Deep Dive: Howard (2018)
Film Lens
Howard is a documentary about the life of songwriter Howard Ashman, who wrote lyrics for Disney films such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. The film also covers his work on the stage musical Little Shop of Horrors and his battle with HIV/AIDS, which led to his death in 1991. The documentary uses audio interviews with visual speech bubbles instead of traditional talking heads, a technique previously used by director Don Hahn in Waking Sleeping Beauty.
The film premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival and received nominations, including for Best Documentary at the Heartland Film Festival. It features a score composed by Alan Menken, who collaborated with Ashman on various projects. Menken described the score as personal and childlike, aiming to express his feelings about Ashman. The film was released on Disney+ in August 2020 and faced removal from the platform in May 2023, sparking backlash from fans and the LGBTQ+ community.
Why Watch
- •See how Howard Ashman's lyrics shaped Disney classics.
- •Meet Alan Menken and hear his personal take on Ashman.
- •Find out about Ashman's impact on Broadway-style Disney music.
Did You Know
•Howard Ashman wrote lyrics for three major Disney films: The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin.
•The documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2018.
•The film has a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 47 reviews.
•Alan Menken composed the score during the 2017-18 Christmas season.
Perfect For
Disney fansMusical theater loversLGBTQ+ history enthusiasts