Grim Grinning Adaptations: An Analysis of Musical Continuity in Film Representations of ‘Haunted Mansion’
Start Date
10-5-2024 12:00 AM
Description
This paper discusses the adaptation of ‘Haunted Mansion’, one of the most popular and beloved Disney theme park rides, to the world beyond Disney’s theme park in the form of movies. In this paper, I present a case study of three film adaptations of the ‘Haunted Mansion’:
● The Haunted Mansion (2003)
● Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)
● Haunted Mansion (2023)
I will discuss the differences and similarities in these adaptations with a focus on musical branding and analysis of the song ‘Grim Grinning Ghosts’. With music by Buddy Baker and lyrics by Xavier ‘X’ Atencio, ‘Grim Grinning Ghosts’ appears throughout the ‘Haunted Mansion’ as continuous underscore. By first presenting an introductory analysis of the use of music within the ride itself, I will contextualise ‘Grim Grinning Ghosts’ to demonstrate how the music aids the dark ride format in cohesively moving between scenes and set pieces, conveying narrative, and creating atmosphere. I will then demonstrate that, due to the prominence and importance music in the ‘Haunted Mansion’ ride, ‘Grim Grinning Ghosts’ has continued to be an important tool of sonic branding for the film adaptations of ‘Haunted Mansion’. This will be demonstrated through close textual analysis of specific moments of the three films, as I will discuss harmony, melody, leitmotif, and lyrical quotation alongside theme park iconography. This paper closes with brief reference to music in The Haunted Mansion (2003) videogame to demonstrate ‘Haunted Mansion’ as a multimedia franchise.
Recommended Citation
Hunt, Beth, "Grim Grinning Adaptations: An Analysis of Musical Continuity in Film Representations of ‘Haunted Mansion’" (2024). Theme Park Music and Sound. 2.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/tpms/2024/asynchronous/2
Grim Grinning Adaptations: An Analysis of Musical Continuity in Film Representations of ‘Haunted Mansion’
This paper discusses the adaptation of ‘Haunted Mansion’, one of the most popular and beloved Disney theme park rides, to the world beyond Disney’s theme park in the form of movies. In this paper, I present a case study of three film adaptations of the ‘Haunted Mansion’:
● The Haunted Mansion (2003)
● Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)
● Haunted Mansion (2023)
I will discuss the differences and similarities in these adaptations with a focus on musical branding and analysis of the song ‘Grim Grinning Ghosts’. With music by Buddy Baker and lyrics by Xavier ‘X’ Atencio, ‘Grim Grinning Ghosts’ appears throughout the ‘Haunted Mansion’ as continuous underscore. By first presenting an introductory analysis of the use of music within the ride itself, I will contextualise ‘Grim Grinning Ghosts’ to demonstrate how the music aids the dark ride format in cohesively moving between scenes and set pieces, conveying narrative, and creating atmosphere. I will then demonstrate that, due to the prominence and importance music in the ‘Haunted Mansion’ ride, ‘Grim Grinning Ghosts’ has continued to be an important tool of sonic branding for the film adaptations of ‘Haunted Mansion’. This will be demonstrated through close textual analysis of specific moments of the three films, as I will discuss harmony, melody, leitmotif, and lyrical quotation alongside theme park iconography. This paper closes with brief reference to music in The Haunted Mansion (2003) videogame to demonstrate ‘Haunted Mansion’ as a multimedia franchise.