MovieChat Forums > Cinderella (1950) Discussion > Voice actors

Voice actors

posted 6 years ago by snepts (11123)
4 replies | jump to latest

I'm posting this because I don't recognize any of the names that were recorded in this movie.

I am reminded how often famous actors now do voice work in animated films. I once thought voice work was done by talented people who may not look great in front of a camera, but had great and engaging voices. After a while I began to realize actors everyone knows were getting voice work. I think someone explained to me if we recognize Jennifer Aniston or Jack Lemmon's voice, that will push the needle. Bums me out. Some actors are really good at voice work. Think of Edward Everett Horton, or (singing) the immortal Marnie Nixon. There are so many examples of people who do great voice work and are never seen. The whole Simpson cast and guests.

[–] Otter (24464) 6 years ago

The reason modern animated films use name actors, is because they can use the name as actors to publicize the film. Modern animated films can be hugely expensive, and sending the name actors out to hit the talk show or hit before release really helps the box office.

There are still professional voice actors, of course, but they dont get the leads in big budget films these days.

[–] greenbudgie (2355) 6 years ago

Disney had some great voice actors over the years. The only name I recognised in this is Verna Felton who did some classics for Disney.

My favourite Disney voice actor is Ed Wynn as the Mad Hatter in 'Alice In Wonderland.' It's amazing how he just turned up to test for the film and got it perfect first time, much of it ad-libbed. So they used it for the soundtrack. It's strange how some actors give their best performance at their first reading of the part. Ed Wynn was a great visually too in some of Disney's live action.

I think that it's a shame that some purely voice actors don't get more recognition. Although some big name actors can do a good job in animation at times.

[–] snepts (11123) 6 years ago

I'm sure big name actors can do good voice work, but a lot of great voice actors won't make it on screen. I wish the industry as a whole would spread out the work. A lot of these big names don't need the money, and they don't necessarily bring anything extra to the film. I'm not an animation fan in the first place, but I stumbled on Finding Nemo a few years back. I recognize Ellen D and Albert Brooks, but they are good comedy actors with distinctive ways of speaking. To it's credit, looks like Frozen (huge hit) eschewed big names, and used an actual singer in a singing role. But I wasn't keen on Aniston doing Iron Giant, and the first example was Jack Lemmon selling cars. Now we have Jon Hamm doing the same, but his movie career is a little iffy.

[–] gcarras (2775) 6 years ago

THen there is Pixar, and Rankin/Bass's.Ed Graham,too. LINUS THE LION-HEARTED (1964-1967). With Sheldon Leonard and Ruth Buzzi, and (Ben's parnets) Stiller and Meara! and a few others and Bashful Bigshots (various unbilled guests).

There are a few others not mentioned in CINDERELLA from the old days, June Foray and Lucille Bliss (CRUSADERR RABBIT, various one shot MGM and WB shorts, THE SMURfS)/