added realism, Charles Fleischer performed Roger Rabbit off-camera wearing a full costume.
• The movie was based on the novel "Who Censored Roger Rabbit?" by Gary K. Wolf.

Awards

'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' bagged several awards for its daring creativity and innovation. It was honored with four Academy Awards: Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects, and a Special Achievement Academy Award.

Quotes

• "I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way." - Jessica Rabbit
• "Remember, you never saw me!" - Roger Rabbit
• "A laugh can be a very powerful thing. Sometimes in life, it's the only weapon we have." - Roger Rabbit

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's score was composed and conducted by Alan Silvestri, bringing a blend of jazz, zany cartoon melodies, and dramatic noir tones to the movie.
• Multiple well-known tunes from the era are featured like "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2" by Liszt and "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down" by Dave Franklin and Cliff Friend.
• Beyond its original score, the film features memorable tunes like "Why Don’t You Do Right?" performed by Jessica Rabbit.