American Experience: Walt Disney

Uniquely adept at art as well as commerce, Walt Disney was a master filmmaker who harnessed the power of technology to tell stories of outsiders struggling for acceptance and belonging, while questioning the conventions of class and authority. As Disney rose to prominence and gained financial security, his work became increasingly celebratory of the American way of life that made his unlikely success possible.

A polarizing figure - though true believers vastly outnumber his critics - Disney's achievements are indisputable. In this two-part, four-hour film, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE examines Disney's complex life and continuing legacy, featuring rare archival footage from the Disney vaults, interviews with biographers and historians, as well as the animators and designers who helped turn his dreams into reality. Both an inspiring story and a cautionary tale about the price of ambition, Walt Disney offers an unprecedented look at the man who created a world and built an empire.

Producer: Sarah Colt
Executive Producer: Mark Samels
Production Company: ARTE
Production Year: 2015
Copyright Year: 2015
Director: Sarah Colt
Narrator: Oliver Platt
Writers: Sarah Colt, Tom Jennings
Discs: 1
Subtitles: Y
Subtitle Language: English (SDH)
Audio Format: 5.1 Surround
Aspect Ratio: 16x9 Widescreen