WALT & EL GRUPO (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.3|5.0 Starsììì

Walt & El Grupo places among the better documentaries made. It’s a terrific Disney history piece that places emphasis on Walt Disney and his crew of artists and writers as they travel to South America for fresh cartoon ideas while simultaneously pursuing a United States’ government assignment to outreach and establish better public relations between North and South America. The movie fleshes out its story line with wonderful family interviews that include a personal interview with Walt Disney’s wife, Lillian Disney. Letters sent by artists and crew on location to family and friends in the United States allow fresh insight into the lives of the people who entertain us.

Storyline

The United States Government asks Walt Disney and a team of his animators to take a goodwill tour of South America.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Theodore Thomas for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Walter Elias Disney and Mark L. Rosen for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Himself (Flávio Barroso), Himself (Lee Blair), Herself (Mary Blair), Himself (James Bodrero), Herself (Lydia Bodrero), Herself (Harriet Burns), Himself (John Canemaker), Herself (Josefina Molina Chazarreta), and Himself (William Cottrell).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Director and Writer Theodore Thomas puts a special story together and makes it worth watching to the end credits. A great family movie for all ages—it’s a good historical film to be enjoyed by all Walt Disney fans. 

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Ben Meyers