Aaron Wallace - Hocus Pocus in Focus: The Thinking Fans Guide to Disneys Halloween Classic

Books by Aaron Wallace

The Thinking Fans Guide to Walt Disney World: Magic Kingdom

The Thinking Fans Guide to Walt Disney World: Epcot

Hocus Pocus in Focus: The Thinking Fans Guide to Disneys Halloween Classic

Praise for Hocus Pocus in Focus

"Love Hocus Pocus? Then you need this book. Terrifyingly knowledgeable... accessible and smart, packed with fascinating stories, facts, and analysis." Den of Geek

"A scholarly dive into the making and meaning of the film" New York Daily News

"Honestly... my first thought was, 'Awesome! I love that movie - but is there enough material there for an entire book?' As it turns out, there is." WickedHorror.com

"Mr. Wallace is able to fill his 206 pages with a wealth of information and trivia... an entirely new perspective." NJBiblio Book Reviews

"A treasure trove of insight... nothing short of a magical experience" Alex Reif, LaughingPlace.com

"A fantastic book. I read it cover to cover....I'm a pretty a diehard fan of the movie, and I learned stuff. Theories... lots of things you'd never think about. I love this book. I cannot rave about it enough. Phenomenal." Jeff DePaoli, Dizney Coast to Coast

"Beautifully details the making of the movie, including stories about its creation, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and themes and theories I never even considered" Peter Wright, GoodReads.com

One of New York Daily News' "Six Spooky New Books for Halloween"!

Copyright 2016 by Aaron Wallace. All rights reserved.

HOCUS POCUS IN FOCUS:
THE THINKING FANS GUIDE TO DISNEYS HALLOWEEN CLASSIC

Published by Pensive Pen Publishing, Orlando, Florida
www.pensivepenpublishing.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the express written permission of the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

This book makes reference to various Disney copyrighted characters and properties, trademarks, and registered marks owned by The Walt Disney Company and Disney Enterprises, Inc. They are used in this book solely for editorial purposes. Neither the author nor the publisher makes any commercial claim to their use.

All still images of the 1993 motion picture, Hocus Pocus, are the copyright of The Walt Disney Company. They are used in this book solely for editorial purposes. Neither the author nor the publisher makes any commercial claim to the ownership of these images or the motion picture.

All other still images are the copyright of owners as indicated. They are used in this book solely for editorial purposes. Neither the author nor the publisher makes any commercial claim to the ownership of these images or of the motion pictures they represent.

First Electronic Edition
Printed in the United States
Cover design by Rob Yeo
Foreword by Thora Birch
Afterword by Mick Garris
Edited by Sally E. Bahner
ISBN: 978-0-9980592-1-1
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016953352

Digital book(s) (epub and mobi) produced by Booknook.biz.

About the Author

A aron Wallace is a bestselling author, entertainment writer, and attorney with a particular interest in pop culture, 1980s/1990s nostalgia, and all things Disney.

His critical interest in entertainment began at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Communication Studies (with a concentration in Media Studies) and English. While there, he taught a recitation course in analyzing childrens literature, with an emphasis on Disneys adaptations in theme parks and film.

Wallace later pursued an interest in law, earning a Juris Doctorate from Wake Forest University. Additionally, he is a professional entertainment critic, having published more than two hundred movie, television, and music reviews to an audience of millions. Since 2004, hes been a part of the writing staff at DVDizzy.com, one of the internets most accessed sites for entertainment journalism.

In addition to writing, Aaron hosts Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Pod, the webs longest-running podcast dedicated to all things Disney. Apple has recognized the show as one of its Featured Travel Podcasts, and Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Pod can often be found among the top-ranking downloads on the iTunes Travel charts. Aaron also appears as a regular co-host on The Hub Podcast, another popular show devoted to having fun with Disney.

The authors website is available at AaronWallaceOnline.com. He also shares his thoughts on Disney, pop culture, and entertainment on Twitter (@aaronwallace).

Dedication

Dedicated to:

Luke Bonanno, who gave me my first opportunity to write about movies professionally.

In tribute to:

Garry Marshall, who passed away during the writing of this book and whose impact on Hocus Pocus is indelible.

Table of Contents

FOREWORD
by Thora Birch

ONE
The Home Alone of Halloween

TWO
Make Halloween Great Again:
Jurassic Park, Nostalgia, and the Seven Gables of Salem

THREE
Spielberg's Second-Best Halloween Movie

FOUR
The Divine Miss Sanderson

FIVE
Everything's Coming Up Winnie:
The Why of Her Whammy in "I Put a Spell on You"

SIX
Gardeners of Magic:
James Horner, John Debney, and Sarah Jessica Parker

SEVEN
The Brave Little Virgin

EIGHT
Is Hocus Pocus a Horror Film?

NINE
Of All the Witches Working:
Feminism in Disney's Villainesses

TEN
Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather

ELEVEN
Run Amok (Amok, Amok) in the Magic Kingdom:
Walt Disney World's Villain Spelltacular

TWELVE
But Who Lit the Pop-Culture Candle?

EPILOGUE
The Case for a Sequel

AFTERWORD
by Mick Garris

Fun Facts and Additional Observations:
Everything You Never Knew About Hocus Pocus

Foreword

By Thora Birch

W hen I was ten years old, I undoubtedly shared similarities with the character of Dani in Hocus Pocus. I was a dedicated Halloween aficionado and known for a kind of precociousness, as was she, among other parallels.

So many great memories remain from my time spent on the film the smell of the Sanderson sisters cottage I never DID get to climb that water wheel, but OH how I wanted to and struggling constantly to keep that hat on my head.

I will never forget the fun I had tearing up the set (gorgeously and luxuriously crafted by William Sandell and Nancy Patton) with the wonderful and lovely Vinessa Shaw and Omri Katz.

How could I forget Kenny Ortegas energy, or Kathy Najimys laugh, or being suspended in the air with Bette Midler in an uncomfortable harness and her singing Wind Beneath My Wings to comfort me between takes? Ive said it before, and I dont mind repeating it: I dont think Ive ever had more fun on a set than I did while filming Hocus Pocus.

Filmmaking itself has evolved so much since the era in which the film was made. In 1992, when Hocus Pocus began production, a film of its size and scope took about three-and-a-half months to shoot. And the budget, at $28 million, was considered even then not to be too pricy generous for a 'family' movie, yes, but by no means bloated, considering it carried with it the machinery of Disney and the force of The Divine Miss M.