Overview
The story of Walt Disney's life--told as no other book can! Walt Disney is an American hero. From Mickey Mouse to Disneyland, he changed the face of American culture. His is a success story like no other: a man who developed animated film into an art form and made a massive contribution to the folklore of the world. After years of research, respected Hollywood biographer Bob Thomas produced a definitive biography of the man behind the legend of Disney: the unschooled cartoonist from Kansas City who when bankrupt on his first movie venture and developed into the genius who produced unmatched works of animation, and ultimately was the creative spirit of an international entertainment empire that has enchanted generations. Complete with a collection of rare photographs, Walt Disney: An American Original is a fascinating and inspirational work that captures the spirit of Walt Disney. Searching for that perfect gift for the #1 Disney fan in your life? Explore more behind-the-scenes stories from Disney Editions: Travels with Figment: On the Road in Search of Disney Dreams (By Disney Legend Marty Sklar) One Little Spark! Mickey's Ten Commandments and The Road to Imagineering (By Disney Legend Marty Sklar) Magic Journey: My Fantastical Walt Disney Imagineering Career (By Kevin Rafferty) Travels with Walt Disney: A Photographic Voyage Around the World (By Jeff Kurtti) Eat Like Walt: The Wonderful World of Disney Food (By Marcy Carriker Smothers) Disney A to Z: The Official Encyclopedia, Fifth Edition (By Disney Legend Dave Smith) Disney Facts Revealed: Answers to Fans' Curious Questions (By Disney Legend Dave Smith) Disney Trivia from the Vault: Secrets Revealed and Questions Answered (By Disney Legend Dave Smith) My Pride: Mastering Life's Daily Performance from Broadway's Record-Breaking Lion King (By Alton Fitzgerald White) Be Our Guest: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service, Revised and Updated Edition (By The Disney Institute)
Full Product Details
Author: Bob Thomas
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Imprint: Little, Brown and Company
Dimensions:
Width: 0.10cm
, Height: 0.10cm
, Length: 0.10cm
Weight: 0.001kg
ISBN: 9780786860272
ISBN 10: 0786860278
Pages: 384
Publication Date: 01 May 1994
Recommended Age: From 10 to 14 years
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: No Longer Our Product
Availability: In Print
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Reviews
The scenario sounds promising: Walt Diney's metamorphosis from a self-trained, second-rate, bankruptcy-prone cartoonist into the pioneering mastermind of mass entertainment. But Bob Thomas' biographies (Thalberg, Winchell and Selzniek, among others) sit on the brain the way a lifesaver sits on the tongue - sticky-sweet and long-lasting, with a big hole in the middle. Walt Disney is doubly hollow, devoid of either psychological portraiture or artistic evaluations. Instead the biographer serves up a pleasant, plodding what-Wait-did-next account, mercifully punctuated by choice excerpts from the story meetings that sparked Disney studio projects. More of those excerpts (and less about Walt's sons-in-law or his fondness for chili) might have conjured up the Disney gift for matching music with images or the Disney genius for comedy. Thomas concentrates rather on the Disney bank balances. The writing perks up noticeably when the miles of Disney red ink finally begin to turn very, very black. The strongest chapters celebrate the nativity of Disneyland; the weakest skim lightly over such masterpieces as Fantasia and Bambi. Controversial items (like Disney's McCarthy-era politics) are skirted, critical contributions (like Richard Schickers The Disney Version) are ignored, and an aura of folksy hagiography creeps in as Disney approaches senior citizenry. Yet his quoted words exude so much vitality that Bob Thomas's pallid but detail-crammed volume may supply some satisfaction. It's more likely; however, to justify its paper consumption by its usefulness to the biographer who someday connects the man with his legacies. (Kirkus Reviews)
How does an individual become an institution such as Disney? Was Disney the man more interested in telling unforgettable stories for children or in establishing a great movie-making empire? What motivated him? This revealing biography traces the life and times, the strengths and weaknesses, of this unique and influential figure. (Kirkus UK)
