Walt : The Man Behind the Myth / Not rated but might be PG for smoking. Lots and lots of smoking.

Until a long over due visit to the Disney Family Museum at the Presidio in San Francisco I did not know of this film’s existence. I have seen quite a few documentaries on the life of Walt Disney but my 1st viewing of Walt The Man Behind the Myth was an eye opener. The film was originally released as a TV movie on September 16th 2001. Considering the event which shook America five days earlier it’s no wonder that in whatever venue this film made an appearance it seemed to be over looked.

This film was a co venture of Pantheon Productions and the Walt Disney Family Foundation. The film covers the life of Walt, his family and ventures thoroughly with few omissions. It details his youth in Marceline, Missouri, Kansas City and beyond. Born in 1901 he was too young at 16 for WWI till his mom apparently changed his birth year certificate to make it appear he was 17. Walt served in Europe as an ambulance driver. His early years as an animator, and eventually film innovator and inventor of Mickey Mouse are all here.

His accomplishments included the 1st sound animated feature. The 1st sound and color animated feature. The 1st animated full length feature film. This was all from 1928 to 1937. Then he got serious. His financial problems when he virtually had to mortgage everything to make his film dreams become reality are all recorded. Had Cinderella failed in 1950 the studio would probably not recovered. Without additional bank financing obtained by showing the bankers a partially completed 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea that film would not have been completed. Then he could not have moved on to Disneyland and beyond. Beyond included the 1st use of audio animatronics in both rides and exhibits. And the most popular theme parks ever created.

A history of his home life and travels are not left out. All are included via home movies and stills from the 1920’s to Walt’s death in 1966 at the age of 65. The stars and film makers involved in his movies and theme parks all appear on camera to tell their delightful and surprising stories. Many of these folks have passed on in the last 13 years so were are very lucky these scenes were filmed for posterity.

The DVD extra’s include further remembrances of those interviewed in the film. A short 8 minute feature shows a bit about how this documentary was created. The late Diane Disney Miller also narrates a series of scenes using maps to show where the key locations of the Disney history were located. During these sequences additional footage is shown from the family home movies. Most of what is shown is in the actual documentary but there is enough additional footage to make it worth a look.

This DVD can be found on Amazon but the price lists at $99 plus. If you visit the website for the museum they have the book but not the DVD listed for sale. I know they have plenty of these DVD’s in the store where I got mine for between $15 and $20 in early June. Call them at 415-345-6859 every day from 10AM to 6PM Pacific Time except Tuesdays when they are closed. Tell them you want the DVD. Mention I sent you.

Rated 4.0 out of 4.0 meeskamouskamouskateers. Somebody said this every day during the Mickey Mouse Club just before the cartoon. My favorite part of the program. Other than Annette.