University of Virginia Library

At The Flicks

'Fantasia' Premieres At Jefferson

By P.K. Cristlin
College Topics Staff Writer

Walt Disney's "Fantasia," which
had its Central Virginia premiere at the
Jefferson Theatre on Main Street, is by
far the most important film of 1940 in
terms of the development of film as a
whole new art form. As the curtains of
the theatre part, we hear an orchestra
warming up and discover we're in the
presence of Mr. Deems Taylor, eminent
musicologist, who introduces us to
Leopold Stokowski and the
Philadelphia Orchestra, who swirl into
Bach's "D Minor Toccata and Fugue."

This is the beginning of a symphony
concert, but not like anything you'll
hear in Cabell Hall! Illustrated by Walt
Disney, with music by Bach,
Beethoven, Stavinsky, Dukas,
Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and
Shubert, and the Philadelphia under
the baton of Mr. Stokowski! The
screen bursts into glorious colors, as
the sound seems to travel, amazingly,
around us. The whole cine-symphony
lasts two hours and a half (intermission
included).

Some of the segments contain
striking beauty, unequaled in the
history of the movies. Among these are
the "Nutcracker Suite," and the
hauntingly eerie "Night On Bald
Mountain," followed with the peaceful
triumph of good over evil in "Ave
Maria." Most amazing of all are the
wave and cloud sequences from Bach,
which are called the abstract
cinemovies of European artists ten
years ago.

To me "Fantasia" is too eloquent
for words. It is truly remarkable that
Mr. Disney's cinemartists have created
such a vision that is beyond the doors
of human perception. It seems
impossible for anyone other than a
true artist to see the things that these
men have created for the screen.

Mr. Disney, a true Cinemartist, in a
recent interview stated the following:
"Art is never conscious. Things that
have lived were seldom planned that
way. If you follow that line you're on
the wrong track..."