As I have previously stated, Fantasia is by far and away my favorite Disney film.
Let’s get some of the random trivia out of the way, shall we? Fantasia was the first film recorded in stereophonic sound. Let me say that again: this was the first film that was recorded in stereo, a sound format that we take for granted today. This required theaters that showed the initial release to be “specially equipped” with extra speakers for the movie patrons to enjoy full effect of the soundtrack. This was done only for the initial release of the film in 1940. All copies of the film in its various versions until 1957 were sent with mono tracks.
This is one of two Disney features not to have the phrase “Walt Disney presents” in front of it (the other being Snow White). In fact, until 1990, there were no film credits attached to this movie other than the title card. The reason was that the credits were included in a keepsake program that one could purchase at the theater. I personally own four of these, one from 1940, one from 1977, one from 1990 and 1991. The one from 1940 is richer in detail regarding who worked on the film than the 1977/1990/1991 ones. EDIT: (The 1990/1991 do have credits, just not with each segment. They are crammed all on one page.) The one from 1990 was repackaged with a new logo for the 1991 collector’s edition and knowing what I know now, I wish it was the 1940 version. They made that choice because of the version of the film that was released. (Even the 1977 version is lacking from the 1940 version – which contained edited selections from the Deems Taylor book.)The version of the movie that was shown in 1940 was never publicly available until the 2001 “Legacy” DVD release. The version that most people have seen has a title card at the beginning of the film (more on that in a second) with introductions by Deems Taylor before every segment. It’s also an intense 124 minute running time, the longest film in the Disney Animated catalog with film credits tacked on the end. The “Legacy” DVD is the closest to a full restoration as will ever be presented. The movie opens with no credits or title card. Deems Taylor provides introductions (longer than in the familiar version) and there is an intermission where the title card is presented. After the film ends, there are no credits (because they would have been provided in the souvenir program).
Now, you may have noticed that I said the “Legacy” version is “the closest to a full restoration as will ever be presented”. The reason why I said this is two-fold. The first is that the original Deems Taylor narration for the extended introductions has been lost. For this version, they replaced him with voice actor Corey Burton. With all due respect to Mr. Burton, but you sound absolutely nothing like Deems Taylor. As a teenager, I watched my Fantasia VHS so many times I had to get a new one. It makes me crazy to this day when I hear the Corey Burton voice over.
The second reason is the animation edits in the Pastoral Suite. The edits to which I refer depict caricatures of black Americans that were tolerated in the time in which the film was made. I am not advocating their inclusion or exclusion in the film. Never knowing until I was an adult that these scenes were even part of the feature, the feature stands well without them. To me, if they were ever included in a future release, the only thing (for me personally) that it would do is date the film. Just as the hairstyles in David Lean’s Dr. Zhivago shows the film was made in the 1960’s, those scenes would signal to me that the film was made in the late 1930’s. (Of course, this is the same studio that has major issues with releasing “Song of the South” on any medium in the United States, but that’s a whole other story.) Again, I am not advocating that they are acceptable, just a part of history. If you want to see the scenes for yourself here’s a YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdi3zX9DKm8&feature=related
The music, while credited to be recorded by the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra was not completely recorded by them. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice was recorded by handpicked (local) Hollywood talent in the middle of the night with all of the players on caffeine highs. The rest of the soundtrack was the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. The performers shown in the film as the orchestra were actors.
Finally, a whole sequence was dropped from the film because of the excessive running time. The music was Debussy’s “Claire de Lune” and the film was released as a separate short in 1996. All the bridging sequences (Deems Taylor talking about the music) have been lost. Before its official “release” (as intended to be used in Fantasia) the animation was repurposed in 1946 in the film Make Mine Music as the “Blue Bayou” sequence.