Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a 1988 fantasy-comedy film directed by Robert Zemeckis, produced by Steven Spielberg, and based on Gary K. Wolf's novel: Who Censored Roger Rabbit? It combines the use of traditional animation and live action, with elements of film noir, and stars Bob Hoskins, Charles Fleischer, Christopher Lloyd, Kathleen Turner, and Joanna Cassidy.

Set in 1947 in Hollywood, where Toons commonly interact with the studio system of Classical Hollywood cinema. It tells the story of private investigator Eddie Valiant caught in a mystery that involves Roger Rabbit, an A-list Toon who is framed for murder. The film contains themes pertaining to racial and ethnic discrimination, along with sexy content and murder references. It is said that the movie is an allegory for this as well as segregation of people based on race during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

Walt Disney Pictures purchased the film rights to Who Censored Roger Rabbit? in 1981. Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman wrote two drafts of the script before Disney brought Spielberg and Amblin Entertainment to help finance the film. Zemeckis was hired to direct the live action scenes

Development= Walt Disney Pictures purchased the film rights to Gary Wolf's novel Who Censored Roger Rabbit? shortly after its publication in 1981. Ron W. Miller, then president of The Walt Disney Company, saw it as a perfect opportunity to produce a blockbuster. Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman were hired to write the script, penning two drafts. Robert Zemeckis offered his services as director in 1982, but Disney acknowledged that his previous films (I Wanna Hold Your Hand and Used Cars) were box office bombs, and thus let him go. Between 1981 to 1983 Disney developed test footage with Darrell Van Citters as animation director, Paul Reubens voicing Roger Rabbit, Peter Renaday as Eddie Valiant, and Russi Taylor as Jessica Rabbit. When Michael Eisner became the new Disney president, he revamped the project in 1985. Amblin Entertainment, which consisted of Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall, and Kathleen Kennedy, were approached to produce Who Framed Roger Rabbit alongside Disney. The original budget was projected at $50 million, which Disney felt was too expensive.

Roger Rabbit was finally green-lighted when the budget went down to $29.9 million, which at the time, still made it the most expensive animated film ever green lighted. Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg argued that the hybrid of live action and animation would "save" Disney's animation department. Spielberg's contract included an extensive amount of creative control and a large percentage of the box office profits. Disney kept all merchandising rights. Spielberg convinced Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, and Universal Pictures and many other companies to "lend" their characters to appear in the film. Terry Gilliam was offered the chance to direct, but he found the project too technically challenging. "Pure laziness on my part," Gilliam said he "completely regret[s] that decision". Robert Zemeckis was hired to direct in 1985, based on the success of Romancing the Stone and Back to the Future. Richard Williams was hired to direct the animation sequences.
 * -|Release=Walt Disney Pictures purchased the film rights to Gary Wolf's novel Who Censored Roger Rabbit? shortly after its publication in 1981. Ron W. Miller, then president of The Walt Disney Company, saw it as a perfect opportunity to produce a blockbuster. Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman were hired to write the script, penning two drafts. Robert Zemeckis offered his services as director in 1982, but Disney acknowledged that his previous films (I Wanna Hold Your Hand and Used Cars) were box office bombs, and thus let him go. Between 1981 to 1983 Disney developed test footage with Darrell Van Citters as animation director, Paul Reubens voicing Roger Rabbit, Peter Renaday as Eddie Valiant, and Russi Taylor as Jessica Rabbit. When Michael Eisner became the new Disney president, he revamped the project in 1985. Amblin Entertainment, which consisted of Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall, and Kathleen Kennedy, were approached to produce Who Framed Roger Rabbit alongside Disney. The original budget was projected at $50 million, which Disney felt was too expensive.

Roger Rabbit was finally green-lighted when the budget went down to $29.9 million, which at the time, still made it the most expensive animated film ever green lighted. Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg argued that the hybrid of live action and animation would "save" Disney's animation department. Spielberg's contract included an extensive amount of creative control and a large percentage of the box office profits. Disney kept all merchandising rights. Spielberg convinced Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, and Universal Pictures and many other companies to "lend" their characters to appear in the film. Terry Gilliam was offered the chance to direct, but he found the project too technically challenging. "Pure laziness on my part," Gilliam said he "completely regret[s] that decision". Robert Zemeckis was hired to direct in 1985, based on the success of Romancing the Stone and Back to the Future. Richard Williams was hired to direct the animation sequences.
 * -|Plot=Set in 1947 Hollywood, cartoon characters are known as Toons and most, if not all, toons are paid as actors there. They live in the animated megacity of Toontown, which is owned by businessman Marvin Acme. Perhaps one of the most famous stars there is Roger Rabbit, who costars with Baby Herman in comedy shorts. Lately, however, Roger’s performances have been poor, so his employer, R.K. Maroon, hires private detective Eddie Valiant to investigate the cause of Roger's distractions. Rumor has it that Roger’s bombshell wife, Jessica Rabbit, was having an affair. Following the death of his brother Teddy by the hands of a Toon, Eddie became an alcoholic and lost his sense of humor—thus, he acts very bigoted towards Toons (most of them at least—he gets along well with Betty Boop, Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny and Tweety Bird at various points in the film, and his heart slowly warms up to Roger as well). Reluctantly, Eddie accepts the job and heads to the Ink and Paint Club, where he was told he would find Jessica. There he watches Jessica’s performance on stage and is later visited by Marvin Acme after the show in her dressing room. He is caught eavesdropping by the club bouncer, Bongo the Gorilla, and is kicked out. Outside the club, Eddie finds the window to Jessica’s dressing room and snaps photographs of Jessica playing patty cake with Marvin Acme. Back at the studio, Eddie shows the photographs to Maroon and a very heartbroken Roger, who runs off after vowing that he and Jessica will be happy again. Roger spends the night crying in a dark alley while looking at pictures of them.

Voice Cast
Charles Fleischer provides the voice of Roger Rabbit: An A-list Toon working for "Maroon Cartoons". Roger is eventually framed for murder for the death of Marvin Acme. Fleischer also provides the voices of Benny the Cab and a member of Doom's Weasel Gang. To facilitate Hoskins' performance, Fleischer dressed in a Roger bunny suit and "stood in" behind camera for most scenes. Lou Hirsch, who supplied the voice for Baby Herman, was the original choice for Benny the Cab, but was replaced by Fleischer. Fleischer also provides the voices for Greasy and Psycho from the Toon Patrol.

Wayne Allwine as Mickey Mouse: Mickey appears during the scene with Bugs Bunny when Eddie Valiant was falling from the apartment. The two agreed to be in the movie with their friends and loved ones on one condition: they each have the same amount of screentime and dialogue.

Tony Anselmo as Donald Duck: Donald appears during a piano scene with Daffy Duck. He becomes angry after a few times and hides himself inside the piano and takes a cannon to shoot on Daffy Duck.

Russi Taylor as Minnie Mouse and Toon Birds

Tony Pope as Goofy and Big Bad Wolf

Bill Farmer provided additional dialogue as Goofy

Mel Blanc as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird, Porky Pig, and Sylvester

Lou Hirsch as Baby Herman: Roger's frequent co-star in Maroon Cartoons. Williams said Baby Herman was a mixture of "Elmer Fudd and Tweety crashed together." April Winchell provides the voice of Mrs. Herman.

Les Perkins as J. Thaddeus Toad

Cherry Davis as Woody Woodpecker

Richard Williams as Droopy

Joe Alaskey as Yosemite Sam

David Lander as Smarty: The intelligent, wise-cracking leader of the Toon Patrol.

June Foray as Lena Hyena and Wheezy

Fred Newman as Stupid

Peter Westly as Pinocchio

Mae Questel as Betty Boop

Mary T. Radford as Hyacinth Hippo

Jim Cummings, Pat Buttram, and Jim Gallant as Valiant's Bullets

Film producer Joel Silver makes a cameo appearance as the frustrated director at the beginning of the film. Archive sound of Frank Sinatra from the song "Witchcraft" was used for the Singing Sword.

Morgan Deare as Bongo the Gorilla

Jack Angel as the Toon Shoes

Nancy Cartwright as the Dipped Toon Shoe

Kathleen Turner provides the voice of Jessica Rabbit: Roger Rabbit's astoundingly attractive wife. Amy Irving supplied the singing voice, while Betsy Brantley served as the model for animators to base their picture on. Jessica was also based on actress Veronica Lake.

Frank Welker as Dumbo

April Winchell provides the "baby noise."