Citizen Kane Review

Citizen Kane

Release Date: 23rd January 1942 - Australia

Production Companies

RKO Radio Pictures

Mercury Productions

Genre: Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 119 minutes

Budget: $839,727

Box Office Gross: $1,711,106 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary
When famous publishing mogul Charles Foster Kane dies, a reporter must investigate the shocking details of his personal life and the meaning of his final word: "Rosebud."

Cast

Joseph Cotten - Jedediah Leland/Screening Room Reporter

Dorothy Comingore - Susan Alexander Kane

Ray Collins - James W. Gettys

George Coulouris - Walter

Parks Thatcher

Agnes Moorehead - Mary Kane

Ruth Warrick - Emily Monroe Norton Kane

Erskine Sanford - Herbert Carter/Screening Room Reporter

Everett Sloane - Mr. Bernstein

William Alland - Jerry Thompson

Paul Stewart - Raymond

Fortunio Bonanova - Matiste

Philip Van Zandt - Mr. Rawlston

Georgia Backus - Miss Anderson

Harry Shannon - Kane's Father

Sonny Bupp - Kane III

Buddy Swan - Kane - Age Eight

Orson Welles - Charles Foster
Kane

Charles Bennett - Entertainer (Uncredited)

Alan Ladd - Pipe Smoking Reporter (Uncredited)

Arthur O'Connell - Reporter (Uncredited)

Gregg Toland - Interviewer in 1935 Newsreel (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Herman J. Mankiewicz - Newspaperman (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew

Original Screenplay/

Production/Director - Orson

Welles

Original Screenplay - Herman J. Mankiewicz

Contributing Writer/Editorial

Supervisor - John Houseman

(Uncredited)

Contributing Writers - Roger

Q. Denny and Mollie Kent

(Uncredited)

Executive Producer - George

Schaefer (Uncredited)

Production Advisor - Miriam Geiger (Uncredited)

Art Director - Van Nest Polglase

Associate Art Director - Perry
Ferguson

Set Decorator - Darrell Silvera (Uncredited)

Makeup Artist - Maurice Seiderman (Uncredited)

Costumes - Edward Stevenson

Photography - Gregg Toland

Grip - Ralph Hoge (Uncredited)

Special Effects - Vernon L. Walker

Optical Effects - Linwood G. Dunn (Uncredited)

Sound Recordists - Bailey Fesler,

James G. Stewart, Terry Kellum (Uncredited)

and Edward Ullman (Uncredited)

Sound Supervisor - John Aalberg (Uncredited)

Editor - Robert Wise

Assistant Editor - Mark Robson (Uncredited)

Music - Bernard Herrmann

Awards

1942 Academy Awards

Best Writing, Original Screenplay - Orson Welles

and Herman J. Mankiewicz (Won)

————————

Best Picture - Orson Welles (Nominated)

Best Director - Orson Welles (Nominated)

Best Actor - Orson Welles (Nominated)

Best Cinematography - Gregg Toland (Nominated)

Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Black-and-

White - Perry Ferguson, Van Nest Polglase,

A. Roland Fields and Darrell Silvera (Nominated)

Best Film Editing - Robert Wise (Nominated)

Best Sound, Recording - John Aalberg (Nominated)

Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic Picture -

Bernard Herrmann (Nominated)

Review

Most film buffs and directors have considered CITIZEN KANE the best film ever. Others believe Vertigo outranks Orson Welles' classic masterpiece. Before I watched the movie, I remember seeing bits of it, like the twist ending. I didn't get to watch the whole thing when I came across it recently. The history of CITIZEN KANE dates back to before a new generation of filmmakers and movie buffs like us were even born, as the film first premiered in 1941.

Initially, critics loved the film, but it was unrecognised at the box office and pulled from theatres because of the influence of news baron William Randolph Hearst. It's believed that the movie includes unflattering comparisons between him and Charles Foster Kane, although it's only loosely based on him. It caused Hearst to detest it, and he used his connections to have the film removed before anyone could see it. KANE didn't resurface until the mid-50s, after Hearst's death, and when television became everyone's favourite pastime. Then, decades later, the movie was vindicated, and the rest is history.

CITIZEN KANE is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and Orson Welles' magnum opus. Welles self-financed it and even co-wrote, produced, directed, and acted in it. He was extremely proud of what he accomplished. He also delivered a genuine performance as Charles Foster Kane. Technically, Gregg Toland's cinematography was magnificent. It paved the way for other cinematographers to use his camera techniques in modern movies. Aside from the cinematography, there is little to mention, except for the narrative, another noteworthy aspect. It is well written and structured, with a twist ending that is the granddaddy of them all.

I'm hesitant to watch this classic again because it didn't satisfy my expectations. Even though CITIZEN KANE is not one of my favourite films, its iconic status makes it a classic. The movie is available to stream for those who want to watch it.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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Meet Me in St. Louis Review

Meet Me in St. Louis

Release Date: 12th July 1945 - Australia

Production Companies

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (presents)

Genre: Musical

Rating: G

Runtime: 108 minutes

Budget: $1,885,000

Box Office Gross: $12,883,122 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

The year is 1903; the place

is St. Louis. The wealthy

Smith family has four

daughters, including 

Esther and young Tootie.

Esther, 17, has fallen

in love with John, the boy

who just moved in next

door. Initially, however,

he barely notices her.

To the family's shock,

Mr Smith announces he

will be transferred to a

lucrative position in New

York, meaning they will

have to leave St. Louis

and miss the World's Fair.

Cast

Judy Garland - Esther Smith

Margaret O'Brien - "Tootie" Smith

Leon Ames - Alonzo Smith

Mary Astor - Anna Smith

Lucille Bremer - Rose Smith

Tom Drake - Tom Truett 

Marjorie Main - Katie (Maid)

Harry Davenport - Grandpa

Henry H. Daniels Jr. - Lon Smith, Jr.

Joan Carroll - Agnes Smith

June Lockhart - Lucille Ballard

Robert Sully - Warren Sheffield

Hugh Marlowe - Colonel Darly

Chill Wills - Mr. Neely

Crew

Director - Vincente Minnelli

Based on the Book - Sally Benson

Screenplay - Irving Brecher,

Fred F. Finklehoffe, Victor

Heerman (Uncredited), 

William Ludwig (Uncredited), 

Sarah Y. Mason (Uncredited) 

and Doris Gilver (Uncredited)

Producer - Arthur Freed

Associate Producer/Music (Uncredited)/Musical

Adaptation - Roger Edens

Art Directors - Lemuel Ayers, Cedric Gibbons and Jack Martin Smith

Set Decorations - Edwin B. Willis 

Costume Designer - Irene Scharaff

Makeup Creator - Jack Dawn

Director of Photography -

George J. Folsey

Dance Director - Charles Walters

Musical Director - Georgie Stoll

Songs & Lyrics - Hugh Martin 

and Ralph Blane

Film Editor - Albert Akst

Recording Director - Douglas Shearer

Music (Uncredited)/

Orchestrations - Conrad Salinger

Awards

1945 Academy Awards

Juvenile Award - Margaret O'Brien (Won)

-------------------------------

Best Writing, Screenplay -

Irving Brecher and Fred F.

Finklehoffe (Nominated)

Best Cinematography, Color - George J. Folsey (Nominated) 

Best Music, Scoring of a Motion Picture - George Stoll (Nominated)

Best Music, Original Song "The Trolley Song" - Ralph Martin and Hugh Blaine (Nominated)

Review

A charming, entertaining vintage musical, it hasn't lost its appeal since its 1944 release. MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS was released as the war neared its end. It is a step up from those old-time MGM musicals of the 1940s and early 1950s. Producer Arthur Freed and director Vincente Minnelli deserved all the credit for the movie's production. They made this a more sincere effort for its star, Judy Garland, who had previously played a Kansas farm girl in The Wizard of Oz. She has matured and plays her part as the leading lady very well, adding refined elegance to the film. I'm still not a huge fan of her other talents, including her music. The movie has its moments, with songs such as the catchy "Trolley Song" and the melancholy "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas."

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS is probably not my favourite movie, but it's a great musical that I must see again. In the future, you could watch the cinematic version or, if you prefer, a live stage production.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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It's a Wonderful Life Review

It's a Wonderful Life

Release Date: 16th October 1947 - Australia

Production Companies

Liberty Films

Distribution

Paramount Pictures Australia

Genre: Drama/Fantasy

Rating: G

Runtime: 130 minutes


Budget: $3,180,000

Box Office Gross: $16,420,592 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

After spending his entire

life giving to the people

of Bedford Falls, George

Bailey's troubles began

when his business lost

$8,000 on Christmas Eve.

George is about to take

his own life by jumping off

the bridge when, instead,

he rescues his guardian

angel, Clarence. Clarence

then shows George a world

without him and what his

town would have been like

if it hadn't been for all of

his good deeds over the

years. Will Clarence

convince George to

return to his family and

forget about suicide?

Cast

James Stewart - George Bailey

Donna Reed - Mary Hatch

Henry Travers - Clarence

Lionel Barrymore - Mr. Potter

Thomas Mitchell - Uncle Billy

Beulah Bondi - Ma Bailey

Frank Faylen - Ernie

Ward Bond - Bert

Gloria Grahame - Violet

H.B. Warner - Mr. Gower

Todd Karns - Harry Bailey

Samuel S. Hinds - Pa Bailey

Mary Treen - Cousin Billy

Frank Albertson - Sam Wainwright

Virginia Patton - Ruth Dakin

Charles Williams - Cousin Eustace

Sarah Edwards - Mrs. Hatch

William Edmunds - Mr. Martini

Lillian Randolph - Annie

Argentina Brunetti - Mrs. Martini

Robert J. Anderson - Little George

Ronnie Ralph - Little Sam

Jean Gale - Little Mary

Jeanine Anne Rose - Little Violet

Danny Murmett - Little Marty Hatch

Georgie Nokes - Little Harry Bailey

Sheldon Leonard - Nick

Frank Hagney - Potter's Bodyguard

Ray Walker - Joe (Luggage Shop)

Charles Lane - Real Estate Salesman

Edward Keane - Tom (Bldg. & Loan)

Carol Coombs - The Bailey Child - Janie

Karolyn Grimes - The Bailey Child - Zuzu

Larry Simms - The Bailey Child - Pete

Jimmy Hawkins - The Bailey Child - Tommy

Stanley Andrews - Mr. Welch (Uncredited)

Al Bridge - Sheriff (Uncredited)

Adriana Caselotti - Singer at Martini's (Uncredited)

Ellen Corby - Mrs. Davis (Uncredited)

Jimmy the Crow - Crow in Bank (Uncredited)

Dick Elliot - Man on Porch (Uncredited)

Tom Fadden - Tollhouse Keeper (Uncredited)

Joseph Grandby - Elderly Man (Voice) (Uncredited)

Charles Halton - Carter (Uncredited)

Harry Holman - Mr. Partridge (Uncredited)

Arthur Stuart Hull - Mr. Randall (Uncredited)

J. Farrell MacDonald - Man Whose

Great-Grandfather Planted Tree (Uncredited)

Moroni Olsen - Senior Angel (Voice) (Uncredited)

Almira Sessions - Potter's Secretary (Uncredited)

Carl Switzer - Freddie Othello (Cameo)
(Uncredited)

Crew

Screenplay/Producer/Director - Frank Capra

Based on a Story - Phillip Van Doren Stern

Screenplay - Frances Goodrich and
Albert Hackett

Additional Scenes - Jo Swerling

Contributor to Screenplay - Michael Wilson (Uncredited)

Art Director - Jack Okey

Set Decorator - Emile Kuri

Makeup Supervisor - Gordon Bau
Costumes - Edward Stevenson

Directors of Photography - Joseph F. Biroc,
Joseph Walker and Victor Milner (Uncredited)

Assistant Director - Arthur S. Black Jr.

Special Photographic Effects - Russell A. Calley
Film Editor - William Hornbeck

Sound - Richard Van Hessen,

Clem Portman and John Aalberg (Uncredited)

Writer and Director: Musical Score - Dimitri Tiomkin

Awards

1947 Academy Awards

Best Picture (Nominated)

Best Director - Frank Capra (Nominated)

Best Actor in a Leading Role - James Stewart (Nominated)

Best Sound, Recording - John Aalberg (Nominated)

Best Film Editing - William Hornbeck (Nominated)

Review

Season's greetings, everyone! If there is one movie I want to review before the end of Christmas, it'll have to be IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. Many critics say it is one of the greatest holiday movies. Sadly, this wasn't always the case. The film was unsuccessful at release but became a Christmas classic when it aired on television after its copyright lapsed in 1974 and entered the public domain. Since then, the film has become a timeless classic to everyone who has seen it.

However, some critics have suggested it comes across as overly sentimental or dated and may not resonate with contemporary audiences. I have never been anxious to watch this golden oldie, because I've been dying to see the original film, unlike those TV episodes and other movies that reused its concept. I would classify IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE as a little too melodramatic, just because the film isn't that endearing, but it has its special meaning that we've all learned from our experiences: that each life has value.

The film evokes tears, inspires reflection, and delivers moral and philosophical messages. Its themes of love, self-sacrifice, and community spirit are as brilliant and timeless as ever. The late Frank Capra was a fabulous director who used his creative philosophy to make the point. Later in life, Capra said it was his favourite, and it remains his last great picture. It's a shame that I didn't get to see more of his work.

Fortunately, the acting didn't ruin the film itself. It has a star-studded cast, including James Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore. I heard a lot about James and his versatility. I never knew he could act; he brought depth to George Bailey, who starts as an optimist and grows into a troubled man at his wits' end, capturing both the highs and lows of his journey. I knew his performance was too good to be true. James Stewart is the movie's best actor and a good luck charm.

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE may remain in our hearts as a beloved holiday classic that most young people wouldn't have remembered; many tend to be unaware of its existence. It's an entertaining, heartfelt, and well-made classic movie that continues to inspire and move viewers. Eventually, I'll watch it again next Christmas, and you should too once the twelve months have passed.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie 

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Casablanca Review (Valentine's Day 2014)

 

Casablanca

Release Date: June 15th 1944 - Australia

Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures

Genre: Drama/Romance

Rating: PG

Runtime: 102 minutes


Budget: $1,039,000

Box Office Gross: $10,568,392 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

A cynical American named Rick Blaine is busy running a nightclub in Casablanca, Morocco, and he discovers that an ex-lover of his, Ilsa, is in town with her husband, Victor Laszlo. Laszlo is a resistance leader who is in trouble with the Germans as they are searching for him. The only person Ilsa can turn to is her old flame, Rick, who needs his help in exchange for Laszlo's transport out of the country. Now Rick

has to face a tough decision

on what's more important -

his happiness or saving

countless lives.

Cast

Humphrey Bogart - Rick Blaine

Ingrid Bergman - Ilsa Lund

Paul Henreid - Victor Laszlo

Claude Rains - Captain Louis Renault

Conrad Veidt - Major Heinrich Strasser

Sydney Greenstreet - Signor Ferrari

Peter Lorre - Guillermo Ugarte

S.K. Sakall - Carl
Madeleine Lebeau - Yvonne

Dooley Wilson - Sam

Leonid Kinskey - Sascha
Joy Page - Annina Brandel
John Qualen - Berger
Curt Bois - Pickpocket

Marcel Dalio - Emil - Croupier at Rick's (Uncredited)

Helmut Dantine - Jan Brandel (Uncredited)

Gregory Gaye - German Banker Refused by Rick (Uncredited)

Torben Meyer - Dutch Banker at Cafe Table (Uncredited)

Corinna Mura - Singer with Guitar (Uncredited)

Frank Puglia - Arab Vendor (Uncredited)

Richard Ryen - Col. Heinz - Strasser's Aide (Uncredited)

Dan Seymour - Abdul

(Uncredited)

Gerald Oliver Smith -

Pickpocketed Englishman

(Uncredited)

Norma Varden - Wife of Pickpocketed Englishman (Uncredited)

Crew

Director - Michael Curtiz

Based on the Play "Everybody Comes to Rick's" - Murray Bennett and Joan Alison

Screenplay - Phillip G. & Julius J. Epstein, Howard Koch and Casey Robinson (Uncredited)

Executive Producer - Jack L. Warner

Producer - Hal B. Wallis

Technical Advisor - Robert Aisner
Art Director - Carl Jules Weyl

Set Designer - Harper Goff (Uncredited)
Set Decorations - George James Hopkins
Gowns - Orry-Kelly
Director of Photography - Arthur Edeson

Assistant Director - Lee Katz (Uncredited)
Special Effects Director - Lawrence W. Butler
Special Effects - Willard Van Enger
Film Editor - Owen Marks

Montages - James Leicester and Don Siegel

Sound - Francis J. Scheid
Songs - M.K. Jerome and Jack Scholl

Music - Max Steiner

Awards

1944 Academy Awards
Best Picture - Hal B. Wallis (Won)
Best Director - Michael Curtiz
Best Cinematography: Black or White -

Arthur Edeson (Won)
Best Screenplay - Julius J. & Phillip G. Epstein

and Howard Koch (Won)
----------------------
Best Actor - Humphrey Bogart (Nominated)
Best Supporting Actor - Claude Rains (Nominated)
Best Film Editing - Owen Marks (Nominated)
Best Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy

Picture - Max Steiner (Nominated)

Review

Happy Valentine's Day, blog viewers! In the late evening, I decided to celebrate this special day by writing a review for you film buffs. The moments of CASABLANCA are unfamiliar to some young moviegoers. In the early 40s, when movies became wartime propaganda for World War II, the world was in turmoil and unrest. CASABLANCA never needs any amount of dogfight and warfare. It also doesn't have to be labelled in the war genre. Sometimes, the most straightforward movies turn out to be everlasting classics. Known by every generation, courtesy of a love triangle to tangle with intrigue in a simple plot. This classic movie is unforgettable. Backed with credible acting talent like Humphrey Bogart, this is the first time he plays a romantic lead and maintains the anti-hero portrayal. This role is less staggering than portraying a gangster or a detective.

It helps Bogie create the formula of a character trait later borrowed by other actors in future movies. He's paired together as a fictional couple with lead actress Ingrid Bergman. They are immediately responsible for the duo's chemistry.

CASABLANCA is inspirational for its ending and dialogue, and a few directors have tried to imitate its concept to satisfy the audience's thirst for more. Never reaching its use-by date, it's still in its famed recognition. You must see it if you want to know its true potential.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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Bambi Review

Bambi


Release Date: 15th April 1943 - Australia


Production Companies
Walt Disney Productions

Distribution
Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures Australia


Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 70 minutes


Budget: $858,000

Box Office Gross: $267,447,150
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
He's the "Young Prince of
the Forest," but wobbly
newborn fawn Bambi can
barely stand on his own legs.
Over the course of a year,
under the guidance of his
mother and with some help
from pals Thumper and
Flower, he grows into a
noble and courageous stag?
but along the way he is
tested by fire, fear, and loss.
It takes strength and bravery
to survive and to take his
place alongside his father,
the Great Prince of the Forest.


Voice Cast (Uncredited)
Bobby Stewart - Baby Bambi
Donnie Dunagan - Young Bambi
Hardie Albright - Adolescent Bambi
John Sutherland - Adult Bambi
Paula Winslowe - Bambi's Mother & the Pheasant
Peter Behn - Young Thumper
Tim Davis - Adolescent Thumper & Adolescent Flower
Sam Edwards - Adult Thumper
Stan Alexander - Young Flower
Sterling Holloway - Adult Flower
Will Wright - Friend Owl
Cammie King - Young Faline
Ann Gillis - Adult Faline
Fred Shields - Great Prince of the Forest

Crew
Supervising Director - David Hand
Sequence Directors - James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, Graham Heid, Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield & Norman Wright
Based on Novel - Felix Salten
Story Direction - Perce Pearce
Story Adaptation - Larry Morey
Story Development - Vernon Stallings, Mel Shaw, Carl Fallberg, Chuck Couch & Ralph Wright
Producer - Walt Disney (Uncredited)
Songs - Frank Churchill
Conceptual Designer (Uncredited)/Backgrounds - Tyrus Wong
Supervising Animators - Ollie Johnston, Frank Thomas, Eric Larson & Milt Kahl

Film Editor - Thomas Scott (Uncredited)
Music - Edward H. Plumb


Awards

1943 Academy Awards
Best Sound, Recording - C.O. Slyfield (Nominated)
Best Music, Original Song
"Love is a Song" - Frank Churchill (posthumously) & Larry Moley (Nominated)
Best Music, Original Score - Frank Churchill (posthumously)
& Edward H. Plumb (Nominated)


Review
'BAMBI' is a funny and emotional classic movie that has a great story and the animation has realism. It has the saddest but traumatic moment where Bambi's mother gets killed by the hunter, I feel sorry for the poor little deer. 'BAMBI' was Walt Disney's favourite movie that he has ever made and is the inspiration for 'The Lion King' which is another movie made by Disney. It is an enjoyable film for the whole family.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Fantasia Review

Fantasia


Release Date: 21st August 1941 - Australia


Production Companies
Walt Disney Productions

Distribution
Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures Australia


Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 124 minutes


Budget: $2,280,000

Box Office Gross: $83,320,408 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
FANTASIA is an anthology of animated shorts set to classical music. These pieces include "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," starring Mickey Mouse; "The Rite of Spring," which depicts the evolution of life on Earth up to the dinosaurs' extinction; and many others.


Cast
Leopold Stokowski - Himself - The Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra
Deems Taylor - Himself -
Narrative Introductions
The Philadelphia Orchestra - Themselves
Walt Disney - Mickey Mouse ("The Sorcerer's Apprentice") (Voice) (Uncredited)

Crew
Directors - Samuel Armstrong
("Toccata and Fugue in D
Minor & The Nutcracker
Suite"), James Algar ("The
Sorcerer's Apprentice"), Bill
Roberts and Paul Satterfield
("The Rite of Spring"), Ford
Beebe, Jim Handley,
David Hand ("Meet the
Soundtrack") (Uncredited),

Hamilton Luske ("The Pastoral
Symphony"), T. Hee ("Dance of the Hours") and Wilfred Jackson ("Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria")
Director ("Meet the

Soundtrack")/Producer

(Uncredited)/Production

Supervisor - Ben Sharpsteen
Director/Animation

Supervisor - Norman

Ferguson ("Dance of the Hours")

Story Direction - Joe Grant and
Dick Huemer

Story Development - Phil Dike ("Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" & "Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria"), Lee Blair ("Toccata and Fugue in D Minor"), Sylvia Moberly-Holland, Norman Wright, Albert Heath, Bianca Majolie and Graham Heid ("The Nutcracker Suite"), Perce Pearce and Carl Fallberg ("The Sorcerer's Apprentice"), Otto Englander, Webb Smith, Erdman Penner, Joseph

Sabo, Bill Peet and Vernon

Stallings ("The Pastoral

Symphony"), Campbell Grant

and Arthur Heinemann ("Night on

Bald Mountain/Ave Maria")

Story Development and
Research ("The Rite of
Spring") - William Martin,
Leo Thiele, Robert Sterner
and John McLeish
Story Development ("Toccata and Fugue in D Minor")/Character Designer ("The Nutcracker Suite") - Elmer Plummer

Concept/Designer/Visual Development ("Toccata and Fugue in D Minor") - Oskar Fischinger (Uncredited)

Producer - Walt Disney (Uncredited)

Cinematography - James Wong Howe (Uncredited)
Choreographer ("The Nutcracker Suite") -

Jules Engel (Uncredited)
Art Directors - Robert Cormack ("Toccata

and Fugue in D Minor" & "The Nutcracker

Suite"), Bruce Bushman, Arthur Bryam,

Curt Perkins and Al Zinnen ("The Nutcracker
Suite"), Tom Codrick, Charles Philippi,

and Zack Schwartz ("The Sorcerer's

Apprentice"), John Hubley, Dick Kesley

and McLaren Stewart ("The Rite of Spring"),

Ken Anderson, Yale Gracey, Hugh Hennesey,

Gordon Legg, Lance Nolley and Herbert

Ryman ("The Pastoral Symphony"), Harold

Doughty, Ernie Nodli and Kendall O'Connor

("Dance of the Hours"), Kay Nielsen,

Charles Payzant, Thor Putnam and Terrell

Stapp ("Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria")

Character Designers - John Walbridge ("The

Nutcracker Suite"), John P. Miller and Lorna

S. Soderstrom ("The Pastoral Symphony"),

James Bordero ("The Pastoral Symphony" &

"Dance of the Hours"), Martin Provensen, 

Duke Russell and Earl Hurd ("Dance of the

Hours")

Character Designer/Background Artist

("The Nutcracker Suite") - Ethel Kulsar

Background Artists - Dick Anthony ("The Pastoral

Symphony" & "Night on Bald Mountain/Ave

Maria"), John Hench and Nino Carbe

("Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" & "The

Nutcracker Suite"), Claude Coats ("The

Sorcerer's Apprentice" & "The Pastoral

Symphony"), Charles Conner ("Dance of the

Hours"), Merle Cox, Ray Lockrem,

Robert Storms, ("Night on Bald Mountain/

Ave Maria"), Al Dempster ("The Sorcerer's

Apprentice" & "Dance of the Hours"),

Joe Stahley ("Toccata and Fugue in D

Minor"), Stan Spohn and Eric Hansen ("The

Sorcerer's Apprentice"), Ed Levitt, Brice Mack

and Ed Starr ("The Rite of Spring"), Roy Forkum,

Ray Huffine, Gerald Nevius and Art Riley ("The

Pastoral Symphony")

Animation Supervisor ("The Rite of Spring")/

Animator ("Toccata and Fugue in D Minor")/

Effects Animator ("The Sorcerer's Apprentice")

(Uncredited)/Special Animation Effects ("Night

on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria") - Joshua Meador
Animation Supervisor ("The Pastoral

Symphony")/Animator ("The Nutcracker

Suite") - Art Babbitt
Animation Supervisors - Fred Moore
("The Sorcerer's Apprentice" & "The Pastoral

Symphony"), Bill Tytla ("The Sorcerer's

Apprentice" & "Night on Bald Mountain/

Ave Maria"), Wolfgang Reitherman ("The Rite

of Spring"), Ollie Johnston, Eric Larson,

Don Towsley and Ward Kimball ("The Pastoral

Symphony")

Conductor - Leopold Stokowski
Musical Direction - Edward H. Plumb

Musical Film Editor - Stephen Csillag

Recordists - William E. Garity,

J.N.A. Hawkins and C.O. Slyfield


Awards

1942 Academy Awards
Honorary Awards - Leopold Stokowski (and his

associates), Walt Disney, William E. Garity and

J.N.A. Hawkins (Won)

Review
FANTASIA, one of Disney's great animated classics, is an extraordinary film that blends classical music and animation. It's unlike anything you've ever seen before! I especially love four of its eight animated segments: "The Nutcracker Suite," "Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria," "Dance of the Hours," and, last but not least, my favourite of all, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." This segment, starring Mickey Mouse, is the most famous and best of all the sequences in the original FANTASIA.

With all its beautiful images and a dash of creativity, FANTASIA is one of the most groundbreaking films Walt Disney has ever made. I describe it as a work of art. It will never fade from memory, especially for families and Disney lovers. If you're a fan of this animated feature, you can purchase or rent FANTASIA and its sequel, Fantasia 2000, on Blu-ray and DVD.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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