The Secret Behind The Chemistry Of Tolkien’s On-Screen Friends

The Secret Behind The Chemistry Of Tolkien’s On-Screen Friends

The power of friendship is something that author J.R.R. Tolkien loved to explore in his writings, on par with his exploration of the power of love. One could say that the two were one in the same for him, as his heroes loved their romantic partners and their fellowship equally, as evidenced in various dissections of his worldwide phenomenon, The Lord of the Rings.

Those same powers are shown on grand display in Tolkien, this weekend’s new release that tells the story of how true love and fellowship influenced the writings that would change the world of fiction straight through to this very day. And it’s without question that the part Tolkien’s friends played in his life is a great plot point in director Dome Karukoski’s film, which shows the initial meeting and lifelong friendships built between the author and a trio of friends: Geoffrey Smith, Robert Gilson and Christopher Wiseman.

Playing the roles of J.R.R. Tolkien’s own fellowship are, respectively, Anthony Boyle, Patrick Gibson and Tom Glynn-Carney. Judging by their time together in the film, you’d be forgiven for thinking they all knew each other beforehand, however that’s not quite the case.

As CinemaBlend sat down with the three gentlemen during the press day for Tolkien, the subject of friendship was an easy one to breach. Especially when wondering what the secret was to their special brand of chemistry. In their own words, the truth behind their previous connections, or lack thereof, may surprise you:

Tom Glynn-Carney: We knew of each other before. We’d sort of met on a few occasions through mutual friends, but we’d never worked with each other, or spent any sort of concentrated time with each other.

Patrick Gibson: We’d done our best not to.

Glynn-Carney: No, yeah, in fact, actively avoided each other.

Gibson: This was our last straw.

So while these three gentlemen knew of each other, as Tom Glynn-Carney noted in their interview, they really didn’t get to know each other until they started production on Tolkien. What’s also apparent is the playful chemistry that took hold in a short time, and still holds to this day, as co-star Patrick Gibson started a chain of good-hearted kidding that suggested these gentlemen never really wanted to meet. But of course they did, and the end result is an absolutely believable friendship that stretches through almost the entirety of Tolkien’s biopic story.

Of course, it didn’t stop with this trio of fun-loving mates, as Tolkien was definitely a group effort, and everyone fell into a sort of likeable family. Tom Glynn-Carney explained further, with some help from co-star Anthony Boyle, in the following remarks:

Glynn-Carney: But then being thrown into this sort of melting pot of this cast was a great thing, and it all happened very organically. There was no conscious effort made to up the camaraderie or any of that. It just all happened organically.

Anthony Boyle: It just fell into place, really. You know, I think we all just really enjoyed each other’s companies. And we just had a lovely time.

Glynn-Carney: Nick [Hoult], and Lily [Collins], and Dome [Karukoski,] and everyone included as well.

Bringing a story as heavy as J.R.R. Tolkien’s participation in World War I needs a fair amount of levity, and the inclusion of Geoffrey Smith, Robert Gilson and Christopher Wiseman’s stories more than does the job. With earlier portions of the film focusing on their social club, the “Tea Club and Barrovian Society,” or TCBS for short, there’s a sort of Dead Poets Society energy in the group’s time swearing an oath to changing the world through art.

Without those performances landing, there’s no believable friendship that gets J.R.R. Tolkien through his experiences in World War I. If there are two relationships that build the foundation of what makes Tolkien different from the average biopic, the fellowship of the TCBS is equally as important as Tolkien’s love affair with fellow orphan Edith Bratt.

Even in the footage from our time in the interview with Anthony Boyle, Patrick Gibson and Tom Glynn-Carney, it’s apparent that the three are so perfectly matched that it was an easy feat to bring that crucial friendship to life. And you can see it for yourself in the clip below:

Just as the Fellowship of The Ring bonded over the protection of Middle-Earth, the Tea Club and Barrovian Society bound themselves over the arts, and their effect on the world at large. It’s a relationship that’s key to the overall picture that Tolkien paints, and it’s one you can currently see in theaters this weekend.

Why Horror Movies Like The Curse Of La Llorona Can Be Exhausting To Film

Why Horror Movies Like The Curse Of La Llorona Can Be Exhausting To Film

Horror films may not have insane stunts like people jumping across rooftops or the intense fight choreography you might find in many blockbuster action movies, but that doesn’t mean that they’re a breeze to make. On the contrary, horror films like this weekend’s Conjuring Universe title The Curse of La Llorona can be downright exhausting to film. In an exclusive interview with CinemaBlend’s own Sean O’Connell at SXSW, The Curse of La Llorona’s star Linda Cardellini explained why making it was so tiring:

Absolutely. And you’re shooting at night quite a bit too, so your hours are shifted as well. So it’s like full mental workout and full physical workout everyday. Which I didn’t know, I’d never really done a film like this before so I had no idea going in that I would be that kind of exhausted.

Linda Cardellini brings up a great point about shooting at night. Long days of filming often require actors and crew to arrive when it’s still dark out and leave long after the sun has set, but horror movies like The Curse of La Llorona need to actually film certain scenes in the dark. The need to shoot those outdoor night scenes shifts around the working hours and messes with your sleep schedule, making them an exhausting part of horror films.

There is also the fact that horror films often require intense performances out of actors who are playing characters that are in fear for their lives. That’s an emotionally draining experience. Not to mention that screaming and running from supernatural threats takes a lot out of them. And by the time they're done, actors can end up completely exhausted.

The Curse of La Llorona was Linda Cardellini’s first film like this too; the Scooby-Doo movies aren't quite the same kind of horror experience. So even as a veteran actress with tons of film and TV credits to her name, she was still unprepared for the level of exhaustion that was in store for her making this Conjuring Universe movie.

The cast didn’t really get to ease into things either by saving the more intense and exhausting scenes for later in the shoot. As The Curse of La Llorona’s director Michael Chaves told CinemaBlend:

I was kind of talking about how this, because I come from commercials beforehand and how so much of that it’s the difference of a sprint to making a movie is a marathon. But it’s funny because in reality thinking about our schedules and each day that we had, each day was a sprint. Each day we had so many big set pieces and crazy things, it was always at a fever pitch.

The Curse of La Llorona is Michael Chaves’ first feature film. And although he might have expected a more measured pace, what he wound up with was a breakneck one. It sounds like there were no easy days with everyday involving some challenge that resulted in an exhausting filming experience. Fortunately, Michael Chaves was prepared for this kind of sprint because of his previous work commercial work.

You can check out Sean O'Connell discussing the filming experience with the cast and director of The Curse of La Llorona below.

The Curse of La Llorona, which looks terrifying, tells the story of an apparition, the Weeping Woman, stalking the children of 1973 Los Angeles. Linda Cardellini's social worker and her kids are drawn into the supernatural realm and must try and escape the wrath of this evil spirit. This is the sixth film in the Conjuring Universe and is the first feature film for Michael Chaves who will follow La Llorona up with The Conjuring 3.

The Curse of La Llorona opens in theaters this Friday, April 19. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of all the movies you need to see as we approach the jam-packed summer movie season.

Joe Russo Is Interested In Directing A Batman Movie

Joe Russo Is Interested In Directing A Batman Movie

By now, you are likely more than a little familiar with Avengers: Endgame, the massive comic book movie that is climbing its way to being the highest-grossing film of all time. In that case, you also might know Joe Russo, the co-director of Endgame and three other of Marvel's best films. With Endgame out in theaters, Joe Russo and his partner/brother Anthony Russo are done with the MCU, but not necessarily with comic book movies. If given the chance to direct a DC movie, Joe Russo would like to take his shot at Batman.

Hot off of co-directing two massive and successful Avengers films, the Russo Brothers are taking a break from Marvel for the foreseeable future. The duos' next project will reunite them with Tom Holland for the drama film Cherry. While the two talked about what projects would bring them back to the MCU, nothing is in the works at the moment.

However, that doesn't mean that they are done with superheroes. There are plenty of non-Marvel options out there, with the biggest one being DC over at Warner Bros. While appearing in a live chat with ComicBook, Joe Russo was asked by a fan what DC Comics character he'd like to direct in a movie. The answer was one of the biggest superheroes of all time.

As far as what I collected as a kid, I collected Batman. [That] was one of the DC characters I collected. So it would have to be Batman.

If Joe Russo wants to direct a Batman movie, he'll have to get in line. Matt Reeves is currently working on the next Batman film. The project has been a little touch-and-go, with Ben Affleck leaving the role and a few behind-the-scenes changes before Reeves stepped in.

There haven't been many updates about The Batman, but it'll be a noir detective-style story. The script is still being worked on and there's no shortage of casting rumors for Batman.

After tackling the Avengers franchise, there's little doubt the Russos are more than up to the task of directing a Batman movie. After handling a cast of over, like, 20 characters, I'm sure it'd be refreshing for the brothers to turn their gaze to just one superhero.

Given the almost unprecedented success of the MCU and the Russo Bros.' role in it, I would wager that Warner Bros. would offer them any superhero movie that struck their fancy. Much like with James Gunn taking over The Suicide Squad, I'm sure DC is willing to play ball with the Russos if they want. The door is wide open for the duo after Avengers: Endgame.

You can see the Russo Bros.' latest film (as if you haven't already) Avengers: Endgame in theaters right now. For everything else coming to theaters near you this year, check out our 2019 movie release guide.

Every Marvel Movie To Date, Ranked

Every Marvel Movie To Date, Ranked

Growing and expanding since 2008, Marvel Studios has managed to create the most successful franchises of all time. Year after year they manage to release hit after hit, and it doesn't look like they will be slowing down any time soon. With the release of Avengers: Endgame there are now 22 films in canon -- but that begs the question: how do they rank against each other?

Well, I've done my part in answering that question. I've taken a look back at the entirety of the big screen Marvel Cinematic Universe and as you will see below and on the next few pages, ranked them from worst to best. Read on and see where the various films place!

22. Thor: The Dark World

If Marvel Studios has had any one consistent issue with their films, it's that the villains for the most part have been small-time and forgettable. Perhaps the best example of this is featured in Alan Taylor's Thor: The Dark World, as Christopher Eccleston's Malekith never manages to get interesting, and it's a shame because the entire plot is dictated by his actions. The movie definitely has one of the best spectacle-driven third acts in the MCU, but the movie still can't really be called one of Marvel's best, and to date it's really the franchise's worst.

21. The Incredible Hulk

While it didn't hit the bottom of our rankings, there definitely is a degree to which The Incredible Hulk is the forgotten sibling in the Marvel Cinematic Universe family. For years, the only actor from the movie to actually reprise their role in a second film was Robert Downey Jr. On beyond that, though, the 2008 movie is really the only title in the catalogue that doesn't have the trademark tongue-in-cheek humor and sense of fun that has made Marvel so popular. It's not a bad movie, but Marvel would go on to do much better work.

20. Iron Man 2

When looked at from the macro perspective, Jon Favreau's Iron Man 2 honestly serves as a key piece of the puzzle in building the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it has some great things going for it (the Monaco Historic Grand Prix sequence in particular is memorable and cool). All by its lonesome, however, it is a bit of a mess. It's also very jumbled plot-wise (trying to do way too much), has a poor villain in Mickey Rourke's Whiplash, and it never really properly hangs together.

19. Thor

Given its origins in Norse mythology, and a fantasy-esque element not really seen before in comic book movies, Kenneth Branagh's Thor in many ways felt like the first big risk that Marvel Studios took (beyond just the launch of the MCU). That being said, it wound up paying off in a great way, and established both Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston as bona fide stars. It strikes the perfect Marvel tone, and introduces some great new concepts to the world -- and while it has its flaws (pacing is too fast, not enough Asgard,etc.), it ultimately holds up.

18. Ant-Man

Peyton Reed's Ant-Man works on a much smaller scale than many of the other titles in Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and is a bit more straight-forward than you want it to be -- but boy, is it a hell of a lot of fun. The 2015 movie succeeds by featuring a handful of fantastically entertaining performances and characters, with the most important piece of the puzzle being Paul Rudd -- who will surely keep MCU fans entertained for years to come.

17. Doctor Strange

From a visual standpoint, director Scott Derrickson's Doctor Strange is unlike anything audiences have ever seen. Interdimensional travel and magic create some absolutely gorgeous and bombastic set pieces that audiences will remember for a very long time, and the triumvirate of Benedict Cumberbatch (Dr. Strange), Tilda Swinton (The Ancient One), and Chiwetel Ejiofor (Mordo) is fantastic. Unfortunately it's all weighed down by a standard origin story and an underdeveloped villain, but it's definitely an exciting introduction for the future Sorcerer Supreme.

16. The Avengers: Age Of Ultron

Joss Whedon carried some incredible weight bringing The Avengers: Age of Ultron to the big screen, working under immense pressure and scrutiny. While the final product isn't as good as its predecessor, it's still an impressive, epic blockbuster that honestly feels like a major Marvel Comics event brought to life. The stakes are big, some great new characters are introduced, and it sets an interesting table for the events that transpire in Phase Three.

15. Captain Marvel

With Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's Captain Marvel, audiences everywhere have the chance to meet one of the most powerful heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it's definitely one of the most exciting debuts we've seen thus far in this franchise. It is a bit dragged down by the familiar aspects of its origin story, but it also has a number of unexpected twists, and provides fans with is plenty of exciting new looks at the expanded continuity - such as events from the MCU in the 1990s, the Kree-Skrull War, and even a bit more of the Tesseract. Of course, at the center of it all is also a badass new protagonist who has tremendous potential for awesome cosmic and Earthbound stories in the future.

14. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2

As will be discussed later, James Gunn totally changed the Marvel game with 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy, but in doing so set the most ridiculous of high bars for its sequel to reach. The bad news is that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 isn't quite as good as its predecessor, but the great news is that it's an incredibly fun intergalactic romp. It smartly sacrifices scope in favor of character, and it's a legitimate cinematic treat to see Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot back up on the big screen.

13. Iron Man 3

Shane Black's Iron Man 3 is unquestionably the most underrated Marvel movie. While some audiences complained about the Mandarin twist and lack of Iron Man screentime, the other way to look at those two things is the power of the movie's ability to defy expectation, and the way in which it enriches Tony Stark as a character outside of his armor. It's a fun piece of noir storytelling, and a great comeback after the mediocre Iron Man 2.

12. Ant-Man And The Wasp

There is an argument to be made that first sequels in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have a specific advantage over their predecessors. After all, origin stories are essentially fixed expositional vehicles used to establish key characters; but once those introductions are made, what's left is the purely creative opportunity to craft a wholly original, specific story natural to those heroes. Peyton Reed's Ant-Man And The Wasp is a perfect example of this. The movie beautifully capitalizes on everything we loved about the first Ant-Man (Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly are genuinely perfect together), putting its wonderful ensemble through an expertly-molded comedic thrill ride in the vein of After Hours and Midnight Run - ultimately coming together as a romp that is hilarious from beginning to end.

11. Captain America: The First Avenger

Landing right in the middle of this list is Joe Johnston's Captain America: The First Avenger: another origin story, but one that takes the audience back in time to the days of World War II. There is a rightful complaint in that the third act of the film doesn't have quite the punch of Marvel's better titles, but it's also one of the studio's best introductory tales, and features some perfect performances from both Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell (performances that would completely change their individual careers).

10. Thor: Ragnarok

The Thor movies have never been one of Marvel's strongest series - as evidenced by their rankings on this list. That's why Marvel had director Taika Waititi rebrand the whole thing with Thor: Ragnarok, and the results are fantastic. The tone is not only much lighter than its predecessors, resulting in one of the funniest titles in the franchise to date, but the character work is just phenomenal. It's the most compelling arc we've seen for Chris Hemsworth's God of Thunder, Mark Ruffalo is phenomenal as a Hulk who can finally have a conversation, and their thrust together in one of Marvel's most vibrant and fun adventures.

9. Spider-Man: Homecoming

As a big screen character, Spider-Man was at big risk of reboot fatigue going into Jon Watts' Spider-Man: Homecoming, but nothing dissipates audience apprehension quite like quality - and boy, did this one bring it. In his second Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance, Tom Holland perfects both being Peter Parker and the wall-crawler, and the film succeeds by actively differentiating itself from anything that's come before - skipping the overdone origin story and fully embracing the new movie's position in MCU continuity with a strong supporting role for Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark. It's a crazy fun adventure, full of youthful energy that gets us excited for the web-slinger's franchise future.

8. Iron Man

Jon Favreau's Iron Man, of course, was the film that kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but while that's a significant feat, it's only part of the larger reason why we have it ranked so high. It's also the film that brought the amazing Robert Downey Jr. back to us, the actor doing his part to create what has become a truly iconic character, and the movie in and of itself is a fantastic story of redemption and facing down demons. It's a superhero blockbuster that will go down in history -- which makes it actually kind of impressive on Marvel's part that it's only number five on our list.

7. The Avengers

Marvel's Phase One films are, on the whole, enjoyable pieces of entertainment, but Joss Whedon's The Avengers was when the Marvel Cinematic Universe truly became the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not only one of the greatest event movies of all time, it also beautifully, dazzlingly,, and unexpectedly delivers on a four year long promise of bringing some of comics' greatest heroes together on the big screen for the first time ever. For the longest time the whole thing just seemed like an impossible dream, but Whedon and Marvel delivered in the biggest way imaginable, and it's a finished product that can be rewatched endlessly with enjoyment

6. Black Panther

After 10 years of franchise-building and 17 films, you'd think that Marvel Studios would struggle at this point putting together effective introductory solo films. The truth, however, is that they'll keep being successful so long as the studio continues to hire filmmakers with vision - and that's exactly what they did bringing in writer/director Ryan Coogler to make Black Panther. The movie is not only a remarkable exercise in world-building - introducing audiences to the remarkable land of Wakanda - but also very much has something important to say, and says it compellingly. The narrative regarding the African nation's relationship with the rest of the planet is impressively sophisticated in a blockbuster package, and Michael B. Jordan's Erik Killmonger, equipped with understandable and powerful ideology, is arguably Marvel's greatest villain to date.

5. Avengers: Infinity War

To paraphrase Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, Joe and Anthony Russo's Avengers: Infinity War was built on the idea of it being the capstone for every Marvel Cinematic Universe film that preceded it. A full decade was spent watching Infinity Stones be revealed, and Thanos being teased, and it seemed like there was just far too much pressure on the blockbuster for it to actually be any good. Boy, did they prove us wrong. Finally getting his chance in the spotlight, the Mad Titan proves to be an absolutely terrifying force of nature, and the film is filled with too many shocking, disturbing and amazing moments to count. Its in every way the movie fans were promised.

4. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

For Phase Two, Marvel Studios made a point of not just making superhero movies, but making complex genre films that happen to feature superheroes. For Captain America: The Winter Soldier, directors Joe and Anthony Russo infused the blockbuster with the structure and spirit of a 1970s conspiracy thriller, and the result is absolutely stunning. No other feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe features fight choreography that is as visceral, and the character dynamics between Cap, Black Widow, and Falcon are thoughtful, unique, and fun.

3. Guardians Of The Galaxy

James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy is a legitimately special movie. Only tangentially part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the film is unlike any comic book feature we've seen -- even in the modern era -- and has everything a person could want from a summer blockbuster. It's hilarious, with not just star Chris Pratt getting fantastic laugh-out-loud lines; it's action-packed, with a third-act spectacle that will boggle the mind; and it's even emotional, creating amazing bonds between characters. It stood as Marvel's best work for a couple years... but then 2016 rolled around.

2. Captain America: Civil War

As ridiculously huge as the first two Avengers blockbusers were, directors Joe and Anthony Russo somehow managed to up the ante even further with Captain America: Civil War. The third Captain America movie is shockingly emotional (particularly in the showdown between Cap and Iron Man), stunningly action packed (the Leipzig Halle Airport fight is among the best we've ever seen), and gives us some amazing new characters in Spider-Man and Black Panther. It's spectacularly crafted storytelling with a real gut-punch ending, and to date the best film in the MCU.

1. Avengers: Endgame

Joe and Anthony Russo's Avengers: Endgame is a film that really shouldn't be as phenomenal as it is. It should be impossible to make a blockbuster that is able to perfectly capitalize on the 21 blockbuster in the series that preceded it. And yet that's exactly what this movie does. It starts with the fallout from Avengers: Infinity War, with the surviving heroes picking up the pieces of their lives following their battle with Thanos and massive defeat, but where it goes from there coalesces as one of the most bombastic, jaw-dropping, and remarkable big screen experiences we've ever seen. It may not technically be the end of Phase Three, but it's still the perfect ending for the first three phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

How do you personally rank the films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? We want to hear from you, so hit the comments section below with your thoughts on the last decade-plus of Marvel Studios titles.

When Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 Will Reportedly Start Filming

When Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 Will Reportedly Start Filming

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been on a serious roll in Phase Three, as every single blockbuster has been a critical and box office success. The last decade of filmmaking will come to a head when Avengers: Endgame arrives next month, before Marvel Studios begins working on the next slate of films. Phase Four (if that's what it will be called) will begin with Spider-Man: Far From Home, but the MCU after that sequel is a complete mystery.

One of the biggest questions looming around the future of the MCU is the state of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. James Gunn was fired by Disney in July, resulting in the project being put on indefinite hold. But now the director/writer has been brought back to finish his trilogy of movies. Although considering Gunn's involvement in The Suicide Squad for DC, it wasn't clear when filming will begin for Guardians 3. But now we may have an idea.

According to Production Weekly (via Comic Book), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will begin production in February of 2021. The film was originally set to follow Spider-Man: Far From Home, although now it looks like we'll have to wait a number of years before the motley crew of heroes finally arrive in theaters. Still, it's exciting to see that the project is back in active development.

With Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 reportedly going into production years from now, one thing is clear: Marvel fans will have to go a number of years without seeing the Guardians on the silver screen. Filming for Marvel movies is usually extensive, as is the editing and post-production process. So it wouldn't seem out of the question for the upcoming threequel to arrive in 2022. Fans should enjoy their role in Avengers: Endgame, because it's going to be a while before they return to theaters.

Of course, the report by Production Weekly hasn't been officially confirmed by Marvel Studios, so it's certainly possible that things will turn out differently. But given how James Gunn was only just reinstated for Guardians 3, the movie can't jump right into production. Gunn will reportedly focus on The Suicide Squad for Warner Bros. first, which may explain the years gap before filming for the Guardians theequel begins. He'll also have to complete his draft of the Guardians 3 script, which was finished around the time of his departure.

Now that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is officially happening with James Gunn behind the camera, the most obvious question is exactly how the titular team of heroes will unite, given the events of Avengers: Infinity War. The Guardians were hit hard by Thanos' assault on the galaxy, starting with Gamora being killed so he could acquire the Soul Stone. And when Thanos snapped his fingers, audiences were left to watch as Mantis, Drax, Star-Lord and Groot faded to dust before our eyes.

Rocket and Nebula are the only characters left, and will be joining The Avengers for their mysterious mission to fight Thanos in Endgame. Hopefully they'll reverse the affects of the snap, and somehow bring Gamora back to life as well.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Endgame arrives in theaters on April 26th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

7 Jumbo Dumbo Facts You May Not Know About Disney's Animated Original

7 Jumbo Dumbo Facts You May Not Know About Disney's Animated Original

Now that Dumbo is coming back into our lives, nostalgic folks may seek out the original for a family movie night, or just to relive the nostalgia of one of Disney's most magical tales. While the film itself is interesting, however, there's a lot about it in general that make it so much more than an animated movie. Check out some of these jumbo Dumbo facts below, which will certainly give you a greater appreciation for this Walt Disney classic.

Dumbo Is Only 64 Minutes Long

The first thing those who jump back into Dumbo might notice is that the ride is over almost as soon as it begins. Hell, it's shorter than a majority of episodes in Season 8 of Game of Thrones, and one of the shortest feature length films in the Disney catalog. One can hunker down on the couch to watch this classic, and not even need to get up for a bathroom break!

For the record, this runtime wasn't a sign of the times. RKO Pictures initially balked when Disney presented Dumbo to it, and requested the film either be cut down to short-form, scenes be added to make it longer, or it be allowed to release it as a B-movie. Disney refused all three options, as it was cutting serious corners at the time, and RKO eventually relented and allowed it to run as is.

Dumbo Basically Saved Disney

Disney had a great start with its animated films, but it only took a few failures to jeopardize the company's future. Pinocchio and Fantasia both failed at the box office, and European film distribution was impossible at the time due to World War II. Bottom line, Disney needed a hit, and it needed to spend as little money as possible to ensure its American audience showed up for the movie.

Dumbo did that, and in addition to doubling its modest budget of $950,000 (one-third of Pinocchio's budget), it managed to stand out in a good way. Its low-budget style resonated with audiences, and it has continued to do so throughout the years. The movie got some re-releases in theaters not long after the war, and two additional releases in the 70s. I guess non-verbal baby elephants can be a hit no matter the decade?

Dumbo Was Nearly Time's "Mammal Of The Year"

Response to Dumbo was so positive in America, that Time Magazine wanted to feature the character on its cover. Dumbo was to be it's "Mammal of the Year" a title that was meant to be a play on its iconic "Man of the Year" award. Unfortunately, a bigger news item bumped the character off the cover, as Time thought it may be more prudent to cover the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Obviously, Time made the right call in covering an event that would change the world as we know it. Plus, Dumbo still got an article in that issue, although it wasn't the cover story that was originally planned. Still, how many other movies can say it took one of the biggest wars in world history to knock it out of the news cycle?

There Was Once A Dumbo II In Development

This fact isn't too hard to believe, as it seems like every Disney animated feature seems to get a sequel whether it's warranted or not (albeit it's been a history of almost exclusively home video releases). This was going to happen with Dumbo, as Disney had concocted a story that took place not long after the first film in which the elephant, Timothy Q. Mouse and other animals were separated from the circus.

Among other things, the sequel would've explained some details on Dumbo's father, Mr. Jumbo. A behind-the-scenes trailer for the sequel was packaged with the 2001 DVD release to coincide with the movie's 60th anniversary, but the move was ultimately cancelled by John Lasseter when he took control of the company. The movie will likely never see the light of day, but if the live-action adaptation is a hit, perhaps elements from Dumbo II could appear in a sequel to that?

It Was The First Disney Movie For Sterling Holloway

Dumbo was the first Disney voice acting role for actor Sterling Holloway, who audiences hear as the Stork that delivers baby Dumbo to Mrs. Jumbo. For those who don't recognize the name, Holloway would go on to do many voices for the House of Mouse, including another iconic animal in the Disney family. Holloway was the original voice of Winnie The Pooh, and voiced the character from its beginning all the way up until 1982.

Beyond Pooh, Disney lovers can also hear Sterling Holloway voice the adult flower in Bambi, The Cheshire Cat in Alice In Wonderland, and Kaa The Snake in The Jungle Book. Even if they didn't know the name, most probably knew that based on Sterling Holloway's distinctive voice, which is rather easy to pick out given the popularity of Pooh. Had he never gotten his role in Dumbo, who knows how the rest of his career would've went.

Timothy's Encouragement Of Dumbo Is Low Key Shade Towards Clark Gable

When one talks about the golden age of Hollywood, it's only a matter of time before Clark Gable comes up. He was the actor of the era, and still remains relevant today primarily thanks to his iconic role in Gone With The Wind. Despite that, audiences of today may overlook a statement made by Timothy E. Mouse that viewers at the time almost immediately attributed to the actor.

In one particular scene, which also appeared in the Dumbo trailer, Timothy informs Dumbo that his big ears aren't bad. In fact, he states "lots of people with big ears are famous," which audiences at the time took as a reference to Gable's large ears. It's a little mean spirited, but the movie came out during the prime of Gable's success, and there's no evidence he took particular offense to it. One could assume, frankly, he didn't give a damn.

"Look Out For Mister Stork" References A Famous Family

Here's another reference that, while relevant for viewers in the 40s, may not ring a bell to anyone in 2019. "Look Out For Mister Stork" references the classic nursery rhyme The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe, but also "those quintuplets" like any of us are supposed to know what that means today. As mentioned, folks back then knew the reference was made to the Dionne quintuplets of Ontario.

So, why did these five kids get a shout out in Dumbo? Well, they were famous because they were the first set of five kids to survive their infancy. It's impressive given the mortality rate of children at the time, and even more impressive when one reads about how the doctor who delivered them managed to keep them all alive. Suffice to say giving a newborn corn syrup with two drops of rum wouldn't have a doctor's recommendation these days.

As the new Dumbo makes its run in theaters, be sure to stick with CinemaBlend for updates on its performance at the box office and other news on the Disney front. For those unsure of whether or not they'll be going to check out the live-action adaptation, see what those who saw the film early are saying.

6 Most Powerful Moments From The New Avengers Endgame Trailer

6 Most Powerful Moments From The New Avengers Endgame Trailer

Another trailer for Avengers: Endgame has arrived out of nowhere, and it's loaded with some footage fans are just now seeing for the first time. While some of it was a bit spoilery (but not really if you've been following the news cycle), it was okay because there were some really powerful moments throughout. These moments really set the tone for how epic the Phase 3 capper will be, and somehow, elevate the already high expectations of fans. Let's go over what was shown.

Black Widow Comforting Hawkeye/Ronin

Clint Barton was absent in Avengers: Infinity War and seemed to be enjoying his life out in the country with his family. Clint is seen showing his daughter archery, and then we wipe to him looking broken and sad in some Asian country in the present. He's hurting, and it's not just evident on his face, it's evident on Black Widow's as well. Natasha sees her longtime S.H.I.E.L.D. comrade is hurting,and holds his hand.

It's that kind of pure moment between them that gives a subtle reminder that these people are more than heroes. They're friends, and they've been brought even closer by this devastating event that surely has all of them hurting. It's a safe assumption there will be a lot of that type of camaraderie as the movie continues, as each Avenger bonds and fights their hardest to honor the ones they've lost.

Thor Charging Up

Thor missed his chance to defeat Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, and that mistake resulted in half of the universe being wiped out. Thor probably recognizes that, but he doesn't look to be sulking in this trailer. Far from it actually, as he's looking like a man on a mission as he's gathering lightning either to charge up for some attack or to power some device.

Thor looks at Stormbreaker shortly after this scene, which could mean a couple things. It could be used for some crazy lightning attack, or perhaps that's his way of teleporting between locations. Chances are fast travel will be a necessity during this high-risk mission, and he's one of the few people capable of it besides Captain Marvel. If someone needs to get somewhere fast, expect him to provide transport.

Nebula Charging Into Battle

Nebula had about the worst time of anyone in Avengers: Infinity War, at least among those who are still living in Avengers: Endgame. Now, she's reconstructed, off that ship she was stranded on with Tony and ready to help the Avengers in their fight against Thanos. Whoever she's running towards in this trailer is surely in for a bad time because she looks pissed.

It's a type of rage I'd like to think she's reserving for her father, regardless of his current power status. Thanos admitted to Gamora in the previous movie that Nebula very nearly killed him, which is surprising given those who've have failed before. Perhaps she knows something the rest of the team doesn't and will attempt to exploit that weakness again in a rematch? Provided she gets one, of course, because it's very possible this war charge is directed towards someone else.

Cap's Grimace

Captain America looks mostly composed throughout the Avengers: Endgame trailer, all except one scene in which he's seen strapping into his old shield. Cap tightens the strap and seems to react with a rather painful grimace which signifies he's in some pain. The trailer makes it appear it's related to the arm, which could be broken. Had he put that shield on a bit sooner, that may not have happened!

If there's a positive to this scene, it appears as though someone scooped up Steve's shield after he dramatically dropped it to the ground following Captain America: Civil War. My personal hope is that Tony saved it, hoping to return it to his friend after telling him he didn't deserve to carry the shield. Hopefully these two manage to get on better terms before the action really kicks off, and we get a heartwarming moment peppered in between the ass-kicking.

Rhodey And Rocket

Well, here are two characters no one really expected to team up. It's not that there's any reason to think Rocket Raccoon and War Machine wouldn't make a great dynamic duo, but like, how did this come about? If I had to guess, Rocket's probably drawn to Rhodey's impressive weapons array on the suit, and may even have a few upgrade suggestions he could provide for him.

Another thing worth mentioning here is that Rocket is wearing the same outfit he's usually seen with in the comics. That doesn't really make this moment anymore powerful, but the fact he has a look on his face that makes it look like they're about to rain hell on somebody definitely does. Hopefully these two wreak havok on whoever they're targeting and we get three spinoff films after this titled Rhodey and Rocket.

The Team Walk

We've seen edited and different iterations of The Avengers' team walk in previous Endgame trailers, but this was the first time we witnessed the scene in this way. Everyone's rocking new suits, they look determined and have that cool swagger that only really comes through in slow motion. Who can look at this scene and say anything other than "Hell yeah" after watching?

It gets even better, as it's entirely possible this isn't the final version of the Avengers: Endgame scene. It seems very likely at this point that Marvel is intentionally excluding one more character from the epic walkthrough,, although I'm thinking Hulk or Okoye are reasonable candidates. We'll keep those looking to avoid spoilers free from exactly who that may be, but suffice to say it's going to elevate that scene just a bit more. Now if we just knew where they were walking to!

The mystery behind all these questions will soon be revealed as Avengers: Endgame is due out in theaters April 26. CinemaBlend is the place for movie lovers to be before and after its premiere, as well have plenty of reactions, news, and analysis following the movie. For more on the MCU, check out our breakdown of the places the Tesseract has been since this all kicked off.