Did you ever hear about … “Khrushchev at Disneyland”?
It was again in October of final yr that Disney+ revealed that they had been now engaged on a movie concerning the creation of Disneyland.
On condition that Evan Spiliotopoulos – who crafted the screenplay for the Firm’s live-action reimagining of “Magnificence & the Beast” (which then went on to earn $1.26 billion on the worldwide field workplace again in 2017) – is reportedly writing the script for this yet-to-be-titled movie, I’ve excessive hopes for this film concerning the making of The Happiest Place on Earth.
In spite of everything, if we go by “Saving Mr. Banks” (i.e., That 2013 Walt Disney Footage launch concerning the making of “Mary Poppins,” the place Emma Thompson performed “Poppins” writer P.L. Travers and Tom Hanks turned in a masterful efficiency as Walt Disney), this company-of-storytellers has already confirmed that it could possibly flip its personal historical past into entertaining movement photos.
However that stated, if The Walt Disney Firm is now actively in search of moments from its previous that it could possibly presumably flip into movement photos … Nicely, would possibly I counsel a second that Walt himself would possibly make one hell of a film. And that’s Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s non-visit to Disneyland.
Khrushchev’s US Go to (1959)
I don’t know what number of of you might be conversant in the small print surrounding this incident. Which occurred throughout Khrushchev’s 11-day journey to the US in September 1959. The Soviet Premier and his entourage arrived in Washington D.C. and — after making a short cease on the UN in New York Metropolis — flew out to LA … And that’s when all the difficulty began.
The Los Angeles leg of Nikita’s nationwide tour actually did get off to an terrible begin. By that I imply: Because the Premier’s motorcade sped away from LAX, the limousines had been truly pelted with tomatoes.
Then Khrushchev was taken to twentieth Century Fox, the place he and his household had been speculated to be feted at a luncheon that featured tons of of Hollywood’s high stars. Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Shirley MacLaine, David Niven and Maurice Chevalier had been there.
Which (you’d assume) would have been sufficient to entertain the Soviet Premier.
Not Nikita. He stood up at this luncheon and — in entrance of the complete Hollywood press corps — had a hissy match. Right here’s an excerpt from the remarks that Khrushchev made that afternoon:
We now have come to this city the place lives the cream of American artwork. And simply think about (that) I, a Premier, a Soviet consultant, once I got here right here to this metropolis, I used to be given a plan. A program of what I used to be to be proven and whom I used to be to fulfill right here.
However simply now I used to be informed that I couldn’t go to Disneyland. I requested ‘Why not? What’s it? Do you could have rocket-launching pads there?’ I have no idea.
And simply hear – simply take heed to what I used to be informed – to what motive I used to be informed. We, which suggests the American authorities, cannot assure your safety when you go there.
What’s it? Is there an epidemic of cholera there or one thing? Or have gangsters taken over the place that may destroy me? Then what should I do? Commit suicide?
That is the scenario I’m in. Your visitor. For me, this case is inconceivable. I cannot discover phrases to clarify this to my folks.
Visiting the “Happiest Place on Earth”
Reality be informed, the Soviet Premier was considerably mistaken. The unique itinerary for the Los Angeles leg of his U.S. tour referred to as for simply Khrushchev’s spouse and youngsters to tour the “Happiest Place on Earth,” whereas Nikita was scheduled to tour a housing improvement out in Granada Hills. However when the Russian chief discovered the place his household was headed, he reportedly informed his State Division handlers “Nicely, I wanna go to Disneyland too.”
This — sadly — was simply unattainable to tug off on such brief discover. Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker instantly put the kibosh on Khrushchev’s request. Citing the issue of offering enough safety for the Soviet Premier and his motorcade all the best way out to Anaheim.
Walt Disney Fascinated by Khrushchev Visiting Disneyland
Now the place this will get attention-grabbing is that — someplace alongside the best way, as US officers had been getting ready for Khrushchev’s arrival in America — Walt Disney was informed that the Russian Premier and his household had been interested by visiting Disneyland. And Walt (in fact) instantly noticed this official state go to as an enormous alternative to generate some publicity for his then-four-year-old theme park.
Disneyland’s PR employees envisioned creating a photograph alternative by having Walt and Khrushchev stand on the “Submarine Voyage” ‘s loading dock as all eight of the journey’s fake subs floated by. Disney’s gag writers even offered a quip for Walt to casually toss off at this photograph op. As Nikita appeared out in any respect of these subs, Disney was speculated to say: “Nicely, now, Mr. Khrushchev, right here’s my Disneyland submarine fleet. It’s the eighth largest submarine fleet on the planet.”
Walt was — in fact — disenchanted when he discovered that, because of safety issues, solely Mrs. Khrushchev and the children can be popping out to the Park that afternoon. So think about Disney’s delight when this firestorm of publicity immediately rose up when the Soviet Premier was informed that he wouldn’t be allowed to go to “The Happiest Place on Earth” too.
Disneyland Journey Cancelled for Nikita Khrushchev
As a result of — as soon as Nitika discovered that his personal journey out to Anaheim had been axed — he fell into a really foul temper. In a match of pique, the Soviet Premier declared that — because it wasn’t secure for him to go to Disneyland — then it wasn’t secure for his spouse and youngsters to exit to Anaheim both. So their lengthy deliberate Disneyland tour acquired canceled ASAP.
Instantly after the luncheon broke up, Khrushchev was taken to a close-by soundstage the place the Russian Premier noticed the filming of a scene from a forthcoming twentieth Century Fox musical, “Can Can.” However — somewhat than being titillated by the sight of Juliet Prowse flashing her nineteenth century bloomers as she carried out the movie’s title quantity — Nikita reportedly declared the entire episode “horribly decadent.” Which embarrassed State Division officers in addition to offending the Soviet Premier’s Hollywood hosts.
From there, Khrushchev’s motorcade was taken to Granada Hills, the place the Russian Premier was speculated to tour mannequin houses alongside Sophia Avenue. However — since Nikita was nonetheless sulking about not being allowed to go to Disneyland — he refused to even get out of his limousine.
As he pouted contained in the automotive, Khrushchev reportedly informed his State Division handlers that “… placing me in a closed automotive and stewing me within the solar will not be the proper strategy to assure my security. This (not being allowed to go to Disneyland) improvement causes me bitter remorse. I believed I may come right here as a free man.”
So as to add insult to damage, 4 Soviet newsmen (who had been assigned to cowl Khrushchev’s US journey) slipped away to Anaheim for the afternoon. They spent 4 completely happy hours touring Disneyland, then informed US reporters that they believed that the Russian Premier and his household would have actually loved the theme park.
Later that night, Khrushchev gave a speech at a Los Angeles space resort. However there was, understandably, little or no written about no matter remarks the Soviet Premier made at that long-forgotten dinner. On condition that the subsequent day’s newspapers devoted web page after web page to protection of Nikita’s very public tantrum as soon as he discovered that he was not going to be allowed to go to Disneyland.
Khrushchev and his get together tried to place a long way between themselves and the Disneyland debacle by shortly boarding a practice and heading as much as San Francisco. From there, the Russian Premier flew off to Des Moines and finally returned to Washington D.C. The place Nikita spent a couple of days at Camp David with President Eisenhower speaking about Chilly Battle-related points.
Which (you’d assume) can be how historical past would keep in mind the Soviet Premier’s 1959 journey to america. That Khrushchev & Eisenhower truly sat down after which tried to discover a resolution to their Germany & Berlin drawback. However (image John Belushi saying this) N-O-O-O-o-o-o. All of the US press corps may discuss is how upset Nikita appeared when he had been informed that he wouldn’t be allowed to go to Disneyland.
Media Covers Khrushchev’s Disneyland Denial
Inside a day or so, there have been political cartoons in newspapers nationwide that made enjoyable of the Premier’s very public tantrum. Even Bob Hope finally acquired into the act. As a part of his annual Christmas tv particular, Hope stood in entrance of tons of of army personnel at a U.S. Air Power base in Nome and quipped: “Right here we’re in America’s forty ninth state, Alaska. That’s midway between Khrushchev and Disneyland.”
And naturally, all this discuss how upset the Russian Premier was about not being allowed to go to “The Happiest Place on Earth” generated tons of optimistic publicity for Walt’s theme park. Newspapers around the globe printed article after article about this amusing worldwide incident. Even Herman Wouk (greatest often known as the writer of “The Caine Mutiny” and “The Winds of Battle”) chimed in: “I actually don’t blame Khrushchev for leaping up and down in a rage over lacking Disneyland. There are fewer issues extra price seeing in america or certainly wherever on the planet.”
And Walt simply didn’t need this enjoyable to finish. He stored in search of methods to perpetuate the story. Which is why Disney insisted that clippings highlighting the entire Khrushchev affair be included within the official Disneyland press equipment for various years after this incident.
Film About Khrushchev’s “Disneyland Journey”
However because the Fifties slipped into the Nineteen Sixties and Khrushchev was compelled from energy by Leonid Brezhnev in October 1964, this story misplaced a few of its appeal. However nonetheless Walt liked to inform the story of Nikita’s tantrum. And Disney started to marvel: would possibly there be a manner that his firm may proceed to capitalize on this incident? Like maybe by perhaps making a film that may put a comic book spin on the entire “Khrushchev denied entry to Disneyland” incident?
So Walt turned to his perfect producer, Invoice Walsh (greatest identified today because the man who wrote and produced “Mary Poppins,” “The Love Bug” and “Bedknobs & Broomsticks”) and informed him to create a screenplay for a live-action comedy that may then be primarily based on this notorious incident. So Walsh acquired collectively together with his long-time collaborator, Don DaGradi. And finally the 2 of then crafted a script or a movie they needed to name “Khrushchev at Disneyland.”
This screenplay (at the very least for the primary 30 pages or so) just about follows how the real-life occasions performed out. It recounts — in a light-weight, breezy method — how the Soviet chief had supposedly flown over to America to fulfill with President Eisenhower. However — in actuality — Nikita had truly traveled all this manner as a result of what he actually needed to do was go to Disneyland.
So Khrushchev flew into Southern California, all excited that he was lastly going to get his probability to go to “The Happiest Place on Earth.” Solely to find that — because of security issues — the State Division had canceled his journey out to Anaheim. Moviegoers had been then speculated to see a barely comedian tackle the Soviet Premier’s notorious tantrum at twentieth Century Fox. After which …
Nicely, then the movie morphs into your typical Walt Disney Productions live-action comedy of the Nineteen Sixties. First Khrushchev is seen moping round his resort suite in downtown Los Angeles later that night. Then the Premier realizes that Disneyland is simply 30 miles away. Extra importantly, that the theme park is open ’til midnight that evening.
So Nikita decides that he’s going to sneak out of his resort and in some way make his manner out to Anaheim. Utilizing a goofy disguise, he provides each his Soviet safety element in addition to all of his State Division handlers the slip. Then Khrushchev in some way makes his manner out to Disneyland, with all of those US & Soviet officers in sizzling pursuit … and hilarity ensues.
Okay. Admittedly, we’re not speaking about “Lawrence of Arabia” right here. Walt wasn’t actually trying to make a traditionally correct movie primarily based on this amusing, comparatively minor worldwide incident. Disney, Walsh, and DaGradi envisioned “Khrushchev at Disneyland” as being a movie that may be very related in tone to “That Darn Cat!” A comedy caper image that was aimed straight on the household viewers.
So — as soon as this script was accomplished — how shut did “Khrushchev at Disneyland” truly come to getting made? So shut that Walt had already lined up an A-Checklist actor to play the Soviet Premier. And that was Academy Award winner Peter Ustinov.
If all had gone in line with plan, “Khrushchev at Disneyland” would have been Peter’s follow-up undertaking for Disney Studios as soon as work was accomplished on “Blackbeard’s Ghost.” Invoice Walsh was slated to provide the image, whereas the prolific Robert Stevenson can be directing.
By the autumn of 1966, all the essential items had been already in place. Disney Studio had a script in hand that was able to shoot. In addition they had an A-Checklist actor that was positively wanting to get in entrance of the cameras after which do his impression of the Soviet Premier. Not solely that, however Disney’s high producer was slated to journey herd on this undertaking and the studio’s perfect director can be helming this image.
“Khrushchev at Disneyland” Film Halts Manufacturing
So why didn’t “Khrushchev at Disneyland” get made? Nicely, as a result of Walt Disney died earlier than manufacturing may formally get underway. And given that every one the studio execs that Walt had left behind had been … Nicely … The well mannered time period for them is “cautious company residents.” The not-so-polite time period is “gutless wimps.”
Anyway, these guys shied away from this undertaking. Largely as a result of they had been involved that there would had been movie followers on the market who wouldn’t see the humor in “Khrushchev at Disneyland.” Their real concern was – due to Peter Ustinov’s sure-to-be-charming efficiency as Nikita Khrushchev – there have been sure segments of the US inhabitants that may then accuse Walt Disney Firm of corrupting America’s youth / of going comfortable on Communism by suggesting that – GASP ! — the Russian folks had been truly rather a lot like us. That they too love to do enjoyable issues like – say – go to Disneyland.
After all, the true irony right here is that one of many important motive that Walt actually needed his Studio to make “Kruschchev at Disneyland” was as a result of he’d already seen {that a} Russians-are-people-too household comedy may succeed on the field workplace with out controversy.
“The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming”
I’m speaking – in fact – about “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming.” Which MGM had launched to theaters in Could of 1966 and had then gone on grow to be the seventh highest grossing movie of the yr on the North American field workplace.
And I do know for a undeniable fact that Walt was effectively conscious of “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming” for a few causes.
- This Norman Jewison film starred Brian Keith, who – simply 5 years earlier – had co-starred in Disney’s “The Mother or father Lure” together with Hayley Mills & Maureen O’Hara
- The yr after Disney’s “Mother or father Lure” had been launched to theaters, Jewison had directed “40 Kilos of Hassle.” Which was the primary live-action movie that Walt had ever allowed to be shot on location at Disneyland Park.
- For the complete Summer time of 1966, “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming” and Disney’s personal “Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.” had been duking it out on the North American field workplace. Seeing which household comedy would then go on to promote extra tickets domestically. Ultimately, Disney got here out on high. With that Dick Van Dyke film promoting $22 million price of tickets in North America, whereas MGM’s Russians-are-people-too image bought $21 million price of tickets domestically.
This is the reason – when Walt made his final journey to the Disney lot in November of 1966 – “Khrushchev at Disneyland” was very a lot on his thoughts. So far as Disney was involved, this undertaking was a go. One thing that his Studio would begin capturing in 1967 after which launch to theaters the next yr.
This is the reason Walt made some extent of dropping by the set of “Blackbeard’s Ghost” that November morning. He needed to let Peter Ustinov & Invoice Walsh understand how a lot he was trying ahead to “Khrushchev at Disneyland.” And Ustinov … Nicely, Peter was supposedly much more enthusiastic about this back-then-soon-to-begin-shooting-movie than Walt was. Ustinov reportedly informed Disney that – to insure that he look as very like the Soviet Premier as potential – this acclaimed actor was truly planning on shaving his head.
Ustinov then cracked up Walt by saying that he was considering of basing his portrayal of Khrushchev on Peter’s mom again in England. As Disney laughed, Ustinov insisted that his Mother was a useless ringer for Nikita. “I didn’t know that your Ma was bald,” Walt replied.
Having actually loved his go to to the “Blackbeard’s Ghost” set, Disney then quietly excused himself and left the soundstage. As soon as Walt had left, Walsh and Ustinov quietly talked amongst themselves about how pale and gaunt the studio head had appeared.
After all, neither Peter or Invoice knew that Walt had – simply days earlier – been recognized with lung most cancers. Or that – at this level – Disney had simply weeks left to dwell.
And when Walt Disney died in December of 1966, “Khrushchev at Disneyland” just about died with him. Regardless of all of the preparation that had already been completed on this undertaking up till that time, Walsh and DaGradi’s script acquired shelved. And I’d think about that this screenplay is now stashed away in some submitting cupboard, the place “Khrushchev at Disneyland” has been gathering mud for over 5 many years now.
Potential for “Khrushchev/Disneyland” Movie
I convey up this undertaking at this time … Nicely, for a few causes.
- Disney+ has this never-ending urge for food for brand new content material. And wouldn’t it’s cool if the Studio had been to revive a undertaking that Walt himself as soon as needed to make after which make that film obtainable to prospects of the Firm’s subscription streaming service.
- Given what’s happening within the Ukraine proper now and the way the Chilly Battle retains threatening to grow to be a sizzling one … Nicely, whereas I’m no fan of Vladimir Putin, I feel {that a} film which reminds us that the Russian folks (NOT the Russian authorities, thoughts you. However the Russian PEOPLE) are folks too … That is likely to be a sensible, hopeful message to place out on the planet today.
Making-of-Disneyland Film on Disney+
Anyway … If the Firm is in search of a follow-up for that making-of-Disneyland film they’re prepping for Disney+ …
By the best way … Attention-grabbing facet word: The gentleman that Disney has tapped to direct this film is David Gordon Inexperienced. He directed final yr’s smash hit horror movie, “Halloween Kills.” Which could make David look like an odd option to helm a movie about The Happiest Place on Earth.
However then once more, Gordon additionally executive-produces “The Righteous Gem stones.” Which is that this splendidly humorous TV sequence a few household of televangelists who additionally personal & function a theme park. Which maybe makes Mr. Inexperienced the right individual to direct a film concerning the creation of Disneyland.
Anyway … If Disney+ is in search of the right follow-up for his or her making-of-Disneyland film, would possibly I counsel that somebody dig out a replica of “Khrushchev at Disneyland.”
Extra to the purpose, somebody go ask Josh Gad if he’d be keen to shave off all these curly locks in order that he may then play a sure Soviet Premier.
