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A review by bryce_is_a_librarian
Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler
4.0
A great but flawed look at a great but flawed man. Probably the first book about Disney to be free of revisionism either positive or negative. Instead a clear eyed honest look at a man who changed the course of the 20th century.
That said, while I love books about Filmmaking, the first couple decades of the 20th century, and animation, this book was a little much even for me. The length can be generously described as "horse choking" or "punishing" and once the wind goes out of Disney's sails after the infamous forties strike, the book loses a great deal of it's energy as well. As a result the last third is something of a slog. And despite the efforts of the author to pump it up the question of "Can the head of a giant corporation create a theme park?" is a great deal less interesting then "How is this young kid with and a debt ridden studio going to change the nature of filmmaking?"
Still an enlightening and enjoyable read.
That said, while I love books about Filmmaking, the first couple decades of the 20th century, and animation, this book was a little much even for me. The length can be generously described as "horse choking" or "punishing" and once the wind goes out of Disney's sails after the infamous forties strike, the book loses a great deal of it's energy as well. As a result the last third is something of a slog. And despite the efforts of the author to pump it up the question of "Can the head of a giant corporation create a theme park?" is a great deal less interesting then "How is this young kid with and a debt ridden studio going to change the nature of filmmaking?"
Still an enlightening and enjoyable read.