Tower of Terror (film)

:This article is about the film adaptation of the Disney Parks Tower of Terror attraction. For the fictional Twilight Zone episode the attraction takes place in, see Tower of Terror (episode).
Tower of Terror is a 1997 television film, directed by D.J. MacHale. It is based on the theme park attraction The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, where some of the scenes were shot and was originally a presentation of The Wonderful World of Disney. Unlike the ride, it has no connection to any incarnation of The Twilight Zone.
==Plot==
Buzzy Crocker is a down-on-his-luck newspaper editor whom, after being fired at the Los Angeles Banner for publishing a news story which turned out to be fake, now contributes for a supermarket tabloid along with his niece, Anna. His "reports" attracted the attention of a 68 year old woman named Abigail Gregory, who was witness to an incident in Halloween 1939, when five hotel guests, namely singer Carolyn Crosson, her boyfriend Gilbert London, child actress Sally Shine, her nanny, Emeline Partridge, and bellhop Dewey Todd,Dewey Todd appears in D.J. MacHale's 2003 novel, The Never War, book 3 of his series The Pendragon Adventure. The Manhattan Tower Hotel is also a major setting, the sister to the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Additionally, in The Pilgrims of Rayne, Dewey is reported missing as he was in an elevator in the Hollywood Tower Hotel the moment it was struck by lightning. were killed in an elevator while they were on their way to a party at the Tip Top Club located at the Hollywood Tower Hotel.
Abigail claims that Emeline Partridge was behind the incident, sending the four passengers to their deaths out of annoyance over Sally's spoiled attitude; it however backfired, trapping them as ghosts inside the hotel. She then explains that the spell can be reversed once the elevator is repaired, and items belonging to the passengers are found, repeating what the guests did on Halloween. They then enlist the help of Chris "Q" Todd, a car mechanic and Dewey's grandson, who, despite being initially reluctant, volunteers to help his deceased grandfather and the four other guests. As Buzzy and Anna venture into the abandoned hotel, they met an actress named Claire Poulet, who asked if they needed an actress to play as Emeline in Buzzy's newspaper article. Buzzy vainly tries to develop a relationship with Claire, to which the latter also expresses her feelings. Fearing an intrusion, the ghosts then attempt to ward off Buzzy and Anna. The latter pleads for her life, offering help for them to move on.
After an argument between Dewey, Gilbert and Sally, Carolyn reappears, revealing she was the same "Claire Poulet" whom Buzzy talked to previously. In an outburst Anna blamed Emeline for the guests' deaths. Shocked and dismayed at being put to blame, Emeline proves her innocence, to which the other ghosts agree.Emeline Partridge: I don't know where you came up with such a fairy story, lass, but I couldn't love Sally more if she were me own daughter. I protected her in life, and I'll continue until I get her back safe with her parents. Jill then reveals Abigail's real intentions: Abigail was the one responsible for the disappearance of the hotel guests on the elevator, including Sally Gregory,Since Abigail had been in the sanitarium one year after Sally's disappearance, she has never been married to anyone, so it is indirectly revealed that her real name is Sally Gregory. out of personal vendetta and jealousy against her booming career. Buzzy then realizes that what they did actually gave Abigail the means to complete her spell. The team then rushes back to the hotel, but they are too late.
Meanwhile, the ghosts board the elevator. Anna rushes in as well, trying to keep them from boarding. Sally manages to run out, joining the living, but Anna gets trapped as the passenger elevator moves up. They then confront Abigail, who then tearfully admits her wrongdoing.Abigail Gregory: I made her [Sally] a legend! And now she is everywhere. Haunting me for 60 years. But not anymore. Meanwhile, the elevator continues to move up, only to once again get stuck on the eleventh floor, with only minutes left before history repeats itself. Sally, wondering what the commotion was about, joins the group, and Abigail gets frightened. Sally reveals that the whole party was meant to be a surprise birthday for Abigail all along, and apologizes for not being able to get to the party. Sally even kept the present she wanted to give to Abigail, a bracelet with their names on it. Abby, Buzzy, Jill, Q, and Sally then board the service elevator, catching up with the others on the eleventh floor. Anna manages to escape from an emergency escape hatch, rejoining Buzzy and the others in their elevator. At exactly 8:05pm, the lightning strikes the hotel again, and both elevators plummet downwards. Amidst the chaos, Sally forgives Abigail, and as they hold hands, they both turn into a shower of gold dust, breaking the curse and stopping both elevators just as they were about to hit the ground floor.
The groups are saved, and they all go to the Tip-Top Club on the top floor, restored to its former glory. One by one, the ghosts then ascend to Heaven, along with the other partygoers. Abigail, young once more, appears, joining once more with Sally, and thanks her for the present. They then join hands and vanish into the night, breaking the curse on the hotel. With the spell broken, the tower is re-opened to the public, with Q taking charge.
==Cast==
*Steve Guttenberg as Buzzy Crocker
*Kirsten Dunst as Anna Petterson
*Nia Peeples as Jill Perry
*Michael McShane as Chris "Q" Todd
*Amzie Strickland as Abigail Gregory
**Shira Roth as Young Abigail
*Melora Hardin as Claire Poulet/Carolyn Crosson
*Alastair Duncan as Gilbert London
*Lindsay Ridgeway as Sally Shine/Sally Gregory
*John Franklin as Dewey Todd
*Wendy Worthington as Emeline Partridge
*Lela Ivey as Patricia Petterson
*Richard Minchenberg as Dr. Daniels
*Marcus Smythe as Josh Winslow Surgeon Actor
*Don Perry as Great Grand Dude
*Michael Waltman as Reporter
*Ben Kronen as Mr. Galvao
*Bill Elliot as Bandleader
*Lynne Donahoe as Chloe
*Dean Marsico as Photographer
==New film adaptation==
A reboot of the film is reportedly in development, written by John August and produced by Jim Whitaker.
==Gallery==
1997-tour-1.jpg
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Tower of Terror ghosts.jpg|The five hotel ghosts in a promotional still
Tower of Terror 1997 Promo.jpg|Promotional still from the film
Tower of Terror VideoCover.png
==Videos==
Tower of Terror (1997)-2
==References==
Category:1997 films
Category:Live-action films
Category:Movies based on attractions
Category:The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Category:Halloween films
Category:ABC
Category:Disney films