Walt & El Grupo

The footage and some of the stories are interesting, but even the "modern" footage looks like it was shot in the 70's. Not sure if they intentionally processed the film to look that way or if this is just a recent recutting of older footage. Mostly I wish the footage had been weaved into a true story and/or placed into context with other stock footage so you had a sense of what was going on in the world. As-is, it's a lot like listening to my older family members telling stories without being able to ask them questions. But don't miss the bonus features since the dvd does contain the full 40+ minute Saludos Amigos.

America sending Disney as an ambassador to Central America during WWII is certainly fascinating but this profoundly dull bit of brown-nosery never captures that. Normally access is a positive, but this is just TOO in-depth. I care about the strike, the war, the government intervention, the trip footage & the films that came from this. I DON'T care about every travelers' descendant & their individual thoughts on how their grandparent had a fun trip.

EXPLOITATION IS ONE of those perfectly good, useful and innocently crafted words that is shackled with a great disparity between its denotative and connotative meanings. Simply stated, it means making good use of circumstances, surroundings and any resources available to achieve an end; that being the denotative. The implication of unfairly exploiting any persons, things or situations or situations for an unfairly gained result is the connotative side of the ledger.

THE HISTORICAL EPISODE of Mr. Disney and Company's being asked by the Federal Government during the 3rd term of the Roosevelt Administration to embark on a Good Will tour of South America is a fine example of exploitation at its best. It also brings us a fine example of a sort of double edged sword version of the concept of exploiting opportunity. In this case, there is no doubt that both the US and the Disney Company both benefited in totally unexpected levels of success.

THE PROBLEM FACING the USA and the Republics of Latin America was the widespread appeal of German-style Fascism in the Western Hemisphere. The various nations, who struggling socially and economically to achieve a higher level of success found many of both their leaders as well as their citizenry among them, who were willing to emulate what had been going on in Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan. Much in the same manner as so many of Depression Era people of the United States viewed Marxism and various other Socialisms as being an answer to economic woes, so did the South American see fascism.

THE STORY STARTS out with Disney in a proverbial "behind the Eight Ball" situation; as his plans to do two Animated Features in one year are endangered by the economic realities of the late 1930's. The fate of both PINOCHIO and FANTASIA were put on hold as labor problems also engulfed the Disney Organization. Then along came this State Department sponsored multi-nation tour. With US dollar$ underwriting both the trip, as well as the eventual productions to come out of this sojourn, things couldn't have been better.

IN THE FILM, which was crafted from so many other film sources, the traveling caravan of Disney's artists, writers, musicians and technicians were shown in their visit to so many locales in the Continent of South America and the outstanding reception that they received. In the choice of where to visit, the individuality of the many varied nations was both recognized and established as a reciprocal fact of the relationship of the Americas.

SO FAR AS it is, so good for the US Department of State and the Roosevelt Administration's efforts and purposes; but what about Disney's goals?

AS IS SO beautifully told in the film, "el Grupo" hit the ground with its collective feet running and did not stop. In every locale, music, painting, sculpture, folk dance and the traditional native costuming were the featured items of the day. Walt led the company in a total immersion of the cultures of each people and nation. The best of the artists in each field were called upon for their input and ultimate participation.

THERE WAS SUCH extensive filming and carefully recorded written histories of the various stops along the way as to be the foundation for some of the finest animation that would be done by the studio. Indeed, the filmed record produced was not only the great animated sequences, but also of the breathtakingly beautiful terrain, forests, plains and waterways. All of this had the most pleasing and artistically successfully music ever put to a soundtrack.

AS A RESULT OF this whole expedition, the World would receive two animated features. SALUDOS AMIGOS and THE THREE CABALLEROS were the films that emerged. Both were highly successful at the old Box Office and had high critical acclaim. (Well Schultz, that means that both the public as well as the critics liked them!)

LITTLE DOES THE current population of Americans realize how much Mickey Mouse and the guy behind him were responsible for preserving the Free World. And could we ever use him again today!

Like many documentaries, the documentary seemed to lack a specific point. It comes across as interesting as watching someone's home movies. It talks about the various staff who travelled with Walt Disney to South America and people who they met with.

But it's just an info-dump with no real focus as to any goal. There's some mention as to why Disney travelled there and how some of the materials gathered were used in Disney films, but it would have been better if the documentary had shown more of the connection with how specific material had been used in the films.

There was also no mention of the Tiki Bar Lounge in Disneyland, however after seeing the documentary it's obvious that it must have contributed to it's creation.

This is a highly nostalgic look back at a very long goodwill tour Walt Disney took along with a group of artists from his studio. Apparently, there was an animators strike going on and no work was being done, so Walt accepted an offer from the State Department to go on a visit of several South American nations--and to get inspiration for some projects incorporating South American culture. Unfortunately, there are some major problems with the film even though in some ways the documentary can be engaging. First, the people involved in this tour are mostly dead and the sources are almost exclusively second-hand and third-hand. Second, the pacing was slow...glacially slow. The film could easily have had half an hour trimmed, as so much of the film was filler. Too many long musical sequences where nothing is being said. And, thirdly (and this will surely ruffle some feathers), the projects inspired by the trip were incredibly bland. I know some Disney-philes out there might be having palpitations when I say this, but I have always hated "Saludos Amigos" and "The Three Caballeros". So, as the people in the film are reminiscing fondly, I am left feeling a bit confused--because what they are talking about sounds great but the films certainly were not! As a result of all this, the film is one I'd recommend only to the staunchest Disney fans. Otherwise, it's slow going and not nearly as interesting as you might expect.

By the way, one of the video extras on this new release is "Saludos Amigos". I gave it another watch to see if it was as bad as I remembered. It was.