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A documentary sheds fascinating light on the art of Walt Disney, observes David Knox.
One day we will have two definitive Disney movies. One made by the master himself (either Snow White or Fantasia) and the other will be a drama that tells us something about the man himself. When will Hollywood give us a bio-pic that, warts and all, tells us about this most influential story-teller? Oliver Stone, Johnny Depp, are you listening?
For now we will have to settle with documentaries like Once Upon a Time: Walt Disney, which isn’t too bad a substitute, really.
This respectful homage focuses on the young Disney, an animator fascinated by Europe. Walt was raised by his European grandfather who influenced him enormously with stories set in the colourful continent. With their romantic history and contrasting folk-lore, Britain, France, Italy and Germany must have seemed a world away, literally, from the brush-stroke US history of wild west pioneers, pilgrims and Indians.
So it’s no surprise to learn that a young Disney traversed Europe acquiring a library of children’s illustrated fairytales and fables, and soaking up European artwork – all of which he wanted to bestow upon American children.
An astute businessman, he hired artists and illustrators who were more skilled than he. They brought a familiarity with German Romantics, Symbolists, the Pre-Raphaelites, Flemish and Italian primitives. Walt was also heavily influenced by Aesop’s fables, the works of Rudyard Kipling, Lewis Carol and the Brothers Grimm.
And as new films like King Kong and Frankenstein amazed mainstream audiences, Disney would even echo their work in animated shorts.
I’d never noticed Sleeping Beauty’s backgrounds so much until this doco alerted me to the precision work in the castle interiors and exteriors – all hand drawn, before CGI was invented.
But Disney also feared being taken for an intellectual. Seeking to reach as many people as possible, he once declared, “I keep having this nightmare that one of my movies opens at an art house theatre”.
At just 60 minutes, this is by no means comprehensive. It doesn’t aspire beyond The Jungle Book to any live action features, nor recent masterpieces like Beauty and the Beast.
I was longing to learn about the construction and politics of Disneyland itself (it has been surrounded by tales of communism). But for any child at heart, this remains a rich analysis of a remarkable storyteller.
Once Upon a Time: Walt Disney airs at 8:30pm Sunday March 23 on SBS.
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