|
The first feature-length animated film in history, "Snow White" is a
testimony to Walt's deep commitment to taking whatever existed and
making it better. When he first proposed creating a cartoon that would
run for more than just a few minutes, critics and nay-sayers abounded.
"It'll blind the audience," said some. "Nobody will watch a cartoon
that's so long," said others. They dubbed it Disney's Folly. But Walt
persisted, risking the financial future of his studio on the project.
And of course the success was complete. "Snow White" premiered on
December 21, 1937, and provided a financial bonanza for the Disney
organization. It was originally budgeted for $250,000, wound up costing
$1.75 million, and brought in about $4.2 million in its first release.
Perhaps more important, it proved that animation could be used not just
to amuse but to provoke a far wider range of emotions. |
|
