Fantasia (1940)

A collection of animated interpretations of great works of Western classical music.

Writers:

Joe Grant (story), Dick Huemer (story),

Stars:

Leopold Stokowski, Deems Taylor, Corey Burton

6 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Leopold Stokowski	...	Himself - Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra
Deems Taylor	...	Himself - Narrative Introductions

Storyline

Disney animators set pictures to Western classical music as Leopold Stokowski conducts the Philadelphia Orchestra. "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" features Mickey Mouse as an aspiring magician who oversteps his limits. "The Rite of Spring" tells the story of evolution, from single-celled animals to the death of the dinosaurs. "Dance of the Hours" is a comic ballet performed by ostriches, hippos, elephants, and alligators. "Night on Bald Mountain" and "Ave Maria" set the forces of darkness and light against each other as a devilish revel is interrupted by the coming of a new day.

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Plot Keywords:

classical music | apprentice | sorcerer | orchestra | dance | 

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Taglines:

The ultimate in sight and sound

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Genres:

Animation | Family | Fantasy | Music

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 July 1941 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Concert Feature

Filming Locations:

Walt Disney Studios, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,280,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$361,800 (USA) (14 February 1941)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min 124 min (restored roadshow) 125 min (original release) 80 min (cut) 118 min (VHS)

Sound Mix:

3 Channel Stereo (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

On the 1982 digital re-recording of the soundtrack, Irwin Kostal decided to use Modest Mussorgsky's original orchestration (which was previously unpublished until 1968) of "Night on Bald Mountain," which is said to be much fiercer than the version orchestrated by Leopold Stokowski that was used on the original.

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Goofs

In the "Sorcerer's Apprentice" sequence, as Mickey Mouse waves his hands in front of him to make the broom come to life, his sleeves spill over his hands. It then cuts to his shadow on the wall, where his hands are fully exposed.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: How do you do? My name is Deems Taylor, and it's my very pleasant duty to welcome you here on behalf of Walt Disney, Leopold Stokowski, and all the other artists and musicians whose combined talents went into the creation of this new form of entertainment, "Fantasia". What you're going to see are the designs and pictures and stories that music inspired in the minds and imaginations of a group of artists. In other words, these are not going to be the interpretations of trained ...

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Crazy Credits

The "Fantasia" title card for all releases prior to 1990 (including the original roadshow version) was slightly different from the one seen in the 1990 re-release and in the videocassette version. In the original title card, the letters spelling out the word "Fantasia" are of a slightly different shade of color, as is the blue background, and the title card reads "In Technicolor", just below the word "Fantasia". There is also an RKO logo at the bottom. In the 1990 version, there is no RKO logo, and below the title it says "Color By Technicolor".

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Connections

Featured in The Nostalgia Critic: Simon Sez (2011)

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Soundtracks

"A Night on Bald Mountain"
(1867)
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky (as Modeste Moussorgsky)
Orchestrated by Leopold Stokowski (uncredited)
Played by The Philadelphia Orchestra (as The Philadelphia Orchestra)
Conducted by Leopold Stokowski

User Reviews

For Back Then!!!!!!

Why is this film so incredible? If for no other reason, consider it is the year 1940!! Things like: Special effects, synthesized sound which interacted with animated motion, and color enhanced collage authentications, are things that just sort of roll off the end of our tongues today, but, back then, these techniques were very new to us!! Walt Disney is avant garde in so many uses of cartoon perfection!! In 1931, he came out with the first color cartoon. In 1937, the film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" was a landmark in animated entertainment..."Fantasia" is absolutely one the best films ever made!! The color, the music, and the correlation between reality and illusionary depictions, culminated a brilliant montage of spectacular amusement for the movie audience!! My favorite segments were: Nutcracker Suite / The Russian Dance, Pastoral Symphony / Beethoven, and last but not least, Sorcerer's Apprentice / With Mickey Mouse. My mother said that I laughed hysterically for three hours in the movie theater at that scene with the multiplying brooms in the Sorcerer's Apprentice segment!! This film is synonymous with Christmas, as synonymous with Christmas as "It's a Wonderful Life" The movie "Fantasia" is considered one of the greatest films ever made, I wholeheartedly agree, in my book, it ranks 12th best movie ever!! "Fantasia" is usually in AFI's list of top 100 films ever made!! Imagery and the succinct use of color graphics are second nature with technical film artists today, back then, however, it was a revolutionary concept which dazzled the moviegoer!!! Walt Disney films are not just "cartoons" they are computerized digital artistry which evoke a rare art form of paramount escapism on the silver screen!! The "Fantasia 2000" movie was excellent too, but merely a rendition of the classic, while the segments were different, there just was not as much originality to them!! As a result, it lost a little panache in the process!! As a Chicagoan, I should like the "Fantasia 2000" more in one area: The music was performed by the Chicago Symphony!! In the original, the music was done by the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra!! "Fantasia" is a rare treat that every movie aficionado should witness.. I definitely recommend seeing this movie, preferably around Christmas!!