Walt Disney

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.