Walt Disney Inspirations

Walt Disney "historians" always tell us that Walt's first cinematic experience was the 1916 film adaptation of Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs but this isn't accurate. Walt's sister, Ruth, revealed an earlier experience where Ruth and Walt snuck into a theater to see From the Manger to the Cross in 1912. Ruth said that the film had a profound impact on her brother and they marveled at the effects of Jesus being crucified and resurrected. Their father Elias was a devout congregational Christian, was both a deacon and trustee in their church, and would often preached sermons when their pastor, Walter Parr, was away. Walt's mother, Flora, was the church treasurer and played the organ in the service. Elias was a contractor and built a new sanctuary for their church without charge. The Disneys and Parrs were close friends and when both wives found they were expecting babies at the same time, Elias and Walter made a pact to name their children in each other's honor. Walt was named after Pastor Walter Parr and a few weeks later Elias Parr was born. Walt would have been familiar with Judeo-Christian values from his upbringing and not only displayed these values in his body of work but wrote about them a few times across his life as well. Influences from his childhood, including his Judeo-Christian values, are evident throughout many of the things Walt created. From the Manger to the Cross is regarded at the most important film of the silent era portraying the life of Christ. At the time, it was one of the longest and most popular films ever made. In 1998 it was added to the National Film Registry. From the Manger to the Cross was an influential film on young Walt Disney and is an important part of Walt Disney history and deserves to be acknowledged as such. *Note: Ruth said this was the film they witnessed but all copies in circulation abruptly end after the crucifixion. It's unclear if the final real is missing or if it, indeed, only tells Christ's story from the manger to the cross. Starring Robert Henderson-Bland as Jesus Percy Dyer as Boy Jesus Gene Gauntier as the Virgin Mary Alice Hollister as Mary Magdalene Sidney Olcott as Blind Man Samuel Morgan as Pontius Pilate James D. Ainsley as John the Baptist Robert G. Vignola as Judas Iscariot Helen Lindroth as Martha George Kellog as Herod Jack J. Clark as John the Apostle J. P. McGowan as a Wise Man Montague Sidney as Joseph F. Owen Sterling as Unknown Thos J. Wentworth as a Wise Man G. Howard Barton as a Wise Man Frederic Bryson as Unknown Leslie D. Thomas as Peter (Saint-Pierre) Frank T. Gregory as Andrew Harry Lennox as James H. H. Kerr as Bartholomew Jack Melville as James Denton Harcourt as Matthew J. M. Baber as Thaddeus Ralph T. Duncan as Simon William Smiley as Lazarus F. R. Payne as a leper Huntley Roma as a palsied man James H. Wilson as the son of the widow Ruth Middelton as the widow G. W. Martin as Thomas Carl Vincent as Simon of Cyrene Lydia Gardebeau as Salome H. L. Lumt as Penitent Thief F. T. Bostock as Impenitent thief Written by Gene Gauntier Directed by Sidney Olcott Release Date October 1912 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

Walt Disney always cited seeing this silent film version of Snow White as being the inspiration for his own adaptation of Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs in 1937. Walt saw this film as a boy in Kansas City at a screening held for the newspaper boys. The film was an adaptation of a 1912 stage play and used much of the same cast. Snow White was distributed by Paramount Pictures and it may surprise you in just how lavish of a fantasy film this was for the time. This film was once believed lost but a nearly complete print was discovered in Europe in 1992. It's fortunate we can look back and see this century plus year old film and see what influenced Walt Disney to create the worlds first animated feature. Starring Marguerite Clark as Snow White Creighton Hale as Prince Florimond Dorothy Cumming as Queen Brangomar Lionel Braham as Berthold the Huntsman Alice Washburn as Witch Hex (*see below) Richard Barthelmess as Pie Man Arthur Donaldson as King Irwin Emmer as Dwarf Billy Platt as Dwarf Herbert Rice as Dwarf Jimmy Rosen as Dwarf May Robson as Witch Hex Kate Lester as a dowager queen Written by Winthrop Ames Directed by J. Searle Dawley Release date December 25, 1916 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

This silent film version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was an epic film produced by Universal in 1916. For many years, it was the definitive cinematic version of the story and took over two years to make. It was the first film ever shot under water and was filmed on location at many of the same under sea locations as Walt's version of the film. It cost so much to make there was no way for it to make a profit and such films were not made again for decades. When Walt produced his version in the 1950's, he remembered this famous silent version and it influenced parts of his picture. Few people today have ever seen this version or are aware that silent films could be so elaborately made. In the year 2016 it was added to the National Film Registry. Starring Allen Holubar as Captain Nemo Jane Gail as A Child of Nature Matt Moore as Lieutenant Bond William Welsh as Charles Denver Curtis Benton as Ned Land Dan Hanlon as Professor Aronnax Edna Pendleton as Aronnax's Daughter Written by Stuart Paton Directed by Stuart Paton Release date December 24, 1916 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

This silent film version of Peter Pan was an epic film in 1924. For many years, it was the definitive cinematic version of the story. Sir J.M. Barrie collaborated on the film. The end result is one of the most fanciful films ever made in the silent era. When Walt Disney secured the film rights to Peter pan, he also bought this film in 1938 to withhold it from public exhibition and thereby creating demand for his forthcoming version. This was customary for film makers to do in the golden age of Hollywood. Some of the visual concepts that originated in this film Walt expanded upon in his 1953 animated version including making Tinkerbell a personality and not just a ball of light. For years, the film was believed to be lost until it a copy was discovered in a private collection and restored. In the year 2000 it was added to the National Film Registry. Starring Betty Bronson as Peter Pan Ernest Torrence as Captain Hook Mary Brian as Wendy Darling Jack Murphy as John Darling Philippe De Lacy as Michael Darling Virginia Brown Faire as Tinker Bell George Ali as Nana the dog and Crocodile Esther Ralston as Mrs. Darling Cyril Chadwick as Mr. Darling Anna May Wong as Tiger Lily Maurice Murphy as Tootles Mickey McBan as Slightly George Crane Jr. as Curly Winston Doty as 1st Twin Weston Doty as 2nd Twin Terence McMillan as Nibs Louis Morrison as Gentleman Starkey Edward Kipling as Smee Robert Milasch as Kelt Written by Willis Goldbeck Directed by Herbert Brenon Release date December 29, 1924 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.