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1[[quoteright:305:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_great_movie_ride_mgm_studios_9394.jpg]]
2[[caption-width-right:305: "''A cast of thousands! A sweeping spectacle of Thrills! Chills! Romance!''"]]
3
4->''"Ready when you are,'' ''[[Creator/CecilBDeMille C.B.]]''''!"''
5
6''The Great Movie Ride'' was a dark ride that once served as the centerpiece attraction to [[Ride/DisneyThemeParks Disney's Hollywood Studios]] at Walt Disney World. Located inside a replica of the famous Hollywood Chinese Theater, the ride took guests on a journey through some of the most iconic movie moments throughout the history of the American industry, specifically from UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood to UsefulNotes/NewHollywood.
7
8In the process, riders have an encounter with a Xenomorph as well as the Wicked Witch of the West, and (depending on the ride) the vehicle at one point is even hijacked by either a western bandit (named "Kid Carson" or "Kate Durango") or a gangster (named "Mugsy")!
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10The ride was an opening day attraction at the park, which opened on May 1, 1989.
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12The attraction received very little alterations until 2015, when it was given update with the help of a new sponsor, Creator/TurnerClassicMovies. The attraction was given a new co-narration by film historian/TCM host Robert Osborne, as well as a new preshow documentary film also narrated by Osborne (which replaced the old trailer loop) discussing the various films and genres showcased, and the attraction's closing montage was redone with TCM's help.
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14The update turned out to be short-lived, however, as after a 28-year run, the attraction was permanently closed on August 13, 2017, with its replacement being a very large-scale ride based on the current [[WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse2013 Mickey Mouse]] shorts, titled ''Ride/MickeyAndMinniesRunawayRailway'', which opened in 2020.
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16'''Below are the films that had their own scenes in the ride (in order of appearance):'''
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18* ''Film/FootlightParade''
19* ''Film/SinginInTheRain''
20* ''Film/MaryPoppins''
21* ''Film/ThePublicEnemy1931''
22* ''Film/AFistfulOfDollars'' [[note]]Notably the only non-American film to be featured in the ride, even when counting all of the films that appeared in the finale.[[/note]]
23* ''Film/TheSearchers''
24* ''Film/{{Alien}}''
25* ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk''
26* ''[[Franchise/{{Tarzan}} Tarzan the Ape Man]]''
27* ''Film/{{Casablanca}}''
28* ''WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}}''
29* ''Film/TheWizardOfOz''
30
31In addition to the scenes depicting the above films, the ride also ended on a big montage showcasing over a hundred films from Hollywood's vast history.
32----
33
34->''Lights! Camera! and… ACTION!''
35
36!!Tropes shown in ''The Great Movie Ride'' include:
37
38* AdaptationDistillation:
39** The ''Casablanca'' finale scene is greatly simplified in the ride, with all of Ilsa's dialogue removed.
40** ''The Wizard of Oz'' Munchkinland scene is also simplified in the ride, with bits of Dorothy and Glinda’s dialogue being given to the tour guide.
41* AirventPassageway: The Xenomorph pops out at the riders from one in the ''Alien'' scene.
42* AndYourLittleDogToo: The witch repeats the infamous line in the ''Wizard of Oz'' scene, though it seems a bit out-of-place due to the fact there’s no dog with the tour guide.
43* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: In visual-gag form, the attraction's original pre-2015 finale montage featured a romance section that showed a series of famous kiss scenes in movies, with the last one being a clip from ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'' of Roger and Eddie Valiant kissing.
44* ArtifactOfDeath: The ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' scene has a cursed jewel, which the hijacker attempts to steal, with predictable results (see "StrippedToTheBone" below).
45* AskAStupidQuestion: Before the 2015 script-rewrite of the attraction, there was this exchange when Mugsy hijacks the vehicle:
46-->'''Mugsy:''' Psst, hey, you.\
47'''Tour Guide:''' Are you talking to me? Are you talkin' to me?\
48'''Mugsy:''' No, I'm talkin' to da dame in da funny-lookin' outfit over dere. Yeah, I'm talkin' to you.
49* BankRobbery: Sometimes occurs in the western scene, where after a brief shootout, the bank robber bandit hijacks the ride vehicle and uses it to escape.
50* TheBigDamnKiss: The finale montage features several clips of them, including from ''Film/FromHereToEternity'' and ''Film/{{Notorious|1946}}''.
51* BloodlessCarnage: There's no bloodshed in the current version of the ride, despite there being two big shootouts.
52* BookEnds: The ride begins with the song "Hooray for Hollywood!" and also ends with it. [[note]]That's because when one set of vehicles leave, another set is entering at the same time.[[/note]]
53* {{Bowdlerise}}: Originally in the gangsterland scene, the tour guide would get shot by the hijacker and tumble down some stairs with a blood patch on their shirt (but ends up surviving later on). This was removed later on for numerous reasons, including making the ride slightly more family-friendly.
54* BreakTheBadass: The hijacker is visibly frightened once inside the ''Alien'' sequence, though he/she attempts to hide that fact.
55* BrickJoke: During the hijacking scene, the tour guide tells the riders that they'll be back after they get some popcorn. Later after the hijacker is killed, the tour guide returns, saying, "See, I told you I was just going for some popcorn!"
56* BusbyBerkeleyNumber: The attraction contained multiple tributes to the works of Busby Berkeley, particularly with the very first ride scene being of ''Film/FootlightParade''. The finale also included clips of ''Film/FortySecondStreet'' and ''Million Dollar Mermaid''.
57* CardCarryingVillain: Either hijacker definitely falls under this, as they spend a pretty solid amount of time trying to steal everything in sight, making a big deal out of it in the process.
58* TheCassandra:
59** Ethan Edwards serves this role in the western scene, warning the riders of the town they're about to enter and that they should turn back. His warnings end up falling on deaf ears.
60** When either hijacker attempts to steal the jewel, a temple guardian [[note]]that's actually the tour guide in disguise[[/note]] warns them that if they disturb the treasure of the gods, they'll pay with their life. Naturally, the hijacker doesn't listen.
61* CatScare: Occurs in-universe when the tour guide is briefly startled by a screeching cat in the gangsterland scene.
62* TheCityNarrows: The basic setting of the gangsterland scene, the tour guide even mentions how it's the "bad part of town".
63* CulturalTranslation: While the ride was discussed for premiering at Disneyland Paris' Walt Disney Studios Park, its concept was finally adapted into a stage show/movie mix called Cinémagique, where a man from the audience (Creator/MartinShort) interrupts the projection and is brought in by a magician from a silent movie. He then falls in love with one of its characters (a French actress played by Creator/JulieDelpy) but then they are forced to flee through movie sets spawning all eras of film. The reason for the change was budget issues, stage shows being more popular with French guests and the chance to feature animated characters and French film snippets.
64* DarkActionGirl: If the hijacker is played by a woman, then she falls under this, as she is able to hold her own in a gangster/bandit shootout, and keeps a gun on her at all times.
65* DarkerAndEdgier: The ''Alien'' scene most certainly falls under this, as the general mood and atmosphere as well as the Xenomorph attack makes it differ greatly from the usual Disney fare.
66* DeadpanSnarker: Mugsy is this throughout, fitting in nicely with his noir setting.
67* DemBones: There's one scene that's dedicated to the Horror genre in general that features dozens of living skeletons. They don't move very much, but it's pretty clear to tell that they're alive as their eyes are glowing red.
68* DramaticUnmask: Shortly after the hijacker gets killed, the temple guardian removes their cloak to reveal that they were the tour guide all along.
69* EasterEgg:
70** The tour guide stating, "Ready when you are, C.B.!", is not referring to the control booth as many people think, but is rather referring to the famous film director, Creator/CecilBDeMille, as there's a hidden photograph of him on a catwalk that's behind the riders.
71** In the ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' scene, if you keep your eyes locked on a wall of hieroglyphics, you'll see hieroglyphics of Mickey and Donald as well as C-3PO and R2-D2.
72** In the Western scene, there's a sign on a wall advertising "Ransom Stoddard Attorney", which directly refers to the character that Creator/JimmyStewart played in ''Film/TheManWhoShotLibertyValance''.
73** The computer screens in the ''Alien'' scene have the names of all the people who worked on the ride, though it’s near-impossible to see it while the ride vehicle is moving.
74** Also in the ''Alien'' scene is a status monitor, which if you scan to about the middle of the message you'll see a message saying "Walt Disney World welcomes all aliens currently residing on board this ship" and then another message saying, "Estimated time till next special effects failure: 45.8 years".
75* EmergingFromTheShadows: In his/her first appearance, Mugsy at first appears in the shadows, but then reveals him/herself after he/she gets the attention of the tour guide.
76* EvilIsHammy: Mugsy is about as over-the-top as gangsters come. His/her jersey accent certainly doesn’t help.
77* EvilIsPetty: Before leaving the gangsterland scene, Mugsy shoots out a red traffic light.
78* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: It's a ride about great movies.
79* ExactTimeToFailure: In the ''Alien'' scene, taken straight from the film, is the mother computer announcing that the Nostromo ship will detonate in ten minutes.
80* FamilyUnfriendlyDeath: The gangster/cowboy hijacker gets one when they attempt to steal a cursed jewel (see "StrippedToTheBone" example below).
81* {{Foreshadowing}}: Before the 2015 update, the video in the queue line would play the trailers of most of the movies that have scenes in the ride. Now, it plays documentaries on the movies that appear in the ride and their respective genres.
82* TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou: Halfway through your friendly tour guide goes off to investigate something, resulting in the tour getting hijacked by a far less benevolent movie character—depending on which ride vehicle you're in, it's either a gangster or a bandit.
83* FromBadToWorse: After being stuck in the middle of two violent battles in the gangster and western scenes, the ride vehicles end up right in the middle of Nostromo just as the Xenomorph is about to attack. AND it's self-destruct sequence is activated.
84* FiringOneHanded: Either hijacker will do this during their respective shootout scenes.
85* GenderBlenderName: The gangster hijacker is named "Mugsy", which is used regardless of if a boy or a girl is playing the role. However, if it's a female, she'll claim it's spelled Mugsi.
86* GenreSavvy: Robert Osborne, being a major film historian, of course is this, which he demonstrates when he says that he knows enough about movies to know that [[Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk you really shouldn't steal]] [[KarmicDeath a priceless jewel.]]
87* GenreRoulette: The ride goes into films of all genres, including drama, romance, and horror. But since this is a ride all about the legacy of film, it's justified.
88* GoryDiscretionShot: A cloud of smoke surrounds either hijacker once they touch the cursed jewel, hiding the process of them getting roasted into a skeleton.
89* GraveRobbing: The hijacker attempts this once inside the ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' scene. [[KarmicDeath It doesn't end too well for him/her.]]
90* HappyRain: The ''Singin' in the Rain'' scene is where this obviously occurs, with the most iconic part of the movie being recreated.
91* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: During the shootout in the gangsterland scene, the rival gang is unable to hit Mugsy despite the fact that he/she's very much out in the open.
92* ImpliedDeathThreat: When the hijacker gets out of the vehicle to steal the cursed jewel, he/she says to the guests, "Don't none of yas move while I get the goods. I don't think they'd notice a few extra bodies around here, if ya know what I mean…"
93* IndyPloy: What does the hijacker do when he/she is driving a vehicle with a boatload of people through different worlds? Just keeps cruising and hopes something interesting will pop up.
94* INeverToldYouMyName: Mugsy says this when the tour guide says his/her name, the explanation being that the tour guide had already "seen this movie before".
95* InteractiveNarrator: The ride gains a narrator after the hijacking scene, who briefly interacts with the hijacker in the ''Alien'' scene by answering their question of "What is this?" And after the narrator mentions that the alien is waiting to claim its next victim, the hijacker responds, "Hey, I ain’t no victim!"
96* IntercontinuityCrossover: The western scene has both [[Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly The Man With No Name]] and [[Film/TheSearchers Ethan Edwards]] together.
97* InTheHood: The tour guide wears a hood that completely covers their face when disguised as a temple guardian.
98* ISeeDeadPeople: The tour guide quotes this during the scene with the living skeletons, mostly as a shout-out to the [[Film/TheSixthSense trope-namer]].
99* ItsQuietTooQuiet: The general mood of the ''Alien'' scene starts off as this, but then the self-destruct alarm sounds and out goes the alien…
100* {{Joisey}}: Upon first seeing the western town, Mugsy says, "What is THIS? Jersey!?"
101* JumpScare: The sounds of the gunshots and the Xenomorph’s appearances have a tendency to catch first-time riders off-guard.
102** And even experienced riders can get startled when one iteration of the bandit hijacking involves a building going up in flames, right next to the tram car.
103* KarmicDeath: Either hijacker getting killed when they try to steal the cursed jewel, as the ride makes it pretty clear that they just love stealing things.
104* LetsGetOutOfHere: Mugsy says in the middle of the western shootout, obviously seeing how crazy things are getting.
105* LoopholeAbuse: When Mugsy is faced with a red traffic light:
106-->'''Mugsy:''' Runnin' a red light's against the law, and I never break the law! Watch this!\
107''(shoots out red light)''\
108'''Mugsy:''' No more red light!
109* MasterActor: The tour guide is revealed to be one during his/her stint as a temple guardian, where they're able to make their voice and mannerisms completely different.
110* MeaningfulName: A gangster being called "'''mug'''sy" sure seems rather fitting.
111* MistakenIdentity: If Mugsy is the one who hijacks the vehicle, a sheriff will mistake him/her as a bank robber in the western scene.
112* MobWar: The shootout in the gangsterland scene occurs between two rival gangs.
113* MoodWhiplash:
114** With the different amount of films in the ride, it's to be expected. You go from ''Singin' in the Rain'' to ''Alien'' to ''Casablanca'' to ''The Wizard of Oz'' with little transition.
115** The pre-2015 queue line video of film trailers has an almost-hilarious instance of this when it jumps immediately from the ''Fantasia'' trailer to the ''Alien'' trailer.
116* NoHonorAmongThieves: At the end of gangsterland scene, Mugsy abandons his/her crew, showing no signs of remorse whilst doing it.
117* NotInKansasAnymore: The tour guide appropriately quotes this upon arriving in ''The Wizard of Oz'' scene.
118* OnSecondThought: When Mugsy makes the tour guide get out of the vehicle, he/she then tells him/her to scram. He/she refuses at first, but then says this upon seeing that a gang fight is about to break out.
119* OutlawTown: The main setting of the western scene. Even Ethan Edwards attempts to warn the riders not to go in there.
120* ParentalBonus: This ride is filled to the brink with references to old movies that parents are likely to appreciate.
121* RedEyesTakeWarning: The living skeletons in the horror scene have rather menacing glowing red eyes.
122* ReferenceOverdosed: ''Big time''. We could list all of the movies that are shown in the finale montage of the ride, but it would overwhelm the page pretty quickly. The 2015 update added in even ''more'' movie references by making the queue line video into a documentary that talks about all kinds of films from various genres and filling the queue line itself up with digital movie posters that constantly change every few seconds, showcasing posters for films like ''Film/TheExorcist'', ''Film/{{JAWS}}'', ''Film/FerrisBuellersDayOff'', ''Film/CitizenKane'', ''Film/PulpFiction'', ''Film/{{Titanic|1997}}'', and so on.
123* RuleOfScary: After the Xenomorph first pops out at the riders from the ceiling, it is then somehow able to quickly make it down and pop out again from the side.
124* ScrewThisImOutOfHere: Mugsy is quick to take the ride vehicle out of the gangsterland scene upon getting the opportunity, even shooting down a red light along the way.
125** The 2015 version has the Robert Osborne voiceover excusing himself to the concession stand when the cowboy/gangster hijack starts.
126* SelfDisposingVillain: As previously mentioned, either hijacker will off themselves when they attempt to steal the cursed jewel.
127* StrippedToTheBone: The fate of the hijacker after they attempt to steal a cursed jewel in the ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' scene. The second they touch it, they're surrounded by a cloud of smoke, which then dissipates, leaving behind nothing but a skeleton.
128* StuffBlowingUp: If a bandit is the hijacker, the resulting fight they get into ends with the inside of a bank blowing up.
129* {{Tagline}}: The ride now flip-flops between two: "A spectacular journey ''into'' the movies!" and "The ultimate celebration of classic movies."
130* TermsOfEndangerment: If the tour guide is female, Mugsy will refer to her as "sweetheart" upon first addressing her.
131* TempleOfDoom: The ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' scene is set inside one, with cursed artifacts and deadly snakes everywhere.
132* TemptingFate: This happens with the hijacker twice.
133** After narrowly making it through the fights in the gangsterland and western scenes, the hijacker remarks, "Well, look at it this way, it can’t get any worse!" Cue the ''Alien'' sequence immediately after they say that.
134** After the ''Alien'' scene, the hijacker says, "All right, I think that's enough creepy crawly things for one day right?" Cue the snakes in the ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' scene.
135* ThisWayToCertainDeath: The tomb with the cursed jewel has several skeletons lying around, which the hijacker makes brief mention of, but ignores regardless.
136* TitleDrop: Right towards the beginning of the ride the tour guide flat-out says "Hello everyone, welcome to ''The Great Movie Ride''!"
137* TooDumbToLive: As mentioned earlier, the hijacker touching the cursed jewel right after the temple guardian told him/her that disturbing it would lead to fatal consequences.
138* UpdatedRerelease:
139** The finale montage has been changed several times throughout the ride’s history.
140** For the 2015 version, the montage has been almost entirely redone, along with the ride receiving a new pre-show film, narration, and changing posters in its queue line.
141* VineSwing: Done in the ''Tarzan the Ape Man'' scene by the TropeCodifier himself.
142* VoiceChangeling: While the tour guide is disguised as a temple guardian, they make their voice sound exactly like how you'd expect one to sound (a deep, booming voice). It's even stranger when the tour guide is played by a woman.
143* WaitHere: This is said to the riders twice in the ride, first by the tour guide during the hijacking scene and then later by the hijacker when they're going to get the cursed jewel. In both cases, it doesn't turn out so well for either people.
144* WantedPoster: There's a few of them adorning the buildings in the Wild West scene, one of them being for Film/ButchCassidyAndTheSundanceKid.
145* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: The hijacker quotes this directly upon seeing some in the ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' scene.
146* TheWildWest: The western scene puts emphasis on the "Wild" aspect with the shooting bandits.
147* YouTalkinToMe: Before the 2015 update, the tour guide would say this in response to when a gangster first addresses them, though there’s no gun or mirror involved.
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