"Fantasia" defies all precedent.
Whether the forerunner of a new
entertainment format or not is something for
time -- and the fate of "Fantasia" itself -- to
determine. Actually, this innovation is a
concert on film. Its eight selections are
reproduced through four distinct sound
channels which place passages, chords and
effects in different parts of the screen and
theatre. Those selections, ranging from
Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor and
Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony to
Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite and Dukas'
Sorcerer's Apprentice, are visually interpreted
by Disney and his artists in terms of
alternately beautiful and whimsical cartoons
and thunderous and frightening moods which,
in fact, make "Fantasia," as it stands,
unsuitable for children. The whole, however is
done in magnificent color, in brilliant
imagination and in lasting recognition of
Disney's enormous talents. Will the film public
take it? No one knows beyond reminding it
has not gone for fine music thus far.
SELLING ANGLES:
There is
great novelty value in "Fantasia." It is the first
full-length effort to interpret classical music in
terms of popular appeal through cartoon and
abstract treatment. It carries the distinction of
the Disney sponsorship, the music of the
Philadelphia Orchestra under Leopold
Stokowski and the music commentary of the
well-known Deems Taylor. Its color
photography is magnificent; its imprint of
Disney mannerisms sharply defined. Out of
this combination, and with special emphasis
on the truth of the statement that "Fantasia" is
fresh and entirely new, a campaign could be
built whenever the picture goes into general
distribution. This, however, is considerably in
the future and through a releasing agency not
yet determined.
CATCHLINES:
Disney and
Stokowski Screen Art and Music Art
Combine... You've Seen Nothing Like It.
Walt Disney 135 mins.
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