Peter Ellenshaw Filmography

Dick Tracy

Crew: Matte Artist

Actors: Warren Beatty, Charlie Korsmo, Glenne Headly, Madonna, Al Pacino

Synopsis: Warren Beatty directed and starred in this big-budget action comedy featuring Chester Gould's square-jawed, two-dimensional comic strip detective. Ruthless gangster Big Boy Caprice (Al Pacino) touches off a gang war against underworld boss Lips Manlis (Paul Sorvino), with Big Boy and his minions Read More

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace

Crew: Matte Painting Supervisor

Actors: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Jackie Cooper, Marc McClure, Mariel Hemingway, Jon Cryer

Synopsis: Superman (Christopher Reeve) tries to save the world from nuclear destruction at the hands of Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) in this action film featuring the man of steel. In a speech to the United Nations, Superman declares he will rid the world of all nuclear weapons. Arch-villain Luthor emerges Read More

The Black Hole

Crew: Production Designer, Visual Effects

Actors: Maximilian Schell, Anthony Perkins, Robert Forster, Joseph Bottoms, Yvette Mimieux

Synopsis: An ambitious sci-fier from the Disney folks, The Black Hole takes place in the future. A quintet of space travelers stumble across a "black hole." Not wishing to be sucked into the void, the crew prepares to flee, but stops long enough to investigate a mysterious space vessel near the entrance of Read More

The Island at the Top of the World

Crew: Art Director

Actors: Niels Hinrichsen, Gunnar Ohlund, Erik Silju, Rolf Soder, David Hartman, Donald Sinden, Jacques Marin, Mako, David Gwillim

Synopsis: This Disney family adventure, directed by Robert Stevenson in his Jules Verne mode, concern a group of explorers who travel to the Arctic Circle in 1908 to explore the uncharted wastes of the North Pole. Sir Anthony Ross (Donald Sinden), a rich Londoner, organizes an Arctic exploration team in Read More

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

Crew: Art Director

Actors: Ian Weighall, Angela Lansbury, David Tomlinson, Roddy McDowall, Sam Jaffe, John Ericson

Synopsis: Bedknobs and Broomsticks was produced several years after Walt Disney's death and released in the fall of 1971. As it turned out, Bedknobs was frequently compared to Mary Poppins -- probably thanks to several striking similarities between the two productions, notably the presence in the cast of David Tomlinson Read More

The Love Bug

Crew: Special Effects

Actors: Dean Jones, Michele Lee, David Tomlinson, Buddy Hackett, Joe Flynn

Synopsis: Those who worried that the Disney studio would collapse without the presence of the late Uncle Walt were put at ease when the profits starting rolling in for The Love Bug. The "star" is Herbie, a lovable little Volkswagen with a personality all its own. Abused by a bad guy race-car driver (David Tomlinson Read More

Blackbeard's Ghost

Crew: Art Director

Actors: Peter Ustinov, Dean Jones, Suzanne Pleshette, Elsa Lanchester, Joby Baker

Synopsis: Blackbeard's Ghost was one of the first Disney productions released after Walt's death. Peter Ustinov stars as the eponymous wraith, who returns to Earth to come to aid of his descendant, elderly Elsa Lanchester. The villains want to kick Lanchester and her friends out of their group home so that Read More

The Happiest Millionaire

Crew: Special Effects

Actors: Fred MacMurray, Tommy Steele, Greer Garson, Geraldine Page, Gladys Cooper

Synopsis: Adapted from the book and play of the same name, The Happiest Millionaire is the (mostly) true story of eccentric Philadelphia millionaire Anthony J. Drexel Biddle (Fred MacMurray). The Biddle mansion is the gathering place for a pugilistic boxing class, pet alligators and would-be opera singers. Read More

Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.

Crew: Special Effects

Actors: Dick Van Dyke, Nancy Kwan, Akim Tamiroff, Arthur Malet, Tyler McVey

Synopsis: Dick Van Dyke stars as U.S. Navy pilot Lieutenant Robinson Crusoe in one of Disney's weakest comedies. Like in the Daniel Defoe story, Crusoe finds himself alone on a deserted island, but this time he arrives there after ejecting from his disabled plane on a mission in the South Pacific. He Read More

The Fighting Prince of Donegal

Crew: Special Effects

Actors: Peter McEnery, Susan Hampshire, Tom Adams, Gordon Jackson, Andrew Keir

Synopsis: During the 16th century, it was prophesied that "When Hugh succeeds Hugh, Ireland shall be free." Hugh was the Prince of Donegal and his son Red Hugh, his successor. This lush and lively Disney adventure chronicles the young man's tumultuous ascension to the throne and his attempts to unite the Read More

Son of Flubber

Crew: Special Effects

Actors: Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk

Synopsis: Son of Flubber represented the first time that Walt Disney ever attempted a theatrical feature sequel: in this case, the earlier film was the 1961 moneyspinner The Absent-Minded Professor. While Flubber is more formula-bound than Professor, it proved an instant audience-pleaser, and a hit to the Read More

Summer Magic

Crew: Special Effects

Actors: Hayley Mills, Burl Ives, Dorothy McGuire, Deborah Walley, Eddie Hodges

Synopsis: A young widow from Boston travels with her three children to Maine to enjoy their summer vacation. Margaret Carey (Dorothy McGuire) is helped by the friendly Osh Popham (Burl Ives), who finds the family a rent-free house vacated by a vacationing landowner. Daughter Nancy (Hayley Mills) catches the Read More

In Search of the Castaways

Crew: Special Effects

Actors: Maurice Chevalier, Hayley Mills, George Sanders, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Michael Anderson, Jr.

Synopsis: Based on Jules Verne's novel Captain Grant's Children, In Search of the Castaways is a roller-coaster of a Disney film, making up in excitement what it lacks in credibility or coherence. Hayley Mills and Keith Hamshere play the children of long-missing ship's captain Jack Gwillim. By chance, a Read More

The Absent-Minded Professor

Crew: Special Effects

Actors: Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk, Leon Ames

Synopsis: One of Disney's most entertaining forays into live-action, this hit family comedy stars Fred MacMurray as a college professor so forgetful that he missed his own wedding twice. He creates an extremely resilient flying rubber, dubbed "Flubber," and manages to make his old Model-T bounce all the way Read More

Walt Disney Presents: Zorro: El Bandido

Crew: Matte Artist

Synopsis: In the first episode of a two-part Zorro adventure, dashing Mexican bandit leader El Cuchillo (Gilbert Roland) and his gang are diverted from robbing a stagecoach by alluring señorita Chulita (Rita Moreno). Changing his plans, El Cuchillo decides to hide out in the pueblo of Los Angeles to steal a Read More

The Swiss Family Robinson

Crew: Matte Artist

Actors: John Mills, Dorothy McGuire, James MacArthur, Janet Munro, Sessue Hayakawa

Synopsis: None of the many cinemadaptations of Johan Wyss' The Swiss Family Robinson are as relentlessly enjoyable as this 1960 Disney feature. The film wastes no time getting down to business, with the shipwreck of the Robinson family occurring as the credits flash across the screen. Fashioning a raft Read More

Walt Disney Presents: Zorro: Adios El Cuhillo

Crew: Matte Artist

Synopsis: In the concluding episode of a two-part Zorro adventure, bandit leader El Cuhillo (Gilbert Roland) has been thwarted in his plans to rob Los Angeles' warehouse by dashing masked do-gooder Zorro (Guy Williams). Somewhat playfully, Zorro's alter ego, Don Diego, keeps tabs on the incognito El Cuhillo Read More

Walt Disney Presents: Daniel Boone: And Chase the Buffalo

Crew: Matte Artist

Synopsis: In the second episode of Walt Disney's four-part miniseries based on the life of frontiersman Daniel Boone, it has been 12 years since Daniel (Dewey Martin) and his wife Rebecca (Mala Powers) first journeyed from North Carolina to Kentucky. Now that he has children to raise and a larger farm to Read More

Kidnapped

Crew: Special Effects

Actors: Peter Finch, James MacArthur, Bernard Lee, Niall MacGinnis, John Laurie

Synopsis: Disney produced this historical adventure of old Scotland, based on the classic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. James MacArthur stars as David Balfour, a wealthy lad cheated out of his inheritance and sold into servitude by his duplicitous and greedy uncle, Ebenezer (John Laurie). Aboard the ship Read More

Walt Disney Presents: Daniel Boone: The Warrior's Path

Crew: Matte Artist

Synopsis: In the first episode of Walt Disney's four-part miniseries based on the life of frontiersman Daniel Boone, a fast-talking salesman convinces Daniel (Dewey Martin), a North Carolina farmer, to pull up stakes and move to the "promised land" of Kentucky. Daniel, his wife Rebecca (Mala Powers), and Read More

Walt Disney Presents: Perilous Assignment

Crew: Matte Artist

Actors: Gaston Rebufatt, Michael Rennie, James MacArthur, Janet Munro, James Donald

Synopsis: Promoted as an in-depth study of the art of mountain climbing, this episode of Walt Disney Presents is actually an extended advertisement for the upcoming Disney theatrical feature Third Man on the Mountain. Although the stars of that film (including James MacArthur and Michael Rennie), the real Read More

Toby Tyler

Crew: Matte Artist

Actors: Kevin Corcoran, Henry Calvin, Gene Sheldon, Bob Sweeney, Richard Eastham

Synopsis: Child star Kevin "Moochie" Cocoran shares his top billing with a chimp, Mr. Stubbs, in this story about a forlorn lad who runs away from his foster parents believing he is unloved. Little Toby and his pet chimp leave home and end up at the circus as an oily yet comic Harry Tupper (Bob Sweeney), in Read More

Darby O'Gill and the Little People

Crew: Special Effects

Actors: Albert Sharpe, Janet Munro, Sean Connery, Jimmy O'Dea, Kieron Moore

Synopsis: Baby boomers who may not remember the plot particulars of Walt Disney's Darby O'Gill and the Little People nonetheless retain fond memories of Disney's publicity campaign, which included an episode of the producer's weekly TV series, wherein the actor playing leprechaun king Brian (Jimmy O'Dea) Read More

Perri

Crew: Special Effects

Johnny Tremain

Crew: Production Designer

Actors: Hal Stalmaster, Luana Patten, Jeff York, Sebastian Cabot, Richard Beymer

Synopsis: This Walt Disney filmization of Esther Forbes' Revolutionary-War novel Johnny Tremain was appropriately released on July 4, 1957. New Disney discovery Hal Stalmaster plays the title character, an apprentice silversmith in 1773 Boston. An on-the-job injury prevents Johnny from finding a job, but he Read More

Disneyland: A Tribute to Joel Chandler Harris

Crew: Matte Artist

Synopsis: Timed to coincide with the 1956 reissue of Walt Disney's 1948 theatrical feature Song of the South, this episode of Disneyland offers a dramatization of the early life of "Uncle Remus" creator Joel Chandler Harris. Played by David Stollery, best known as Marty Markham in the Mickey Mouse Club Read More

Disneyland: Behind the Scenes with Fess Parker

Crew: Matte Artist

Synopsis: This episode of the ABC anthology Disneyland is an extended promo for Walt Disney's then-upcoming theatrical feature The Great Locomotive Chase. Narrated by the film's star Fess Parker, the episode offers a thumbnail history of railroads in the United States with stopovers at trainyards in Read More

Disneyland: Along the Oregon Trail

Crew: Matte Artist

Actors: Fess Parker, Jeff York, Sebastian Cabot, Iron Eyes Cody, Kathleen Crowley

Synopsis: This Disneyland episode served to promote the upcoming theatrical feature Westward Ho the Wagons, with that film's star, Fess Parker, acting as narrator. After a brief segment in which host Walt Disney relates the history of the Oregon Trail (the pioneer route from Kansas City to the Pacific Read More

Disneyland: Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race

Crew: Matte Artist

Synopsis: Wisely cashing in on the enormous (and largely unexpected) success of his 1954 Davy Crockett TV miniseries, Walt Disney whipped up a spinoff for the 1955-56 season of his weekly Disneyland anthology. Since frontiersman Davy Crockett (Fess Parker) and his pal George Russel (Buddy Ebsen) were killed Read More

Disneyland: Davy Crockett and the River Pirates

Crew: Matte Artist

Synopsis: In the second episode of Walt Disney's two-part miniseries The Legends of Davy Crockett, frontiersman Davy Crockett (Fess Parker) and his pals Georgie Russell (Buddy Ebsen) and Mike Fink (Jeff York) try to clear the names of Davy's Indian friends, who have been accused of piracy on the Ohio River. Read More

Disneyland: Davy Crockett at the Alamo

Crew: Matte Artist

Synopsis: The jewel in the crown of the TV anthology Disneyland's first season was the phenominally successful three-part miniseries Davy Crockett, an entertaining mixture of fact and legend surrounding fabled frontiersman Davy Crockett (Fess Parker). All three episodes were originally introduced with Read More

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Crew: Matte Artist

Actors: Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas, Peter Lorre, Robert J. Wilke

Synopsis: This 1954 Disney version of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea represented the studio's costliest and most elaborate American-filmed effort to date. Kirk Douglas plays a trouble-shooting 19th century seaman, trying to discover why so many whaling ships have been disappearing of late. Read More

The Sword and the Rose

Crew: Matte Artist

Actors: Richard Todd, Glynis Johns, Michael Gough, Jane Barrett

Synopsis: The second of Disney's British-produced "historicals" (the first was Robin Hood, the last was Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue), The Sword and the Rose eschews historical accuracy in favor of wall-to-wall adventure and eye-filling pageantry. The film takes place in the court of King Henry VIII (James Robertson Justice Read More

The Story of Robin Hood

Crew: Matte Artist

Actors: Richard Todd, Joan Rice, Peter Finch, James Hayter, James Robertson Justice, Martita Hunt

Synopsis: Better known as The Story of Robin Hood, this colorful costume adventure was the second made-in-Britain production for Hollywood's Walt Disney. Avoiding the familiar episodes covered in previous "Robin Hood" films, this Disney effort still manages to adhere to the basic chronology. Richard Todd Read More

Treasure Island

Crew: Art Director

Actors: Bobby Driscoll, Robert Newton, Basil Sydney, Walter Fitzgerald, Denis O'Dea

Synopsis: The Walt Disney production of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic novel Treasure Island is one of the company's best live-action films of the '50s, and one of the best family-oriented adventures ever filmed. Bobby Driscoll plays Jim Hawkins, a young cabin boy who battles the pirate Long John Silver Read More

The Man Who Could Work Miracles

Crew: Matte Artist

Actors: Roland Young, Joan Gardner, Ralph Richardson, Ernst Thesiger, Robert Cochran

Synopsis: As a result of a discussion between a trio of gods over the true worthiness of Earth, a retiring British shop assistant is granted miraculous powers in this fantasy based on an H.G. Wells story. Roland Young stars as George McWhirter Fotheringay, whose new powers are virtually limitless; choosing Read More