In 1962, Universal Pictures released a film that gave many viewers their first glimpse of Disneyland. The romantic comedy 40 Pounds of Trouble, starring Tony Curtis and Suzanne Pleshette, has the distinction of being one of the few movies allowed to shoot inside Disneyland by an outside studio.
Damon Runyon’s story Little Miss Marker, the 1934 film starring Shirley Temple and Adolphe Menjou, gets a modern update in this remake.
A hard-bitten manager of a posh Tahoe nightclub named Steve McCluskey (Tony Curtis) finds his hands full when he encounters an adorable orphan named Penelope “Penny” Piper (Claire Wilcox) who is left behind as a marker by her father to secure a gambling debt. The movie ends with a slapstick chase through Disneyland.
Although the film didn’t receive positive reviews from film critics or have a great box office run in its initial release, 40 Pounds of Trouble does give today’s Disney fans a rare peek at Disneyland from a bygone era.
A Launching Pad For A Brilliant Career
40 Pounds of Trouble is Norman Jewison’s directorial debut, the famed director who would go on to direct 1987’s Oscar-nominated best picture Moonstruck, Fiddler on the Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar and the Oscar-winning best picture of 1967 In the Heat of the Night.
Claire Wilcox, who portrays the orphan Penelope, had a very interesting career in television after the film’s release. She made guest appearances on many television shows during the 1960s and 1970s. Some of these include Ben Casey, Gunsmoke, The Partridge Family, The Brady Bunch, My Three Sons, and Lost in Space.
The cast of 40 Pounds of Trouble includes Larry Storch, Howard Morris, Edward Andrews, Stubby Kaye, Warren Stevens, Kevin McCarthy, and Phil Silvers.
Without further ado, let’s go to Disneyland circa 1962.
Upon arrival at the airport, our fearless cast make their way to Disneyland in style.Arriving at Disneyland via helicopter for the grand reveal of Disneyland.A rare look at the Matterhorn circa 1962.Monorail Blue coming into TomorrowlandIn filmmaking, a wide shot typically shows the entire object or human figure and is usually intended to place it in relation to its surroundings. In this wide shot, the director takes advantage of the second story location to capture the entrance of the cast within the grandeur of a mid-century Tomorrowland.The Mark I Monorail winding its way through the world of tomorrow with the cast in the front bubble.Editing can help connect two scenes together that may not relate to each other geographically but help tell a stronger story. In this scene, the cast arrives in Tomorrowland. For those familiar with the layout of Disneyland, the cast is facing north towards the Submarine Lagoon. However, in the next photo, the filmmakers wanted the first ground shot of Disneyland from the characters’ point of view to be dramatic……and the view from the Tomorrowland Monorail Station is a panoramic shot of Main Street from the Disneyland Railroad Main Street Station. Town Square has changed a bit over the years.Mickey and Minnie help set the tone by making an appearance. But what an appearance it is. Look at those faces!The film captured something most guests never get to see: an empty Main Street. It also captured something guests in 1962 never got to see: Tony Curtis.A rare view of the entrance to Tomorrowland before it became a “World on the Move.”Monstro the Whale making an appearance.The Mad Tea Party in its original location in Fantasyland before it was moved adjacent to Alice in Wonderland.A close-up of the loading area for Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland.Cruising through the 3-year old Matterhorn on the Skyway to Fantasyland.If you look in the distance, you’ll see Anaheim before it was surrounded by many of the hotels we’re familiar with.Flying to Neverland on Peter Pan’s Flight.Some of the scarier moments from the Fantasyland dark rides were edited together to heighten the sense of drama.A rare look at the interior of the Matterhorn before it was invaded by Fantasyland’s resident abominable snowman “Harold.”A view from the racing bobsled, which reveals beautiful glimpses of Anaheim.The bobsled returning to the loading area. Notice the hunter green color of the track.When “40 Pounds of Trouble” was filmed, the United States was experiencing political tension with its neighbor Cuba. This scene makes humorous commentary about it, with the cast wearing masks of Richard Nixon, Fidel Castro, and John F. Kennedy. This scene was shot at Captain Hook’s Galley in Fantasyland.The chase scene formally begins on Tom Sawyer’s IslandThe director making use of props on Tom Sawyer’s Island to add humor. The cast running away – or hopping away – along the barrel bridge.Tony Curtis making a jump for the raft back to Frontierland.Back in 1962, every day was Dapper Day at Disneyland. Hats, dresses, pants, and other spiffy items were the chosen attire for guests.There was a time when guests could go fishing on Tom Sawyer’s Island.Frontierland looking very much the same as it does today.Frontierland’s Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland playing host to some of the chase scenes. These shots capture great vistas of this extinct attraction.Disneyland was built like a movie set, so locations like the geysers on Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland were great opportunities to help tell the story.An “E” ticket attraction that only Tony Curtis got to experience: being chased by the Disneyland Railroad.The Keystone Cops having fun on camera.The Autopia before the guide rail was installed.
…and finally, something most of our readers have never participated in: running away from Disneyland.
Make Future Magic
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40 Pounds of Trouble may not be a well known movie 58 years after its release, but it does give us a unique view of Disneyland from a time before many of you were even born. Have you seen this film? What are your thoughts on Disneyland in the 1960s? Let us know what you spotted in these images! We look forward to hearing from you in the comments below.
