School Library Journal Review
Gr 7 Up-Obsessive, a groundbreaking visionary, an accused exploiter of workers, and a mean SOB when crossed: these are some of the descriptions of Walt Disney in director Sarah Colt's multilayered biography. The wide-ranging documentary includes footage from Disney's first cartoon efforts (students will see where the antics of Itchy and Scratchy have their roots) and spellbinding segments from Snow White, Pinocchio, and Bambi, among other movies, and his final TV appearance, filmed days before his death. Insights by film historians, biographers, and those who worked for and with Walt (as he liked to be known) accompany Oliver Platt's narration. The nearly four-hour program covers Disney's hardscrabble start, early financial troubles, and his willingness to innovate and put himself on the line for his ambitious artistic ideals. Viewers will also see him follow his dream as he micromanages the creation of Disneyland. The film works best when viewed in its entirety, to avoid seeing only one aspect of this complex man. He took a hard-line stance against striking animators at his studio, and he named names for the House Committee on Un-American Activities, among other controversies. However, Disney was also a loving father and a creative genius on the cutting edge of animation. VERDICT Highly recommended when classes can watch most or all of the program. Teachers tight for time may be tempted to fast forward through the cartoons and movie clips, but these visuals bring viewers emotionally into the film and make Disney's artistic impact impossible to deny.-Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Library Journal Review
Through sheer force of will, talent, creativity, and a deep belief in himself, Walt Disney (1901-66) created some of the 20th century's most beloved films, while re-defining American leisure with Disneyland and the later Disney World, all while creating a brand that still touches us today. Disney returned from World War I service determined to make a name for himself. A talented cartoonist, he quickly saw the potential in animation, and, with the help and financial guidance of his older brother Roy, he eventually created the character of Mickey Mouse, which became an overnight sensation. Never satisfied, he then set his sights on the first feature-length cartoon, Snow White (1938). Next up were Dumbo, Bambi, Pinocchio, and Fantasia, which proved to be box office disappointments. The documentary also covers the bitter labor disputes with his animators (his "boys"); they went on strike during the production of Dumbo (1941). This four-part PBS documentary, narrated by Oliver Platt, reviews Disney's eventful life, using his home movies and photographs, plus commentary from his studio workers and cultural historians. The video covers Disney's groundbreaking merchandising efforts, his forays into television (most memorably the Mickey Mouse Club and Davy Crockett), and the theme parks, his attempt to create "living animation." VERDICT This production gives equal time to Disney's critics but credits the man with being the "master of dreams and hopes." Highly recommended.-Stephen Rees, formerly with Levittown Lib., PA © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
