71.172.40.233 (talk) |
70.50.64.69 (talk) |
||
Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
When David Seville goes off to Europe on a business trip, the Chipmunks, Alvin, Simon, and Theodore are left at home with their babysitter, Miss Miller - much to the chagrin of Alvin, who dreams of world travel. While the three are playing an arcade game of ''Around the World in Thirty Days'' with [[the Chipettes]], Alvin and Brittany begin to argue over which would win an actual race around the world. Their conversation is being eavesdropped on by Klaus and Claudia Vorstein, two European diamond smugglers. Seeing an opportunity, the Vorsteins approach the children, telling them that they will provide them with the means for a [[LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin#Round-the-world flight|real race around the world]] by [[hot air balloon]], with the winner receiving $100,000. |
When David Seville goes off to Europe on a business trip, the Chipmunks, Alvin, Simon, and Theodore are left at home with their babysitter, Miss Miller - much to the chagrin of Alvin, who dreams of world travel. While the three are playing an arcade game of ''Around the World in Thirty Days'' with [[the Chipettes]], Alvin and Brittany begin to argue over which would win an actual race around the world. Their conversation is being eavesdropped on by Klaus and Claudia Vorstein, two European diamond smugglers. Seeing an opportunity, the Vorsteins approach the children, telling them that they will provide them with the means for a [[LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin#Round-the-world flight|real race around the world]] by [[hot air balloon]], with the winner receiving $100,000. |
||
After tricking Miss Miller, the Chipmunks and Chipettes meet at the |
After tricking Miss Miller, the Chipmunks and Chipettes meet at the Vorsteins' mansion, where they are told the rules: each team is given a separate route to follow, along with a chest of dolls, made in their own likenesses, which they are required to drop off to verify that they have visited all checkpoints. Upon dropping off one of their own dolls, they will receive a doll made in the likeness of the opposing team. In reality, the dolls being dropped off are filled with diamonds, and the dolls received are filled with cash, given to them by the buyers. Both teams begin their travels; while the Chipmunks go to [[Mexico City]], the Chipettes are caught in a hurricane. Unknown to both teams, however, they are being trailed by two [[Interpol|INTERPOL]] agents, sent by Inspector Jamal, who was informed by Klaus and Claudia's butler, Mario, of the Vorstein's operation. The agents silently follow behind as the Chipmunks and Chipettes travel to many exotic locations. Both teams meet up in [[Athens]], where Alvin and Brittany begin bickering, each claiming they can ''"out-rock and roll"'' the other, with Dave and the two INTERPOL agents nearly spotting them. |
||
The Chipettes then travel on to [[Egypt]], where they are captured and brought to a young Arabian prince. The prince falls in love with eleanor torn the valuable dolls to Jamal but declares that he is keeping the girls, and making eleanor his bride,after owned,gifts,and after the wedding. |
The Chipettes then travel on to [[Egypt]], where they are captured and brought to a young Arabian prince. The prince falls in love with eleanor torn the valuable dolls to Jamal but declares that he is keeping the girls, and making eleanor his bride,after owned,gifts,and after the wedding. |
Revision as of 13:23, 26 April 2011
The Chipmunk Adventure | |
---|---|
Directed by | Janice Karman |
Written by | Ross Bagdasarian Jr. Janice Karman |
Produced by | Ross Bagdasarian Jr. |
Starring | Ross Bagdasarian Jr. Janice Karman Dody Goodman Ken Sansom Nancy Cartwright |
Edited by | Tony Mizgalski |
Music by | Randy Edelman |
Distributed by | The Samuel Goldwyn Company |
Release date |
|
Running time | 77 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $6,804,312 (domestic) |
The Chipmunk Adventure is a 1987 American animated film featuring the characters from NBC's Saturday morning cartoon Alvin and the Chipmunks. Marking the first appearance of The Chipmunks in a feature film since their 1958 debut, The Chipmunk Adventure was directed by Janice Karman, and features the voices of Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., Janice Karman, and Dody Goodman.
Plot
When David Seville goes off to Europe on a business trip, the Chipmunks, Alvin, Simon, and Theodore are left at home with their babysitter, Miss Miller - much to the chagrin of Alvin, who dreams of world travel. While the three are playing an arcade game of Around the World in Thirty Days with the Chipettes, Alvin and Brittany begin to argue over which would win an actual race around the world. Their conversation is being eavesdropped on by Klaus and Claudia Vorstein, two European diamond smugglers. Seeing an opportunity, the Vorsteins approach the children, telling them that they will provide them with the means for a real race around the world by hot air balloon, with the winner receiving $100,000.
After tricking Miss Miller, the Chipmunks and Chipettes meet at the Vorsteins' mansion, where they are told the rules: each team is given a separate route to follow, along with a chest of dolls, made in their own likenesses, which they are required to drop off to verify that they have visited all checkpoints. Upon dropping off one of their own dolls, they will receive a doll made in the likeness of the opposing team. In reality, the dolls being dropped off are filled with diamonds, and the dolls received are filled with cash, given to them by the buyers. Both teams begin their travels; while the Chipmunks go to Mexico City, the Chipettes are caught in a hurricane. Unknown to both teams, however, they are being trailed by two INTERPOL agents, sent by Inspector Jamal, who was informed by Klaus and Claudia's butler, Mario, of the Vorstein's operation. The agents silently follow behind as the Chipmunks and Chipettes travel to many exotic locations. Both teams meet up in Athens, where Alvin and Brittany begin bickering, each claiming they can "out-rock and roll" the other, with Dave and the two INTERPOL agents nearly spotting them.
The Chipettes then travel on to Egypt, where they are captured and brought to a young Arabian prince. The prince falls in love with eleanor torn the valuable dolls to Jamal but declares that he is keeping the girls, and making eleanor his bride,after owned,gifts,and after the wedding. Meanwhile, alvin,Simon, meanwhile, are forced to search a nearby cave for mushrooms, with Alvin growing increasingly fed-up where they are met at the airport by Klaus and Claudia. After a high energy chase through the baggage claim (as the Chipettes sing Diamond Dolls), the two groups are forced into a car under the false threat of Miss Miller's being kidnapped. Dave is arriving home to the airport at the same time, and hears Alvin's cries for help. Inspector Jamal runs up, identifying himself, and he and Dave begin to make chase. While it at first appears that Klaus and Claudia will escape, they are accidentally run off the road by Miss Miller, who was heading to the airport to pick up Dave. The diamond smugglers are arrested, and Brittany and Alvin begin arguing over who really won the race. An exasperated Dave breaks up the argument and guides them to Miss Miller's car, where the others await. Alvin tries to explain what happened, causing Dave to yell "ALVIN!" as the credits begin to roll.
Cast of characters
- Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. as David "Dave" Seville, the adoptive father of Alvin, Simon, and Theodore, Dave is a songwriter who has his hands full keeping track of Alvin's doings.
- Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. as Alvin Seville, the leader of his brothers and the oldest chipmunk. He is known for his arrogance and egotism.
- Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. as Simon Seville, the middle, is highly intelligent and extremely practical, with a very dry sense of humor. He often tries to stop Alvin's schemes, but somehow gets sucked into them.
- Janice Karman as Theodore Seville, the youngest, as well as more passive and kind-hearted than the other two. He enjoys eating, and can easily be bribed by Alvin with food.
- Janice Karman as Brittany Miller, the oldest and just as arrogant and egotistical as Alvin. She often bosses her two sisters around, but she also has a good heart, and loves her sisters dearly.
- Janice Karman as Jeanette Miller, is the middle like Simon, and is most intelligent of the Chipettes. However, she is clumsy, timid, absent-minded, and less likely to attempt to stop Brittany when she's scheming.
- Janice Karman as Eleanor Miller, like Theodore, she's the youngest of the Chipettes. Eleanor is plump and motherly, but can stand up for herself.
- Dody Goodman as Ms. Beatrice Miller, the Chipettes' surrogate mother and legal guardian. She often babysits the Chipmunks while Dave is away, much to Alvin's chagrin.
- Anthony De Longis as Klaus Vorstein/Furschtein, a European diamond smuggler. Klaus lacks willingness to go to extremes. He is easily intimidated by his sister Claudia, and reminded often of past failures. He has a fondness for Pierre Cardin socks, and enjoys picking fights with Claudia's dog, Sophie, who is just as spoiled and as bratty as her owner. Furschtien (IMDb's credits list their last name as Furshtien, while the film's closed captioning spells it as Vorstein)
- Susan Tyrrell as Claudia Vorstein/Furschtein, a European diamond smuggler. Claudia is extremely ruthless, mean, and a spoiled brat, and more confident than Klaus.
- Frank Welker as Sophie, the Vorsteins' pet Yorkshire Terrier puppy.
- Ken Sansom as Inspector Jamal, a detective for the INTERPOL, who has been trying to capture Klaus and Claudia for years.
- Nancy Cartwright as an Arabian Prince, a spoiled and bratty Arabian prince who wants eleanor for his wife.
Production
After the success of his animated cartoon series on NBC, Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. began developing a concept for a full-length feature film. Fortunately for Bagdasarian Productions, the box-office failure of Disney's The Black Cauldron in 1985 had led to the layoff of a number of Disney animators, whom Bagdasarian promptly hired to work on his film. The result was extremely high-caliber animation.
Bagdasarian and his wife Janice Karman decided to finance the project themselves, having generated so much revenue from the Alvin and the Chipmunks TV series. Their decision to work with several overseas studios led to major production delays. By late 1986, production had fallen far behind schedule, and a shortage of time and money resulted in major cuts being made to the film.
The film was promoted one year before its release, at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival.[1]
Release
Though scheduled for Christmas 1986,[1] The Chipmunk Adventure opened on May 22, 1987. With an opening weekend take of $2,584,720, it ultimately grossed $6,804,312 in North America alone.[2][3]
Deleted scenes
- Production stills and concept art available on the DVD show that there was originally a scene in which the boys are captured by dogs in Russia.
- Early concept art also reveals that the producers originally intended to have a scene where the boys drop off a doll in a church confessional and that the sacrifice scene was originally set on top of a Mayan pyramid instead of a crocodile pit. Another sketch shows the boys in some sort of sewer or prison with two men prying open bars at an opening at the top.
Distribution
This film was produced by Bagdasarian Productions, and distributed to movie theatres by The Samuel Goldwyn Company. It was released on VHS by Lorimar in the 1980s, and Universal Studios Home Entertainment in the late 1990s. On May 23, 2006, the movie was released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment, and Shout! Factory, digitally remastered from the original 35mm film and presented with 5.1 surround sound. A special edition DVD re-release of the film with a bonus CD (which is the same soundtrack disc) was released on April 1, 2008, which matches that of the live-action/computer-animated Alvin and the Chipmunks and another DVD volume of Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies.[4] The film is the only animated film theatrically released in widescreen and released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment, and Shout! Factory that is shown on DVD in full screen only.
Soundtrack
The film's opening score was performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. As both The Chipmunks and Chipettes are considered to be musical groups, they perform many songs through the film. Some of these songs were written specifically for the movie, while others are covers of old classics. On April 1, 2008, the soundtrack was re-released as a bonus CD with the film's DVD.
The soundtrack to The Chipmunk Adventure is available on Amazon.com.
- Track listing
- "Chipmunk Adventure Theme" - Royal London Philharmonic Orchestra
- "I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi (I Cuanto le Gusta) - The Chipmunks
- "Off to See the World - The Chipmunks and the Chipettes
- "Weekend in France, Italy, England, Amsterdam, Greece..." - David Seville and the Chipmunks (heard instrumentally in the film)
- "The Girls and Boys of Rock and Roll" - The Chipmunks and the Chipettes (originally appeared in the 1986 low-budget film The Malibu Bikini Shop)
- "Flying with the Eagles" - The Chipmunks and the Chipettes
- "Getting Lucky" - The Chipettes
- "Mexican Holiday" - The Chipmunks (heard instrumentally in the film)
- "My Mother" - The Chipettes
- "Wooly Bully" - The Chipmunks
- "Diamond Dolls" - The Chipettes (unlike the film version, the soundtrack version sounds low-pitched)
- Songs heard in the film but not on the album
- "Underwaterture" - Randy Edelman. Lengthy piece of music recorded for the underwater sequence. Unreleased on record.
- "Come On-a My House" - Dody Goodman. Unreleased on record. Sung briefly by Miss Miller.
- "A Matter of Fact" - Electric Light Orchestra. Recorded in 1986 by that band as source music for the film's "Wooly Bully" sequence. First released as the B-Side to the UK version of that band's "So Serious" single, four months ahead of the film's release. Unavailable in the U.S. until 1990 in its inclusion on that band's first box set, Afterglow.
- "Witch Doctor" - Dody Goodman. Unreleased on record. Sung briefly by Miss Miller.
References
- ^ a b Coburn, Marcia Froelke (May 18, 1986). "Bashes 'N' Cash Amid Fears of Clash; Cannes Fest Lives Up to Its Hot Image". Chicago Tribune. p. 10 (Arts). Retrieved April 12, 2011.
- ^ "Weekend Box Office". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
- ^ The Chipmunk Adventure (1987) – Box Office Mojo
- ^ DVDizzy.com Upcoming DVD & Blu-ray Release Schedule – February 2011