Thoughts on Walt
Page 3 of 26
Leonard Maltin on Walt Disney
December 5, 2001
He was not going to be beholden to small-minded people who didn't share his vision. |
We've chosen to lead off our Thoughts on Walt series with Leonard Maltin. A noted Disney historian, Maltin will be hosting tonight's Centennial Tribute to Walt Disney at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Maltin is probably best known as film correspondent and historian for Entertainment Tonight, a position he's held for nearly 20 years. He's also co-hosting a new syndicated show on films called Hot Ticket.which invites a group of celebrity guests to talk about new releases. But Disney fans may know Maltin best as the author of The Disney Films, one of the premiere reference works on Disney live-action and animated movies.
LaughingPlace.com: Why is Walt Disney special to you personally?
Leonard Maltin: On a personal basis that's easy to answer because I'd watch him as a child every week hosting the Disneyland TV show, so I felt a personal connection to him. And I knew who he was, I knew what he had done because every week he'd show us classic cartoons, take us behind the scenes, tell us how they make animated cartoons or go on the set of one of the new films, so he loomed large in my young life.
LP: What do you really admire about him from a professional perspective?
LM: Well first off he truly was a visionary. He didn't rely on market research, preview screenings or focus groups. He trusted his own opinions. He had faith in himself and he had faith in his taste. And, as has often been said, apparently his taste reflected that of the public, so he had every good reason to believe in himself. He wasn't afraid to try new and different things, even when everyone around him wanted him to just keep doing what he was doing. His brother Roy, who was his greatest ally, questioned the wisdom of doing nature films and wondered why he had to go from black and white cartoons to color when it cost so much more. Walt was the one who was always looking ahead and always pushing forward and when you see the way the movie and TV businesses are run today, it's even more astonishing to think of what he accomplished.
LP: Could someone like Walt Disney even make it today?
LM: Of course he could because he had a great success rate, his track record was so good.
LP: Would he have even gotten the chance?
LM: He made his own chances. That was the whole point, he made his own opportunity. He was beaten up by the early distributor that he worked for so he said "alright, then I'll go into business for myself," and when he had disagreements with his later distributors, he started his own distribution company. He was not going to be beholden to small-minded people who didn't share his vision.
LP: You've mentioned how much of a visionary and a futurist Walt was. Do you think that was his greatest quality?
LM: No, it was one of many great qualities. Certainly one of his greatest qualities is he was such a superb storyteller.
LP: I'm sure you've talked to many people about Walt. Why do you think he is so loved and so revered by those who knew him?
LM: Not everyone who worked for him loved him outright. He was demanding, he was difficult. But he demanded no more of anyone else than he did of himself. I think everyone came away with admiration for him because he had only one concern and that was making the best film, telling the best story or designing the best theme park that he possibly could.
Walt Disney, Shirley Temple and his special Oscars for
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
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