14 Dark Behind-The-Scene Secrets From Iconic Children's Movies

Most of us grow up under the influence of children's media juggernauts of Disney, Dreamwork, and Studio Ghibli. These companies are responsible for classics in our childhood like Shrek, Anastasia, Princess Mononoke, and everything Disney.
In other words, inoffensive, PG-13, non-threatening materials. Our parents would have us over their knees for a spanking if we dare watching anything more offensive.
Innocuous as they seem, it’s not all sunshine and rainbow behind the scene. Some children's Movies.are darker than any horror movie franchise.
For every bit of beautiful storytelling and images, you see on screen, there could be some dark things lurking in the background. And not because of the stories or the animations. Not in the least. During the production stage, some children's movies have scary, creepy, and even downright horrifying secrets in their closets.
From deaths to sexual assault, abuse, and addiction, these 14 are the not-so-kid-friendly secrets from children's movies.

#1 The Wizard of Oz

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Do you remember the "snow" from The Wizard of Oz? That was entirely authentic asbestos.

#2 The Wizard of Oz

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There have been multiple reports that Judy Garland, who was 17 at the time, was subjected to abuse on the set of The Wizard of Oz. Because the filmmakers wanted her to look younger and smaller, she was reportedly put on stringent diets and made to bind her chest.
Furthermore, her ex-husband, Sid Luft, claimed in his posthumous biography that Garland was abused by the actors who portrayed the Munchkins. "They'd make Judy's life on set unpleasant by placing their hands beneath her dress... The males were all over 40 years old." He wrote.

#3 The Wizard of Oz

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Buddy Ebsen was cast as the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz but was replaced when he became ill. The actor became ill as a result of the makeup, which was comprised entirely of aluminum dust.

Source: MGM / Everett Collection

Jack Haley was replaced in the role. Instead of putting the metal straight into Haley's skin, the makeup artists mixed it into a paste, which they then painted on his face.

#4 The Land Before Time

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In 1988, Judith Barsi, who played Ducky in The Land Before Time, was murdered by her own father. She was just ten years old.

Source: NBC

Her father, Jozsef Barsi, shot her first, followed by her mother, Maria. He later turned the pistol on himself. Prior to her untimely death, the young actress was reportedly abused by her father, who repeatedly threatened to murder her and her mother. The abuse was investigated by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, but no further action was taken.

#5 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Source: Paramount Pictures

The tunnel sequence in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) is not just uncomfortable to watch; it was also supposedly scary to film.

Source: Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

Wonka leads a boatload of youngsters into a dark tunnel, where things get...interesting. What made it so horrifying for the actors? According to Julie Dawn Cole (who portrayed Veruca Salt), none of them were aware of the sequence beforehand and believed they were in serious danger. That was genuine terror!

#6 Pee-wee's Big Adventure

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Phil Hartman, who co-wrote the film Pee-Big wee's Adventure, was shot and died in a murder-suicide in 1998 by his wife, Brynn Omdahl. He was 49 years old at the time of his murder.

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Brynn fled the area after shooting Hartman three times and drove to two different friends' houses to confess. She then went back to her house with a friend, who phoned the police. Brynn shot herself to death before the cops arrived.

#7 Twilight Zone: The Movie

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In 1982, three people were murdered during filming a helicopter sequence for Twilight Zone: The Movie, including two small children.

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A helicopter bombing was meant to be depicted in the scenario. When the plane caught fire, the pilot was forced to crash land in a river where the actors were filming. Renee Chen, 6, was crushed to death by the right landing skid. The chopper blade then ripped through Myca Dinh Le, 7, and Vic Morrow, 53, decapitating them both.
The event prompted the film industry to implement stricter safety regulations. For starters, on-set ambulances were made necessary, insurance companies were kept informed of every incident, and risk managers were engaged.

#8 Lilo & Stitch

Source: Disney

Originally, Stitch hijacks a Boeing 747 airplane and crashes it through a building to save Lilo in the original version of Lilo & Stitch (2002). Disney went back and rewrote the segment totally after 9/11, afraid it would be too close to the actual events.
Instead, the scenario was replaced by a spaceship being kidnapped and falling into the mountains.

#9 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Source: Warner Bros.

Robert Knox, who played Marcus Belby in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, was stabbed to death just days after the production wrapped. He was 18 years old at the time of his murder.
While attempting to defend his younger brother, the actor was tragically stabbed by Karl Bishop. Bishop was then condemned to life in prison.

#10 The Santa Clause

Source: Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

The original version of the iconic Christmas film The Santa Clause was MUCH darker. Tim Allen's character supposedly planned to shoot Santa to death at first.

Source: Buena Vista Pictures /Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

"The original Santa Clause is a little darker, written by two comedians, and I really shot and murdered Santa," Allen recounted to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show.

#11 Mary Poppins

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Matthew Garber, best remembered for his role as Michael in Mary Poppins, died in 1977 of hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis caused by hepatitis complications. He was only 21 years old when he died.

#12 Our Gang

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Carl Dean Switzer, the original Alfalfa actor who played in Our Gang, the basis for The Little Rascals, was assassinated in 1959.

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The actor was assassinated by a buddy after a money dispute. Switzer was said to owe the acquaintance $50 and had failed to pay it. At the time of his death, he was 31 years old.
Ranft and his companion Elegba Earl were murdered after their automobile slid off Highway 1 and plummeted 130 feet into the water at the Navarro River's mouth. Ranft was 45 years old when he died, and Earl was 32. A third passenger in the vehicle escaped unharmed.

#13 Peter Pan

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At the age of 31, Bobby Driscoll, who portrayed Peter Pan in Disney's animated Peter Pan, was discovered dead. Despite having been a household name as a kid, he wasn’t ID-ed, and his own mother didn't learn of his death until a year and a half later.

Source: Everett Collection

Driscoll died as a result of his recurrent use of heroin and other strong narcotics. Prior to his death, the actor had been arrested for narcotics possession, violence, burglary, and a check to kite. "I had everything," he stated after being sentenced to jail in an interview. "Was making $50,000 per year...consistently working with nice components. Then I began investing all of my spare time on my arm."

#14 Cars

Source: Walt Disney Co. / courtesy Everett Collection

Joe Ranft, a Pixar story supervisor, died in an automobile accident while working on the film Cars.

Source: Walt Disney Co. / Courtesy Everett Collection

Ranft and his companion Elegba Earl were murdered after their automobile slid off Highway 1 and plummeted 130 feet into the water at the Navarro River's mouth. Ranft was 45 years old when he died, and Earl was 32. A third passenger in the vehicle escaped unharmed.