Day 20: The Haunted Mansion
October 20, 2022
Dear Disney,
Before we go any further, as stated in the description, this movie has some triggers that need to be discussed and will be discussed, in part, when we talk about the plot. Those triggers are racism, classism, murder, and suicide.
Disney is a pretty conservative company, all things considered. I know some people are going to say otherwise, but Disney plays things pretty safe. Pushing boundaries is not really the “Disney way,” so when the 2003 movie, based off the ride of the same name, was announced and the trailers shown, I was intrigued. Today’s feature for 31 Days of Disney Halloween is the 2003 cult-classic The Haunted Mansion.
The Haunted Mansion tells the tragic story of the Gracey Family. in the Antebellum period of American history, Edward Gracey, played by Nathaniel Parker, fell in love with Elizabeth Henshaw, played by Marsha Thomason, an African American woman. On the night they were to elope, Elizabeth poisons herself. Finding his love dead, Edward hangs himself. Fast forward to present day, Jim Evers, played by Eddie Murphy, is a realtor who places closing the deal to be more important than his family, misses his wedding anniversary in order to land the deal of representing a new client, a Master Gracey. Coming home, he promises his wife Sara, played conveniently by Marsha Thomason, and his children that they will be going on a vacation…as soon as he finishes with Master Gracey. The next day they arrive at Gracey Manor, meet the Butler, Ramsley, played by Terrence Stamp, and Master Gracey, played by Nathaniel Parker. A storm comes in, trapping the Evers family for the night. During the Night, the children go missing and Jim goes to find them. Master Gracey confronts Sara about being the re-incarnation of Elizabeth. The Evers family find out that everyone, other than themselves, in the Manor are ghosts! The Manor is cursed because of the untimely deaths of Elizabeth and Edward. Jim and his kids find out that Ramsley poisoned Elizabeth as he felt that the interracial relationship was not appropriate. Ramsley blackmails Sara into marring Master Gracey to break the curse. Master Gracey, blinded by his love for Elizabeth, believes that Sara will remember that she is Elizabeth eventually. Elizabeth’s ghosts finally shows up, confronts Ramsley, and Ramsley is sent to hell. The curse of the Manor was lifted and everyone lived(?) happily-ever-after.
Although, the film was a commercial failure and was panned by critics, I love this movie. There are some arguments within Disney themselves about when was the first interracial kiss, some say it was the live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, others say that the first kiss was in the 2002 Cuba Gooding Jr. film Snow Dogs. Snow Dogs may have been the first film, but I remember it being The Haunted Mansion. I was so excited to see that representation on film, from big named stars! From Disney! Without getting political, it took almost half a century for that type of relationship to be ingrained enough in US culture for Disney to represent it. Now, interracial relationships are pretty common for Disney, but I want to believe that with movies like this allowed Disney to understand that it was okay.
The film did not do well. Not sure why. Critics said it was not interesting. Parent groups said it was too scary. I thought the plot was well done. Maybe it was not a good as Pirates of the Carribean, the previous film based on a ride, but it was still well done. The make-up and effects were great and still look good on modern screens. I love the mansion itself. The set designers did a wonderful job making that amazing building feel so real.
If you have not seen this movie, I strongly suggest that you do. You cand find it on Disney+ or on almost any Disney cable channel during the Halloween season.
Sincerely,
Jim Dear and Darling
