Music, Sounds, and voices: all from disney's original
The Little Mermaid movie production in
1989.
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| The original movie poster |
Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker
Produced by John Musker and Howard Ashman
Screenplay by Ron Clements and John Musker
Based on The Little Mermaid by Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen.
Cast:
Ariel - Jodi Benson
Eric - Christopher Daniel Barnes
King Triton - Kenneth Mars
Flotsam and Jetsam - Paddi Edwards
Music by Alan Menken
Narration: Nada El-Tobgy
Recorded using: MacBook Pro laptop and audacity
Version of the book: published by Ladybird Books Ltd.
Transcript:
Down in the deepest ocean, there once lived a mermaid princess called Ariel. She was the youngest daughter of King Triton, ruler of the mer-people, and she had the most beautiful singing voice in the whole of his kingdom. Her father loved her dearly but she was always getting into trouble.
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| Triton with all his daughters |
Ariel longed to be part of the human world and spent her time exploring old shipwrecks. The Sea-King feared for her safety and, thinking humans dangerous, warned her to stay away from them. But the little mermaid was certain he was wrong.
When Ariel was 16 years old, King Triton arrayed for her to sing in a magnificent concert, and mer-people from all over the kingdom to hear her. That evening Ariel was so busy exploring with her friend Flounder that she forgot all about the concert! She had found some human treasures and taken them to the surface to ask Scuttle the Seagull what they were.
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| Ariel with Flounder, and Scuttle |
King Triton was furious. "you could have been seen by one of the barbarian, by one of those humans!" he raged. "And I'm never to hear of you going to the surface again. Is that clear?"Ariel tried to protest but her father wouldn't listen. He ordered Sebastian, Ariel's music teacher, to keep an eye on her. But it wasn't an easy task!
One night Sebastian followed Ariel and Flounder to the surface to watch a Ship! On board the Crew were celebrating the birthday of a handsome young prince called Eric, and Ariel watched them in delight.
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| Prince Eric and his crew on the ship |
Soon storm clouds gathered overhead. Huge waves wrecked the ship and Eric was flung into the sea. Ariel swam quickly to his rescue and pulled him towards shore.
"No Look! He's breathing!" cried Ariel. She gazed at Eric and fell deeply in love.THen as she sang to him, his eyes began to open. But, hearing a voice in the distance, Ariel slipped back into the water and hid behind a nearby rock. She watched as Eric's servant led him away. When they were out of sight, Ariel swan home. "Someday," she vowed to herself, "I'm going to be Part of that human world."
Sebastian had seen everything, and it wasn't long before the Sea-King learnt that Ariel was in love with a human. Triton was very angry. Determined to teach his daughter a lesson, he stormed into her secret grotto and destroyed all her beloved human treasures.
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| Flotsam, Ursula, and Jetsam |
Heartbroken, Ariel sat down and wept. Above her two sly-looking eels called Flotsam and Jetsam emerged from the shadows. The little mermaid looked up. "Poor sweet child," they hissed. "Don't be scared. We represent someone who can make all your dreams come true. Ursula has great powers."
"The Sea-Witch!" gasped Ariel. She knew that Ursula was her father's worst enemy, who had been banished from his kingdom many years ago and who was now seeking revenge. Ariel hesitated. Then, thinking that it was her only chance to win Prince Eric's love, the little mermaid swam away with the evil eels-quickly followed by Flounder and Sebastian.
