the best movies never made

NHBL

NHBL

Run Silent, Run Deep

A docu-drama about the dispute over Boston's subway expansion in the 1980's. Financed in part by the Federal Government under the Energy Independence Act of 1979, the original plan called for shallow cut and cover tracks in some places, and surface rail in others, both of which would involve a lot of noise. Lawsuits were filed, and deep bore tunnels were mandated in some places, as the trains were required to Run Silent, Run Deep.
 

Plateosaurus

Poseidon Rex (2013)
A biopic about the life of King Poseidonion of Athenia, who ruled from 23 BCE to 4 CE, focusing on his efforts to unsuccessfully avoid the Galatian War occurring with the Drahui and Gondi Confederation's expansion and trade.
 
Duke Andrew of Dank

Duke Andrew of Dank

Thumbelina (1973)

For the first time in its corporate existence, Walt Disney Animated Studios was truly in dire straits. Since the late 1940s and 1950s, competition arose that desired some of the animated movie pie that Disney once had to themselves. This was the time of the creator-driven animated films where no matter what studio heads had changed, the creator's word eventually trumped theirs. Bill Hanna and Joe Barbara of MGM, Chuck Jones of Warner Bros, and Ralph Bakshi of Terrytoons had all risen to fame in the animation world below only Walt himself. As such, when Chuck Jones' Warner Bros films began beating Disney, Walt himself pulled out his major game changer.

Don Bluth couldn't be more delighted. No sooner was Disney too concerned with profit to make a good film, than he had become the head of animation. For his first major contribution, he would contact Andrew Lloyd Webber, at the time a rising star. Then the two would work to create the best Disney film they could at the time.

The final product, Thumbelina, detail the titular character (Lynda Goodfriend), a small girl who is literally the size of a thumb. During her journey she encounters many love interests like the show-man Bradley Bettle (Daws Butler), who puts her in a spotlight as a signer. However, he eventually begins to make her feel unsafe, and she flees. However, she soon also meets a toad mother who wants to keep her around as a bride for her son. This too is displeasing to Thumbelina and she ends up fleeing into the cold until she is taken in by a kind field mouse, though only after Thumbelina helped a male sparrow back to life. Again, the mouse suggest a suitor to her, this time the sensitive mole Coffeemug (Dom Deluise). While Coffeemug is kinder than other past suitors, she still does find him a good match, something is actually content with.

Meanwhile however, Bradley has found she left and trying to get her back. The toad mother agrees on a deal to find her. Then she will both marry the toad's son and sing for Bradley. As for Thumbelina herself, she finds love with the Prince of Fairies Cornelius. Though they get to know each other, Bradley and Mrs. Toad come by to get her. But the sparrow and Coffeemug come to save the day. In the end, Cornelius and Thumbelina marry, as do Coffeemug and the Field Mouse.

While acclaimed at the time and today, most WILL agree it is trumped by Don Bluth's own Banjo the Woodpile Cat (1975). Not to mention his next Webber collaboration, The Snow Queen (1977).
 
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Duke Andrew of Dank

Duke Andrew of Dank

The Adventures of Tintin film serials (1988-1995)
The Adventures of Tintin is a series of animated films that was produced by Universal from 1988 to 1994. Created when the practice of adapting Franco-Belgian comics was at the height of its popularity, this would be considered one of the most memorable examples of this trend in action. Like the comics, the story follows the title character Tintin (Christopher Daniel Barnes) and his pet Terrier Snowy (Rob Paulsen, who only speaks his thoughts). The two often end up in a serious of perilous and sometimes comedic escapades across a realistic mod-20th century world. For this film, Universal animators worked with the French Studio Elipse to create an art style based on the clean cut ligne-claire pioneered by Hergé in the original books.

The Adventures of Tintin: Cigars of the Pharaoh (1988)
Stories Adapted
Tintin in the Congo
Tintin in America
Cigars of the Pharaoh
The Blue Lotus

Voice Cast
Tintin: Christopher Daniel Barnes
Snowy: EG Daily (barks); Rob Paulsen (thoughts)
Thomson: Tom Kenny
Thompson: Jeff Bennett
Roberto Rastapopoulos: Tim Curry
Chang: Lara Jill Miller
Mitsuhirato: Hiroyuki Sanada
​
The film was released to massive commercial and financial success. Although some fans did criticize the fact that Mitsuhirato was still portrayed in a caricatured matter akin to common Asian stereotypes. Some fans were also a bit disappointed that Tintin in America did not get much focus and that it was too brief. Conversely, many were relieved that they got the events of Tintin in the Congo over with, via one brief introduction scene.

The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn (1990)
Stories Adapted
Secret of the Unicorn
Crab with the Golden Claws
Red Rackham's Treasure
The Shooting Star

Voice Cast Introduced
Captain Haddock: Jim Cummings
Professor Cuthbert Calculus: Charlie Adler
Bianca Castafiore: Carrie Fisher
Allan: Maurice LaMarche
Omar Ben Sallad: Frank Welker​

The plot proceeds similarly to OTL's novel, aside from the film series' debut of Bianca Castafiore during the adaptation of Crab with the Golden Claws. In contrast to most other incarnations of the character, Bianca is noticeably younger and far prettier. Second, the Bowhienkel character in the original version of The Shooting Star is replaced with a Brazilian robber baron named Pedro Carioca. Last but far from least, Calculus replaces the scientists originally present in The Shooting Star.

The Adventures of Tintin: The Seven Crystal Balls (1991)
Stories Adapted
The Seven Crystal Balls
Prisoners of the Sun

Voice Cast Introduced
General Alcazar: Cheech Marin
Zorino: EG Daily
Chiquito: Carlos Alazraqui
​
While this film was not considered the best in the series. It was still enjoyed by many. That said, there is a reason why Universal decided to release in the summer while Disney's Aladdin still wasn't out yet.

The Adventures of Tintin: Explorers on the Moon (1992)
Stories Adapted
King Ottokar's Scepter
Destination Moon
Explorers on the Moon
The Calculus Affair

Voice Cast Introduced
King Ottokar of Sylvdavia: Michael Bell
Frank Wolff: John Feilder
Colonel Sponsz: Ray Bucktencia
​
Thanks to the relative briefness of The Seven Crystal Ball's development, the next film would be ready sooner. It was proven to be worth it too, and was lauded by many as an excellent reconciliation of the adapted stories. While the movie trailed behind others, it was still yet another success, and many looked forward to the grand finale...

The Adventures of Tintin: The Final Chapter (1995)
Stories Adapted
Tintin in Tibet (Partially)
The Red Sea Sharks
Flight 714 to Sydney
Tintin and Alph-art

Voice Cast Introduced
Skut: Rob Paulsen
Lazlo Carredias: Will Ryan
Spalding: Tony Jay
Ivan Kanrokitoff: Jeff Bennett
Nash: Tom Kenny
Martine: Grey Delisle
​
The finale of all that happened in the serials, this film famously adapted used a script for Alph-art created by Canadian artist Yves Rodier. Being the finale to one of the first animated film serials, this was highly anticipated and acclaimed almost immediately.

OOC: Thank you @NoName for allowing me to borrow the idea of Universal adapting Tintin.
 
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OldNavy1988

The Counselor

Released on Halloween Weekend 2013 by Lionsgate

A Seltzerberg Production

Just as the title indicates, the film is centered around an inappropriate relationship between a nerdy, pimple faced 12 year old boy with Aspergers and a seductive blonde counselor with a tiny waist, wide hips and giant butt. The bulk of the story takes place at a summer camp in the middle of nowhere. The interaction between Mark and Ms Autumn is played for laughs, but the humor proved too much for audiences to handle.

Predictably, the film failed at the box office and Lionsgate filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a month after the film's debut.
 

Cryhavoc101

"Alone and Far Removed"

Released in 1977

Following his remarkable survival and recovery following the crash of the aero plane he was a passenger in after it crashed on Brush Mountain, Colorado in 1971, (he being the only survivor) Audie Murphy's second book (First printed in 1973) based on his struggles with PTSD and the impact it had on his life (and those people around him) was wildly received and praised for its brutal honesty and very meaningful given the masses of war traumatized Vietnam veterans returning from that war which was only just ending along with the social upheavals of the time it was not long before the book was turned into a film script.

The movie of the same name was highly successful and well received (with several actors, including the author, playing Audie Murphy at differing stages of his life) if not then treated as controversial by more conservative commentators at the time it and the book did much to erase the stigma and ignorance of PTSD among Americas war veterans and did much to advance societies treatment of said Vets.

While there has been 'better' made and harder hitting films regarding veterans - It was regarded as the first to successful and accurately explore the genre.

For the remaining 20 odd years of his life, he and his wife Pamela became the 'unofficial' faces of efforts to improve

Audie fell ill on a flight to France in 1998 and died several days later in a Paris Hospital.

He was buried at Arlington with full military Honors - and in the 20 years since his grave has become the most visited in the USA

His wife Pamela survived him and continued to represent Vets right up until her death in 2010

Alone and Far Removed

Alone and far removed from earthly care
The noble ruins of men lie buried here.
You were strong men, good men
Endowed with youth and much the will to live.
I hear no protest from the mute lips of the dead.
They rest; there is no more to give.

So long, my comrades,
Sleep ye where you fell upon the field.
But tread softly please
March o’er my heart with ease
March on and on,
But to God alone we kneeled.

Written by Audie Murphy
 
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Duke Andrew of Dank

Duke Andrew of Dank

Asterix the Gaul (1983)

After MGM debut its TV adaptation of The Smurfs for TV, adapting a Franco-Belgian comic became one of the newest ways to quickly make a profitable animated product. It's safe to say the Disney soon after went on a chase to find a Franco-Belgian comic to adapt. After some deep soul-searching which included losing the chance to adapt Tintin to Universal, the company chose to adapt Asterix the Gaul by the late Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. The latter was still alive and served as a key figure in its development.

The film primarily adapts Asterix the Legionary and Asterix the Gladiator. Thus essentially making it similar to OTL's 1985 film Asterix Vs. Ceasar in terms of plot. However, the superficial similarities to OTL's film end there. As Asterix (Henry Winkler) and Obleix (Dom DeLuise) go after the Roman Army to save Panacea (Gail Matthius) and Tragicomix (Mark Hamill). However, many traditional villains of their such as the Pirates come to get in their way. Eventually, they manage to confront Juluis Ceasar (Anthony Perkins) and get the couple freed again.

This film was considered decent. But ultimately eclipsed by later Disney films. Especially the start of the Disney Renaissance by Rapunzel (1987).
 
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Igeo654

Andrew Boyd said:
The Jungle Book (1968)

During the 1950s, Warner Bros. Animation made its name in animation by making comedies in both their animated films and shorts. Wether they be satire of then-current Hollywood trends, or simple gags. For this reason, many considered Chuck Jones' The Jungle Book an excellent antithesis to these ideas.

The film adapts all the Mowgili stories in Rudyard Kipling's books The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book. Mowgili is a child who ends up abandoned in the wild, and is raised by wolves who swear their lives to protect him from Shere Khan. The monstrous tiger who wants to kill him simply for being a human. Eventually, this all leads to deep conflict when he must return to living with other humans.

Voice Cast
Mowgili: Kurt Russel
Bagheera: Roddy McDowall
Baloo: Willie Rushton
Shere Khan: Vincent Price
Kaa: Mary Costa
Tabaqui: Paul Winchell
Father Wolf: Daws Butler
Mother Wolf: June Foray
Akela: Hans Conreid
Bander-Log: Mel Blanc, Don Messick, Daws Butler, and Paul Frees
​
The film received much acclaim, and to this day is still a regular on Cartoon Network's films.
​
OOC: Special thanks to @NoName for letting me borrow some of his ideas.
Click to expand...

I like to think this takes place in the same TL as my Disney's Grinch. Mainly because it inspired me to make it.
 
Aloha

Aloha

The Little Mermaid (1993) but Ariel is voiced by Halle Berry. Would sound a bit out of place I know, but the only reason I posted this was because some people seem to confuse Halle Bailey (the actress for Ariel in the upcoming Little Mermaid reboot) with Halle Berry.
 
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The Wooksta!

Moonraker (1965)

Fourth in the James Bond series (OTL, this was Thunderball), Moonraker concerns Bond's investigations into Hugo Drax, leader of a British program developing ICBMs, the main design being the eponymous Moonraker, using wartime German scientists. It turns out that Drax is actually a former SS officer (Hugo Drache) and is planning to destroy London with the missile.

So, what if they'd adapted the novel in the 1960s? It'd be closer to the book for a start and Derek Meddings designs for the missile would be interesting to say the least. If the film was followed by Thunderball, we could still have OTL's On Her Majesty's Secret Service (it was delayed as the main location was being built) but You Only Live Twice is butterflied away, along with Diamonds are Forever. Well, until they adapt them later.
 
Duke Andrew of Dank

Duke Andrew of Dank

Here's some supplementary material regarding the Webber songs of the Disney films I detailed:

Thumbelina (1973)
The first Bluth-Webber outing, this film noticeably closer to what later parodies of Disney's Silver Age would be like. This film is the most like Joseph in the sense that strong emphasis on the featured music genres. That said, a key flaw of the film's OST is that it is mostly unremarkable.

The Snow Queen (1977)
Andrew Lloyd Webber has always considered this film to be the Jesus Christ Superstar to Thumbelina's Joseph's Coat. The soundtrack is no exception, and many songs have rather noticeable similarities to ones in Superstar. Especially when you view certain songs in the context of the film.

Rapunzel (1987)
One reason this film is lumped with the Disney Renaissance, rather than the Silver Age like most other Don Bluth films, is that it features more of a Broadway feel than the previous collabs. Nonetheless, the film's soundtrack primarily takes on a rock-style similar to Webber's Starlight Express. For instance, the song "Take the Lead" as sung by Rapunzel (Catherine Cavadini) was actually recycled from a draft the StEx song Lotta Locomotion, hence the similar melodies.
 
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Mr. Groovypants

Andrew Boyd said:
Here's some supplementary material regarding the Webber songs of the Disney films I detailed:

Thumbelina (1975)
The first Bluth-Webber outing, this film noticeably closer to what later parodies of Disney's Silver Age would be like. This film is the most like Joseph in the sense that strong emphasis on the featured music genres. That said, a key flaw of the film's OST is that it is mostly unremarkable.

Rapunzel (1987)
One reason this film is lumped with the Disney Renaissance, rather than the Silver Age like most other Don Bluth films, is that it features more of a Broadway feel than the previous collabs. Nonetheless, the film's soundtrack primarily takes on a rock-style similar to Webber's Starlight Express. For instance, the song "Take the Lead" as sung by Rapunzel (Catherine Cavadini) was actually recycled from a draft the StEx song Lotta Locomotion, hence the similar melodies.
Click to expand...

Cool!
 
WILDGEESE

WILDGEESE

DAY OF THE PHONE BOOTH (Phone Box UK) 2001

Dir: Tomas Alfredson

Based on the Spanish short film 'La Cabina' from 1972.

PLOT: Following a strange Solar event, phone booths across the planet start trapping their occupants inside via their doors and killing them through suffocation.

The film starts in downtown LA as two police officers arrive at a crowd at a road junction, outside a phone booth where a young lady with her child is found trapped inside in an distressed inside. As the LAFD arrive and try to release them to no avail and the air inside running out they revert to using the 'jaws of life' which also fail. The scene continues with both occupants succumbing to suffocation. Still unable to break in, the local works department has to dig up the entire phone booth from the ground and put it on a flat bed truck for disposal. The film then follows various characters across the city of LA (Police, Fire etc) as they come to the realization of what's going on and how they fail in releasing their victims and the desperate attempts to stop them trapping themselves in the said phone booths.

An 18 plus rating was given to the film because in one scene it showed a desert pit (somewhere outside LA) over one hundred feet deep being loaded up with phone booths with their dead victims, then being covered up with top soil thus entombing them forever as a mass grave.

First two LAPD officers : Matt Damon/ Jake Gyllenhall
Firemen : Yochim Pheonix/Ben Affleck/ Casey Affleck.
Various citizens: Mark Walberg/Lou Gossett Jr/Denis Quaid/Anne Heche/Vin Diesel
 

jocay

Banned
THE LEGEND OF HERMANN (Braun Animation USA) 1965

Dir: Adi Braun

The Legend of Hermann is set during the Germanic Heroic Age (ca. 2nd C. B.C.-476 A.D.) with fantasy elements. The story follows the young Cherusker prince Hermann's involvement in a war between a tribe neighboring his own and the Roman Empire who seeks to subjugate them.
 
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