Product Description

From Mickey Mouse to MARY POPPINS to Disneyland and beyond, Walt Disney touched the hearts of millions with his special brand of magic. In this revealing portrait, you'll discover the man behind the myth as never before. Inspired by daughter Diane Disney Miller and hosted by Disney legend Dick Van Dyke, the film features all-new interviews with friends, family, collaborators, and experts plus never-before-seen home movies. Through good times and bad, including a brush with bankruptcy during World War II, Walt remained a driven innovator and perfectionist behind studio gates and devoted family man at home. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of his birth, WALT: THE MAN BEHIND THE MYTH offers the most intimate look yet at the man whose legacy continues to inspire the world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8217 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-03-02
• Rating: G (General Audience)
• Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
• Formats: Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 119 minutes

Amazon.com
Dick Van Dyke (Mary Poppins) narrates this made-for-TV special, which focuses on the high points in Walt Disney's life and career. Over 70 friends, relatives, and associates were interviewed. Critics, however, weren't given much of a chance to have their say, which prevents Walt from presenting a fully rounded picture. Fortunately, this two-hour story of the great man's rise--and rise--makes for compelling viewing anyway. It doesn't merely cover his work, but personal life, as well. Milestones, such as his marriage, are brought to life using footage from a copious home movie collection. Furthermore, a few Disney animators do mention some of the great man's more negative traits, such as his legendary toughness, but such criticisms are passed over quickly. Smaller viewers may find it boring, but Disney fans 10 and older are sure to be riveted by this fascinating man's life story. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

A LONG OVER DUE FILM BIOGRAPHY OF WALT DISNEY
WALT: THE MAN BEHIND THE MYTH is a warm, entertaining, and fascinating look at both the public and private life of one of the greatest show-business men of the 20th Century....a man who is still influencing our world today. The never before released photos and film footage alone make this a "must" purchase. If the production has one fault, it may be that it leaves the viewer wanting more such glimpses into the life of Walt Disney. A great companion video would be THE HAND BEHIND THE MOUSE: THE UB IWERKS STORY.

He made the world a little better
It was great seeing a more balanced biography of Walt Disney after all these years. I felt like there have always been 2 extremes: the sugary and perfect Walt who loved children, and the diabolic Communist smasher that hated Jews.
Well, here's a news flash: he was human. Walt was a taskmaster, and perfectionist, but he was dedicated to entertaining people and making them laugh. This movie showed us how he was a 12-year old at heart, full of the vigor that made his cartoons great and prone to being naive when it came to labor and politics.
To work for Walt was probably a rollercoaster, being "under the eyebrow" one moment when he was concentrating on a project, then elated when he dispensed a single iota of praise from his gruff businessman persona. The next second he could transform himself into a character from the storyboard he was demonstrating, brimming with energy and enthusiasm like a middle-aged Huck Finn.
People have tried to villify him over the years, pecking away and trying to drag down his overly-sweet reputation perpetuated by the studio after his death. But you can say this about him: he loved childern, wanted to make people laugh, and in some small way felt that by making the childhood of others happier, he was a happy child himself.

An Inspiration
Walt Disney's grandson did a wonderful job on revealing a man who had a dream and let nothing get in his way. This documentary has nothing to do with propaganda as some people might think. It told a story that inspires anyone who watched it to go out do what they love.