Two Friends of the King

On June 24th, 1994, Walt Disney Animation Studios released The Lion King. The film was a critical and commercial success, winning the Oscars and Golden Globes for Best Original Score and Best Original Song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” In the 22 years since the film’s release, it remains a classic, but it also marked the beginning of a special friendship between two of the film’s voice cast members…

  Nathan Lane, who was cast as the voice of Timon the meerkat, originally auditioned for the role of Banzai the hyena during rehearsal breaks for his Tony-nominated run in the 1992 Broadway Revival of Guys and Dolls. (The studio told him that they did not want him for the role of Banzai, and offered him Timon instead). At the summer premier of “Lion King,” Lane met Mathew Broderick, who had provided the voice for Adult Simba for the first time.

Lane and Broderick got reacquainted as the two leads in the Mel Brooks’ 2001 musical, The Producers. As they rehearsed for the show, they became good friends. Both received Tony Award Nominations for their performances as Max Bialystock (Lane) and Leo Bloom (Broderick). Lane wound up winning the trophy, but at the award ceremony, when he won, he asked Broderick to come up to the stage to accept the award with him. The friendship was sealed.

Prior to The Producers, both Lane and Broderick reunited with “Lion King,” co-star/friend Ernie Sabella, who provided the voice of Pumbaa the Warthog, for the Walt Disney World Attraction, Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable (1995). (Sabella also starred with Lane in the 1992 “Guys and Dolls,” revival.) All three reprised their characters for the direct-to-video sequels, The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride (1998) and The Lion King 1 1/2 (2004). Lane also reunited with Sabella for The Lion King’s Timon & Pumbaa the TV Series (1995-1998).

In 2005, Lane and Broderick reprised their roles from The Producers for the film version where they appeared under the direction of Susan Stroman who had directed them on Broadway. (Nathan Lane received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in the movie) That same year, they reunited again on Broadway for a revival of Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple with Lane as Oscar Madison and Broderick as Felix Ungar. They reunited again on Broadway in 2014 for the play, It’s Only a Play.

Both did other roles for Disney. Nathan Lane starred in the Touchstone Pictures film, Life with Mikey (1993) and voiced Spot Helperman in the Disney Channel Original Series, Teacher’s Pet (2000-2005) reprising the character for the 2004 film of the same name. He also voiced the animatronic Tom Morrow for the Disneyland attraction, Innoventions. Matthew Broderick starred in Disney’s Inspector Gadget (1999) and played Professor Harold Hill in ABC’s 2003 television adaptation of Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man.

    Lane and Broderick’s friendship continues. In addition to their Disney gigs, both are two-time Tony Winning Broadway Stars (Lane for “The Producers,” and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Broderick for Brighton Beach Memoirs and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying). Their voices played a significant role in helping make “The Lion King,” a classic but whether they are lending their voices to Disney or are appearing together on a Broadway stage, it’s easy to see their friendship is a lasting one.   

Return to Disney

“Return to me, oh my dear I’m so lonely. Hurry back, hurry back. Oh my love, hurry back. I’m yours.” Dean Martin sang these lyrics in a song back in 1957. The song that reached No. 4 on Billboard’s chart of “Best Selling Pop Singles in Stores.” The song would stay with Emmy and Golden Globe Nominee Bonnie Hunt all her life, becoming the inspiration for her romantic comedy Return to Me (2000) nearly 43 years later. Hunt wrote, directed, and starred in the movie, which featured a stellar cast. Many of the film’s actors have done Disney Animation, and were frequent collaborators with Hunt, herself a frequent Disney voice-over artist.

  Bonnie Hunt played the role of Megan Dayton in “Return to Me.” She made her Disney debut providing the voice of Rosie, the Black Widow Spider, in A Bug’s Life (1998). The year after “Return to Me,” she voiced Flint, the monster in charge of the Practice Simulation in Monsters, Inc. (2001). In addition to voicing Sally Carrera the Porsche in Cars (2006), she also wrote additional screenplay material the film. Then, she lent her voice to Dolly the Doll in Toy Story 3 (2010), which reunited her with co-star from The Green Mile (1999), Tom Hanks. She reprised her role as Sally for Cars 2 (2011), voiced Mrs. Graves the teacher in Monsters University (2013) and most recently portrayed Judy Hopps’s mother, Bonnie Hopps, in Zootopia (2016). (She played Sally again in Cars 3 (2017)). She has also voiced Aunt Tilly in the Disney Junior Series, Sofia the First (2013-present) and is currently set to reprise her role as Dolly in Toy Story 4 (2018). Hunt’s friend and writing partner, Don Lake, co-wrote “Return to Me,” also portraying the man with the hair transplant, and voiced Judy Hopps’s father, Stu Hopps in “Zootopia.”

David Duchovny played Bob Rueland in “Return to Me,” and David Alan Grier played his good friend Charlie Johnson. In addition to “Return to Me,” both had reoccurring roles on Bonnie Hunt’s sit-com, ABC’s Life with Bonnie (2002-2004). Marianne Muellerleile, who played Sophie in “Return to Me,” also had a reccurring role on “Life with Bonnie,” and she also played Sister Dominick on the Disney Channel Show, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody (2005-2008).

Minnie Driver played the character of Grace Briggs in “Return to Me,” and voiced Jane in Disney’s Tarzan (1999). Joely Richardson, who played Bob Rueland’s wife, Elizabeth Rueland, also starred in Disney’s live-action adaptation of 101 Dalmatians (1996). While both Driver and Richardson speak with American accents in “Return to Me,” both actresses in real life are natives of London, England and “Return to Me,” is their only collaboration with Bonnie Hunt.

Jim Belushi played the role of Megan’s husband, Joe Dayton in “Return to Me.” Like Hunt, Belushi had his own ABC sit-com, According to Jim (2001-2009). Belushi also voiced Benny the squirrel in the Disney animated film, The Wild (2006), starred in the live-action film, The Underdog (2007), and has done numerous work on live-action Disney channel shows as well. 

The four elderly men in “Return to Me,” were portrayed by Carroll O’Connor, Eddie Jones, Robert Loggia, and William Bronder. “Return to Me,” was O’Connor’s (Grace’s grandfather, Marty) final film. He passed away one year after its release. Robert Loggia, who played Angelo in “Return to Me,” voiced Sykes in Oliver & Company (1988). Both he and William Bronder passed away last year, seven months apart from one another. Eddie Jones, who played Megan’s dad, Emmett in “Return to Me,” also played Malcolm in Disney’s The Rocketeer (1991).

25 Facts You Might or Might Not Know About Beauty and the Beast

On November 22nd, 1991, Walt Disney Animation Studios released a film that Walt Disney himself had unsuccessfully attempted to adapt for the screen twice throughout his career. The film would be the very first animated feature ever to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, as well as 5 additional nominations, and like its predecessor from 2 years earlier, The Little Mermaid (1989), it also received the Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Original Song. On November 22nd, 2016, Walt Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (1991) will celebrate 25 years of being one of the most beloved movie-musicals of all-time, in the history of Disney and in the history of films in general.

The film received 6 Academy Award Nominations: Best Picture, Best Sound Mixing, Best Original Score, Best Original Songs “Beauty and the Beast,” “Belle,” and “Be Our Guest.” (The film won Best Original Score and Best Original Song “Beauty and the Beast.”)

Before Paige O’Hara was cast as the voice of Belle in the film, Disney originally considered casting Jodi Benson, who voiced Ariel in “The Little Mermaid,” in the part. Disney ultimately moved forward with O’Hara as Belle, believing that she could give the character a more “European,” sounding voice.

“Beauty and the Beast,” was the very first Disney movie ever to be readapted for the Broadway Stage. The show opened on April 18th, 1994 at the Palace Theatre and played 5,461 performances. The show received 9 Tony Award Nominations including Best Musical and won the trophy for Best Costume Design.

Tony Nominee Susan Egan received her nomination for originating the role of Belle in “Beauty and the Beast,” on Broadway. Egan later went on to provide the voice of Megara in the film version of Hercules (1997).

Christy Carlson Romano, who played Ren Stevens in the Disney Channel Original Show Even Stevens (2000-2003) and voiced Kim Possible in the Disney Channel Animated Series Kim Possible (2002-2007), also played Belle in “Beauty and the Beast,” on Broadway.

Howard Ashman who wrote lyrics for “Beauty and the Beast,” and also served as the film’s executive producer. He was terminally ill with AIDS throughout production of the film and unfortunately died at the age of 40, six months before the release of the movie. There is a special dedication to him that can be seen in the end credits.

Before Disney cast Angela Lansbury as the voice of Mrs. Potts, the studio originally considered Julie Andrews in the role. 

David Ogden Stiers, who provided the voice of Cogsworth initially auditioned for Lumiere. When the studio cast Jerry Orbach as Lumiere, he accepted the role of Cogsworth, though the studio also cast him as the narrator for the film’s opening sequence, which is a role that he reprised for the Broadway version.

When it came time for Angela Lansbury to fly into New York to record the song “Beauty and the Beast,” her flight was delayed due to a bomb scare. The film’s producer, Don Hahn, offered to postpone the recording until the next day, and tell the film’s orchestra, the New York Philharmonic to go home, but she insisted that she would just change planes and still come. When she finally got there, the first take of the song recorded wound up being used in the movie.

Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, the fin’s co-writers/co-directors, also went on to write and direct The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) and Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001).

David Ogden Stiers improvised Cogsworth’s line “Flowers, Chocolates, Promises you don’t intend to keep.”

The dancing scene between Belle and the Beast at the very end of the film is actually the exact same dancing scene used from Sleeping Beauty (1959) with Sleeping Beauty and Prince Phillip. The scene was redrawn with Belle and the Beast when the animators ran out of time during production of the movie to create a completely unique ending scene for Belle and the Beast.

The Beast’s real name is Prince Adam, and it is never mentioned in the film, but is acknowledged in the Broadway show.

Andreas Deja was the supervising animator for Gaston in the film, and was also the supervising animator for many other classic Disney villains including: Jafar in Aladdin (1992), Scar in The Lion King (1994) and Queen Narissa in Enchanted (2007).

The supervising animator for Belle, Mark Henn, was also the supervising animator for many other classic Disney Princesses, including Ariel in “The Little Mermaid,” Jasmine in “Aladdin,” Pocahontas in Pocahontas (1995), Mulan in Mulan (1998) and Tiana in The Princess the Frog (2009).

The voice of Gaston in the film, Richard White, was also in consideration to voice the villainous Governor Ratcliffe in “Pocahontas.” However, the studio decided that viewers would hear his voice and confuse the character for Gaston, so they cast David Ogden Stiers as Governor Ratcliffe instead. 

You can see a very brief cameo of Mrs. Potts and Chip in Disney’s Tarzan (1999) in the “Trashin’ the Camp,” sequence.

Walt Disney attempted to adapt “Beauty and the Beast,” for the silver screen in the ‘30s and the ‘50s. The movie was released in 1991, 25 years after his death in 1966.

Howard Ashman’s death occurred when “Aladdin” was in-production at Disney as well. Prior to that, he and Alan Menken wrote the songs for the film “Arabian Nights,” “Friend Like Me,” and “Prince Ali.” To finish writing the rest of the material, Disney hired Sir Tim Rice to collaborate with Alan Menken on the songs “A Whole New World,” “One Jump Ahead,” and “Prince Ali (Reprise).” Rice reunited with Alan Menken for the Broadway versions of “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Aladdin,” and also collaborated with Sir Elton John for the film and Broadway versions of The Lion King (1994).

Each of the film’s original voice cast members reprised each of their characters for the direct-to-video sequels to “Beauty and the Beast,” Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997) and Beauty and the Beast: Belle’s Magical World (1998).

In addition to being the very first animated feature ever to receive an Academy Award Nomination for Best Picture, the fact that “Beauty and the Beast,” was nominated in that category also marked the first time that the Disney Studios had received an Best Picture Oscar Nomination since Mary Poppins in 1964.

As a child, Angela Lansbury knew a cook with a very friendly cockney accent named Beatrice whom she called “Beatty.” Beatty’s voice served as Lansbury’s character voice for Mrs. Potts.

Tony Jay who provided the voice of Monsieur D’Arque in the film was hired on the spot in his try-out to voice the character by Don Hahn, Gary Trousdale, and Kirk Wise. He was later re-hired by the exact same 3 men to voice the main antagonist, Judge Claude Frollo in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”  

“Beauty and the Beast,” will be readapted as a live-action film to be released on March 17th, 2017. The cast includes Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson, and Sir Ian McKellen. It is under the writing/direction of Oscar-nominated screenwriter, Bill Condon.

Jesse Corti who voiced Lefou in the film was a Spanish dignitary in “Frozen.” Josh Gad voiced Olaf the snowman in “Frozen,” will portray Lefou in the live-action “Beauty and the Beast” film.                                 

“Beauty and the Beast,” still reigns as one of Disney’s best films and will be remembered for many, many years. While every Disney movie has its own unique history at the studio, “Beauty and the Beast’s,” history truly is one of the studio’s most special chapters.  

The Spielberg Effect

Steven Spielberg is a movie director who needs no introduction! From Jaws (1975) and the Indiana Jones series (1981-2008) to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and Bridge of Spies (2015), each of his films have never ceased to entertain us and they will continue to do so for years to come. Like Garry Marshall, Steven Spielberg also invites repeat performances by actors in continuing his work. And several of the actors who have worked with Spielberg have received Academy Award nominations for their performances. They have also been in films that are Disney-produced or have had the Disney label, and I thought we could discuss that today.

Richard Dreyfuss appeared under Spielberg’s direction with in Jaws (1975) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). For Disney, Dreyfuss voiced the Centipede in James and the Giant Peach (1996), starred in Disney/ABC’s non-musical adaptation of Oliver Twist (1997), and for Touchstone Pictures, made the movies, Stakeout (1987), What About Bob? (1991), Another Stakeout (1993), Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995), and Krippendorf’s Tribe (1998). (His “Close Encounters” co-star Melinda Dillon received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Jillian Guiler.)

Whoopi Goldberg received a Best Actress Oscar Nomination for her performance as Celie Johnson in The Color Purple (1985), and Oprah Winfrey received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar Nomination her performance as Sofia. For Disney, Goldberg voiced Shenzi the Hyena in The Lion King (1994) and Winfrey voiced Eudora, Tiana’s mother in The Princess and the Frog (2009).

Anthony Hopkins was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as John Quincy Adams in Spielberg’s Amistad (1997). 2 years prior to that, he received a Best Actor Oscar Nomination for impersonating another former president, Richard Nixon in Nixon (1995), which was produced by Hollywood Pictures, another one of many film companies spawned by Disney. Hopkins also starred in the Touchstone Pictures film Bad Company (2002) and currently portrays the role of Odin in the Disney/Marvel Thor franchise (2011-present).

Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes were both nominated for their performances (Neeson in Best Actor and Fiennes in Best Supporting Actor) as Oskar Schindler and Amon Geoth in Schindler’s List (1993). While Ralph Fiennes has never made anything for Disney, Liam Neeson starred in Touchstone’s, The Good Mother (1988). He also made Hollywood Pictures films Before and After (1996) and Gun Shy (2000). He portrayed Qui-Gon Jin in Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace (1999) and for films under the Disney label, he voiced Aslan the Lion in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008). (He reprised the role for “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” which was released under 20th Century Fox.) He also voiced Fujimoto in the Disney English dub of Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo (2008). Ironically, Liam Neeson was beaten for the Best Actor Oscar in 1993 by frequent Spielberg collaborator, Tom Hanks for his performance as Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia (1993). 

Tom Hanks received his 4th Best Actor Oscar Nomination for his performance as Captain Miller in Saving Private Ryan (1998). With Spielberg, Hanks also made Catch Me If You Can (2002), The Terminal (2004), and Bridge of Spies (2015). Hanks and Spielberg have also produced several projects together, including the HBO series, Band of Brothers (2001). You might remember from my previous blogs everything that Hanks has made for Disney.

Christopher Walken received an Oscar Nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Frank Abagnale Sr. in Catch Me If You Can (2002). Walken's first film that was Disney-produced was Things to do in Denver When You’re Dead (1995). He portrayed Reed Thimple in the Disney live-action film The Country Bears (2002) and just recently provided the voice of King Louie in The Jungle Book (2016).

Daniel Day-Lewis won his 3rd Academy Award for impersonating Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln (2012) making him the 1st Oscar Winner to win an Oscar for a performance in a Spielberg film as well as the 1st Oscar Winner ever to win 3 Oscars for portraying leading roles, having previously won for My Left Foot (1989) and There Will Be Blood (2007). “Lincoln” was released under Touchstone Pictures. Lewis was also nominated for his performance as William “Bill the Butcher” Cutting in Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York (2002), which was also released under Touchstone.

Mark Rylance won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Rudolf Abel in Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies (2015) which was released under Touchstone. Rylance also portrayed the titular character in Disney’s The BFG (2016) which was also directed by Steven Spielberg. (The movie was also Spielberg’s first film released under Disney.)                   

Each of these movie stars arguably made some of the best movies of their careers under the direction of Steven Spielberg. The actors’ talents combined with Spielberg’s seem to be an extraordinary combination!

It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad Cast

In the early 1960s, Stanley Kramer assembled together a cast of some of the biggest names in show business for what would be his very first comedy movie, It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963). The film played to great critical acclaim and it became the 3rd highest-grossing film of 1963, garnering six Academy Award Nominations, and winning the trophy for Best Sound Editing. The talented group assembled for “Mad World” (see below for the list) are connected to Disney Animation, they also have worked in other TV/film efforts. Today we’re going to explore those interesting connections among a number of stars.       

Spencer Tracy portrayed Captain T.G. Culpepper in “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World.” While Tracy never made anything for Disney, under the direction of “Mad World,” director Stanley Kramer, he made 4 films, including Inherit the Wind (1960), Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), “Mad World,” and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967). “Dinner,” was his very last movie. He passed only 5 months before it’s release on June 10th, 1967. He received Best Actor Oscar Nominations for each film, except for “Mad World.” Tracy also won 2 Best Actor Oscars for Captains Courageous (1937), and Boys Town (1938), both of which co-starred “Mad World” cast mate Mickey Rooney.

Mickey Rooney played the role of Ding Bell in “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World.” For Disney, Rooney starred in the original Pete’s Dragon (1977), and lent his voice to Adult Tod, the fox, in The Fox and the Hound (1981). Nine years after “Mad World,” Rooney lent his voice to the Scarecrow in ABC/Disney’s made-for-television movie, Journey Back to Oz (1972). The film featured the voice talents of “Mad World,” co-stars, Milton Berle, Ethel Merman, and Paul Ford. (Liza Minnelli, daughter of Rooney’s good friend and frequent co-star, Judy Garland, voiced Dorothy in that film, and Margaret Hamilton, the original “Wicked Witch of the West,” provided the voice of Auntie Em.) Rooney also performed in one episode of ABC/Disney’s The Golden Girls (1985-1992).

Buddy Hackett played Benjy Benjamin in “Mad World.” The year before “Mad World,” Hackett and Paul Ford both starred in the film adaptation of Meredith Wilson’s smash-hit Broadway musical, The Music Man (1962). Hackett also starred in Disney’s The Love Bug (1968) which was the very first installment in the “Herbie” film franchise and lent his voice to Scuttle the Seagull in The Little Mermaid (1989). He reprised Scuttle for the direct-to-video sequel, The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea (2000).

Dorothy Provine portrayed Emeline Marcus-Finch in “Mad World.” Two years after “Mad World,” Provine starred in Blake Edwards’s The Great Race (1965) and Disney’s That Darn Cat! (1965). “Great Race,” featured “Mad World,” co-stars Peter Falk and Marvin Kaplan (who also acted in Disney’s original version of Freaky Friday (1976)). “Darn Cat,” featured “Mad World,” co-star William Demarest.

Jonathan Winters received a Golden Globe Nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his performance as Lennie Pike the truck driver in “Mad World.” Winters worked with “Mad World” co-stars Carl Reiner and Paul Ford in the movie, The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming (1966) and appeared in an episode of Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color (1954-1991). On his television show, The Jonathan Winters Show (1967-1969), “Mad World,” co-star Arnold Stang, was a regular.  

Paul Ford played Colonel Wilberforce in “Mad World.” Like Spencer Tracy, Paul Ford never made anything for Disney throughout his career either, but in addition to all of his pairings in the aforementioned paragraphs, Ford was also a regular on “Mad World,” co-star Phil Silvers’ television show, The Phil Silvers Show (1955-1959). Ford originally was lined up to play Principal McGee in Grease (1978), which would have reunited him with “Mad World,” co-star, Sid Caesar, but unfortunately passed away before production on the film even began, so the part was re-written for Eve Arden. 

   

Don Knotts, in addition to being best-known throughout the world as Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968), played the nervous motorist in “Mad World.” For Disney, Knotts starred with good friend and frequent co-star, Tim Conway in The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975) and it’s sequel, The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979). In between those films, he also made Gus (1976) and Hot Lead and Cold Feet (1978). One of his very last acting jobs ever, was voicing Mayor Turkey Lurkey in Disney’s Chicken Little (2005).

Charles Lane played the Airport Manager in “Mad World.” Lane starred opposite Don Knotts in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966), played Constable Locke in The Music Man (1962), and for Disney, had bit parts in The Ugly Dachshund (1966), The Gnome-Mobile (1967) and voiced Georges Hautecourt in The Aristocats (1970).

          

Terry-Thomas played J. Algernon Hawthorne in “Mad World,” and Andy Devine played the Sheriff of Crockett County. Both Thomas and Devine lent their voices to Disney’s Robin Hood (1973). Thomas voiced Sir Hiss the snake and Devine voiced Friar Tuck.

Stan Freberg played the Deputy Sheriff in “Mad World.” Freberg voiced the Beaver in Disney’s Lady and the Tramp (1955) and narrated two compilations of Disney cartoon shorts featuring Goofy entitled, More Sport Goofy (1983) and An All New Adventure of Disney’s Sport Goofy (1987).

  

Disney voice veteran Sterling Holloway played the role of the Fire Chief in “Mad World.” Holloway voiced of Mr. Stork in Dumbo (1941), Adult Flower in Bambi (1942), Professor Holloway in The Three Caballeros (1944), the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland (1951), Kaa the snake in The Jungle Book (1967), and Roquefort the Mouse in The Aristocats (1970). He also narrated several of Disney’s lesser-known shorts including Peter and the Wolf (1946), Lambert the Sheepish Lion (1952), and Goliath 2 (1960), and he voiced Amos Mouse in a short about a fictional story about Benjamin Franklin’s friendship with talking Mouse called Ben and Me (1953). Holloway was also the original voice of Winnie the Pooh. 

It’s been more than 50 years since the release Stanley Kramer’s “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World,” but it remains one of the best comedies of all-time. It was voted #40 on the American Film Institute’s list of top 100 Laughs in 2000. While the film didn’t spawn any sequels, it did serve as inspiration for the creation of other films with similar, but different plot lines, including Scavenger Hunt (1979), Million Dollar Mystery (1987), Rate Race (2001), and Three Kings (2011).