Movie Musings: Disney and More

Debbie and Carrie: Mother-Daughter Magic

On December 27th, 2016, Carrie Frances Fisher, best known throughout the world as Princess Leia Organa in the Star Wars film franchise (1977-present), died of a heart attack. A very unfortunate 24 hours later, her mother, legendary movie star Debbie Reynolds, died of a stroke. They were close in death and in life. Likely best friends in their later years, their relationship was rocky at times, but their careers had much in common.

Both Reynolds and Fisher were 20 years old when they made the signature films of their careers: Reynolds in Singin’ in the Rain (1952) and Fisher in Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope (1977). Each of those films went on the be highly regarded in the history of film-“Singin’ in the Rain,” as the ultimate blockbuster movie-musical and “Star Wars,” as a culture-defining phenomenon. Both Reynolds and Fisher made films for the Walt Disney Studios as well: 

Reynolds portrayed Agatha “Aggie” Cromwell in the “Halloweentown,” movie series for the Disney Channel (Halloweentown (1998), Halloweentown 2: Kalabar’s Revenge (2001), Halloweentown High (2004), and Return to Halloweentown (2006)). Reynolds provided the voices of Kim Possible’s grandmother, Nana Possible in the Disney Channel Series, Kim Possible (2002-2007), Great-Great-Grandmommers Whimsical in the Disney XD series, The 7D (2014-present), and Madame in the direct-to-video film Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989). Reynolds also lent her voice to an episode of the Disney XD series, Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil (2010-present). She also starred in one episode of ABC's The Golden Girls (1985-1992).

Fisher reprised her trademark role as Princess Leia Organa for Disney/Lucasfilm ltd.’s Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015) and Star Wars Episode VIII (2017). In both films she got to act opposite her daughter, Billie Lourd, who portrayed Lieutenant Connix. Archival footage of her saying the word “hope” and a CGI image of herself were used to portray Leia in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). Fisher also played Franny Jessup in a telefilm called Sunday Drive (1986) that aired on the program, The Wonderful World of Disney (1954-present) on the ABC Network. Fisher was also a little-known, but much sought-after “script doctor,” and made uncredited rewrites for the screenplay of the Touchstone Pictures film Sister Act (1992).

Both mother and daughter were also accomplished authors. Reynolds published Debbie: My Life in 1988 and Unsinkable: A Memoir in 2012. Fisher published Postcards from the Edge in 1987, which inspired the film of the same name with Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine in 1990, (and for which she which Fisher wrote the screenplay). Just recently, Fisher published The Princess Diarist.

As a team, Reynolds and Fisher both also lent their voices to the “Tales of a Third Grade Nothing,” episode of Family Guy (2008). 

While both Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher had their own, unique career paths, together, they maintained a close relationship until the very end. Their work in films, television, and publishing never ceased to entertain and their legacy will continue to live on for many years to come.