A Hollywood producer recently said: "A hundred years from now historians won't remember the Rudolph Valentinos or the Jean Harlows of the motion-picture industry. But they will remember Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse." For Disney (front cover) is a magician. He brings a fairy-tale world to life for children, gives worried, harried grownups a chance to remember that they can still be young in heart. Young and old alike have laughed and cried with such Disney stars as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Bambi and Snow White. Now he has produced his greatest creation: Cinderella.
This is Disney's first full-length, all-animated film since his studio went 94% into war work and many of his best artists went into uniform. Critical and audience reaction to it: It is a beautiful interpretation of the old fable, with some wonderful, strictly Disney touches.
Though the Disney legend grew out of his career as a drawer of cartoon characters, Disney today hasn't touched a drawing board in so long he's ashamed to attempt a sketch of Mickey Mouse. He likes to say: "The boys are running the studio now. I just sort of oversee things." Actually, every second of Cinderella is the result of his dynamic, inquiring enthusiasm for new ideas, his instinctive attention to details, his infectious confidence. Says one of his animators: "Walt has a mind exactly like a motion-picture projector. You can practically see the frames click off in his brain."
In Cinderella, Disney has a product expected to exceed the popularity of Snow White (his greatest box-office hit till now) to the tune of several million dollars. Released over two months ago, it's still top money-maker at the nation's box-offices. Its attendamce, as reported by last week's Variety: "Smashed to terrific."
