Walt Disney: A Life in Films - 1. Snow White

Walt Disney - the name is truly iconic, but how much do we really know about this titan of the entertainment industry? Who was the real Walt and why did a man who moulded Western pop culture in his image end up on his deathbed, afraid that he’d be forgotten?

Through the stories of ten of his greatest works, Mel Giedroyc examines the life of this much mythologised genius. A man to whom storytelling was an escape from an oppressive father and a respite from periods of depression.

Our story begins with the turbulent creation of Walt's very first feature film, the iconic Snow White. Walt wanted to deliver animation on a grand scale, pushing his cartoons into exciting new territory. The naysayers said he should "stick to shorts", the financial pressures were almost unbearable and yet Walt produced a masterpiece that would shape popular culture forever.

A Novel production for BBC Radio 4

Published on Thursday, 29th June 2023.

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