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Walt Disney: Hollywood's Dark Prince
A creative genius, Walt Disney's films and characters brought love and laughter to children everywhere and inspired the great Disney theme parks. Now Marc Eliot presents the dark side of Walt Disney, revealing his 25 year association with J. Edgar Hoover's FBI as an informant, rooting out Communists, subversives and Jews. His phobic behaviour is also examined in detail, as is his obsessive hand-washing, heavy drinking, sexual inadequacies, anti-Semitism and paranoia about having been adopted. Marc Eliot shows how these psycho-sexual conflicts drove Walt to despair and how they found expression in his animated characters.
305 pages, Hardcover
First published July 13, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
August 21, 2015
Entertaining, but ultimately disappointing biography of an obviously flawed man. The description promised intrigues into Disney's sexual inadequacies, but was rather disappointing in that regard. The book also relies far too much on the testimonies of disgruntled former employees, who spread incorrect rumors like Disney wearing a Goldwater button when presented with a Medal of Freedom by LBJ (which is false). The book should have featured more details on Disney's ratting out animators to HUAC to retaliate against union agitators, which is the REAL reason Disney was a "dark prince" in Hollywood.
The book does, however, feature one of the most amusing anecdotes I've read in a long time...
"For the film's (Pinocchio) New York premiere, Walt hired eleven midgets dressed in Pinocchio outfits and ordered them to frisk about on the roof of the theater marquee. At lunchtime, food and refreshments were passed up to them, including, without Disney's knowledge, a couple of quarts of liquor. By three o'clock that afternoon things got so out of hand an amused crowd was regaled by the spectacle of eleven stark-naked midgets belching noisily and enjoying a crap game atop the Broadway marquee. Police with ladders were called to remove them in pillowcases. Walt decided not to duplicate these festivities in other cities."
The book does, however, feature one of the most amusing anecdotes I've read in a long time...
"For the film's (Pinocchio) New York premiere, Walt hired eleven midgets dressed in Pinocchio outfits and ordered them to frisk about on the roof of the theater marquee. At lunchtime, food and refreshments were passed up to them, including, without Disney's knowledge, a couple of quarts of liquor. By three o'clock that afternoon things got so out of hand an amused crowd was regaled by the spectacle of eleven stark-naked midgets belching noisily and enjoying a crap game atop the Broadway marquee. Police with ladders were called to remove them in pillowcases. Walt decided not to duplicate these festivities in other cities."
April 2, 2014
I wasn't surprised to learn of Walt's unsavory side. He had that Midwestern male's defecacentric mindset. Everything always led back to toilets and rear ends. Look at Disney cartoons. They're a carnival of butt-celebration on a par with...Brazil's Carnaval. Disney cartoons always gave me headaches.
December 5, 2013
I wanted to read a Disney bio and found this one first. I guess the title should have tipped me off better because it was a completely slanted view of the man. Everyone has their weaknesses but this author seemed to glory in highlighting Disney's failings and heavily downplay his good. I stopped reading half way when it just became too much and switched to Leonard Mosley's biography which was much better.
May 4, 2010
Marc Eliot has, as any good biographer would, done extensive research into the life of America's epitomized family man. And, what he found was not pretty. I feel that this book is both wildly underrated and unfortunately under-read. Eliot offers us an alternative to the reality that us Americans grew up with, a reality that allows for only one possibility: Disney is great, Disney is good. We have been duped into believing that this man was a loving, fatherly, genius that was more patriotic and more committed to the American family than any president has ever been. But, what we need to take into consideration is that everybody has their faults, even the voice of America's favorite mouse.
I think that everyone would do well to at least read the Author's opening note, which sums up the arguments that he presents in his text. Not only does the biography reveal the darker side of Walt, it unearths the shadows that Hollywood's historians have been hiding for decades, including McCarthyism, anti-semitism, mob ties, and the exploitation of both the average cartoonist and the average cartoon producer.
.
September 2, 2008
Can you give negative stars to books? This book is terrible.
December 5, 2013
A completely erroneous account of Walt Disney's life.
July 7, 2021
They say extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, in Eliots hit job that doesn't appear to be the case. His biggest claims including walts antisemitism and potential crossdressing are presented without any sources and seem to be made up to add some credibility. If you want to know how a rita skeeter book would read in real life look no farther than this bad fanfic.
Honestly even in terms of a biography so so many people do it better. I wanted to read this book to get an opposing position to the walt hero worship but this trash just wasnt even worth it.
Honestly even in terms of a biography so so many people do it better. I wanted to read this book to get an opposing position to the walt hero worship but this trash just wasnt even worth it.
December 5, 2013
Biased.
March 5, 2019
You would have to be naive to think Walt Disney was as perfect as his portrayal over the years. Any man in Hollywood with that much power had to have a dark side. This book tells Walt's story along with all the dark stuff we all want to hear. I don't feel like it sensationalized anything, just told it like it was - warts and all. Overall a very interesting, readable and fascinating book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2018
More a balanced biography than a conspiracy narrative, Eliot describes Walt's triumphs and periods of despair. Disney is portrayed not as a mythical figure, but a real person who rose to great success while overcoming constant struggle.
May 18, 2012
This book paints a picture of Walt Disney that we seldom see. The book is not “anti-Disney” as might be expected. It just shows us some things that we would not normally know about. For instance, Walt was a Special Agent in Charge for the F.B.I. according to the book.
Walt fought many demons like the question of his parentage. Was he adopted or was he actually the child of the people who raised him? No records exist one way or the other.
Disney had many battles along the way with studio heads, financiers, investors, Roy and others. There is also an allusion to the idea that he may have been inappropriate with his adopted daughter when she was a teenager while he and she took a trip to the artic together without his wife.
The book was interesting, but I am not sure I put too much faith in all that it says.
Book Review Policy
My policy on book reviews is to give you my honest opinion of the book. From time to time publishers will give me a copy of their book for free for the purpose of me reading the book and writing a review. The publishers understand when they give me the book that I am under no obligation to write a positive review.
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I obtained this book from the publisher, Insert name of publisher here. This did not influence my opinion or review in anyway.
I purchased this book through Friends of the Library. Contact your local library and find out what excellent deals they offer.
Walt fought many demons like the question of his parentage. Was he adopted or was he actually the child of the people who raised him? No records exist one way or the other.
Disney had many battles along the way with studio heads, financiers, investors, Roy and others. There is also an allusion to the idea that he may have been inappropriate with his adopted daughter when she was a teenager while he and she took a trip to the artic together without his wife.
The book was interesting, but I am not sure I put too much faith in all that it says.
Book Review Policy
My policy on book reviews is to give you my honest opinion of the book. From time to time publishers will give me a copy of their book for free for the purpose of me reading the book and writing a review. The publishers understand when they give me the book that I am under no obligation to write a positive review.
If you will look at all my reviews, you will see that there have been occasions when I have written a negative review after having been given a book.
I often provide links to books on Amazon.com where you can purchase books and help support the continued operation of this blog. However, I strongly encourage you to check out your local library. Many libraries now offer electronic borrowing for free.
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
I obtained this book from the publisher, Insert name of publisher here. This did not influence my opinion or review in anyway.
I purchased this book through Friends of the Library. Contact your local library and find out what excellent deals they offer.
July 4, 2015
Opinie o tej książce zdają się być podzielone - niektórzy są oburzeni wizerunkiem Disney'a zaprezentowanym przez autora, inni doceniają alternatywę dla ugładzony biografii autoryzowanych przez studio Disney'a. Nie czuję się na siłach, aby rozstrzygać tą kwestię, żaden ze mnie znawca biografii Disney'a i historii branży filmowej w USA w pierwszej połowie XX wieku. Szkoda jednak, że tak ciekawy temat został tak źle ujęty pod względem literackim. Dla mnie w książce brakuje ciągłości, autor zdaje się przeskakiwać z tematu na temat i czasami trudno było zrozumieć, jakie są powiązania logiczne pomiędzy akapitami. Niektóre porównania były zdecydowania w nachalny sposób naciągane pod tezę, którą autor chciał podkreślić. Zbyt często zdarzało się, że autor zaprzeczał sam sobie. Wielka szkoda - mimo wielu niedociągnięć literackich, zaprezentowane w książce Hollywood i walka Disney'a o swoją pozycję branży filmowej wydaje się być tematem o bardzo dużym potencjale.
February 25, 2012
After reading the sanitized biographies of Disney, I knew this one would have all the speculative dirt the others omitted. Granted, we all have dirt in our lives, just how much of it is true is as good a guess as anyone reading any of the celebrity gossip magazines. The research was good and the observations candid without always being conclusive. It leaves you knowing less than the whole, but no one can no anyone wholly, can they?
March 14, 2015
As a huge Disney fan, I enjoyed reading this book. It showed me a different side of Walt. I ran through emotions of anger and hatred at the things Walt did to his employees and was intrigued at the process and time scheme of how things happened. I wish there were more books about this side of Walt, except for what the Disney Archives chooses to release. I now have mixed feelings about Walt Disney, but Still Love Everything Disney. Worth the read, weather you end up liking/believing any of it.
October 31, 2020
INHALT:
Auf dem Markt existieren einige Biografien über den berühmten Gründer des Walt-Disney-Studios, aber keine beschäftigt sich so eingehend mit den Schattenseiten des innovativen Filmemachers wie die vorliegende Biografie von Marc Elliot. Bereits in der Einleitung erläutert er, wie er versuchte, Zugang zu den Disney-Archiven zu bekommen und wie die Auswahl der Informationen, die für solche Recherchen zur Verfügung gestellt werden, vom Disney-Konzern kontrolliert und gesteuert wird.
Der Autor machte es sich daraufhin zum Ziel, mit Freunden, Familie, Kollegen und Bekannten von Walt zu sprechen, um auch die dunklen Seiten seiner Person zu beleuchten, die in anderen Werken sozusagen zensiert wurden, um das Image des guten "Onkel Walt" nicht zu beschädigen.
Deshalb ist die Lektüre nicht nur interessant, sondern verändert unter Umständen das gesamte Bild, dass der Leser vorher von Walter Elias Disney hatte.
Marc Elliot beginnt mit der Biografie in Disneys Kindheit und Jugend, beschreibt hier klar die familiären Strukturen und wie Walt geprägt wurde. Über die Anfänge des jungen Walt mit seinem Animationsstudio, welches Zeichentrickserien vertrieb bis über seine verkannten Ideen wie bspw. die "Silly Symphonies" wird detailliert berichtet. Auch die finanziellen Schwierigkeiten, mit denen er und das Studio immer wieder zu kämpfen hatte, werden thematisiert - und das bis hin zu den Zeiten, in denen das Walt Disney Studio bereits seinen ersten abendfüllenden Zeichentrickfilm "Schneewittchen und die sieben Zwerge" Erfolge verzeichnete.
Besonders interessant waren die Interpretationen der Filme im Zusammenhang mit Walts Psyche und familiären Einflüssen.
Auch die Filmindustrie Hollywoods zur damaligen Zeit, politische Rahmenbedingungen und Machtspielchen zwischen den Studiobossen werden erläutert.
Weiterhin wird dargestellt, wie Walt mit seinen Mitarbeitern umging, wie diese sich in Gewerkschaften organisierten und in großen Streik traten und er es einfach nicht wahrhaben wollte.
Es wird darauf eingegangen, wo die wirklichen Wurzeln der Person Walt Disney liegen, was er für eine Verbindung zum FBI hatte und welche zwischenmenschlichen und politischen Ansichten er pflegte.
Auch auf seine Werke und sein Schaffen wird der Fokus gerichtet, aber nicht vordergründig.
SCHREIBSTIL:
Zuweilen fand ich den Schreibstil von Elliot ausschweifend und zu detailliert, gerade wenn es um die Zusammenhänge im damaligen Hollywood geht. Aber genau diese Detailtiefe machte es an anderer Stelle wiederum sehr spannend, wenn es um Walts familiäre Verhältnisse oder ihn als Person mit Ecken und Kanten ging.
Natürlich ist auch dieser Biografie mit anderen gemein, dass sie im Gegensatz zu anderen Genres ein recht überschaubares Lesetempo erzeugt, was den vielen Informationen geschuldet ist. Das tut meiner Meinung nach dem Lesevergnügen in dem Sinne keinen Abbruch, als dass die Fülle der Informationen ein nachvollziehbares und authentisches Bild einer sonst so schillernden Persönlichkeit vermittelt.
FAZIT:
Die Biografie "Genie im Zwielicht" von Marc Elliot bietet zu den gängigen Biografien ein interessantes Gegenstück, da sie auch die vielen Schattenseiten Walts und seines Konzerns beleuchtet. Der Blick auf ihn als Person, seine Filme, seinen Erfolg und sein Unternehmen werden durch diese Lektüre auf jeden Fall differenzierter. Denn Walt war nicht nur ein furchtbar schlechter Chef, sondern auch Sonderagent des FBI und ein großer Neider und Aufmerksamkeitshascher. Elliot vergisst dabei aber nicht, auf die psychische Verfassung Walts einzugehen, die durch seine Kindheit maßgeblich geprägt wurde. Somit bleibt dem Leser selbst überlassen, ob Walt wirklich mit böser Absicht handelte oder nicht doch von einer kindlichen Sehnsucht nach Anerkennung getrieben wurde, die ihn zu nicht weniger machte als zu einem Mann, der nie wirklich erwachsen wurde oder werden wollte. Eines jedoch bleibt allen Biografien gemein - die Würdigung seiner Werke und seines Strebens nach Perfektion. Denn Walter E. Disney machte niemals halbe Sachen.
Meine Begeisterung für Walt als Person hat sich durch diese Biografie nicht gemindert. Im Gegenteil machen seine "dunklen" Seiten und die traurige Wahrheit hinter dem Genie einen greifbaren Menschen aus ihm.
Die vorliegende Biografie ist ein wichtiges und einmaliges Werk, da es die einzige ist, welche nicht durch den Disney-Konzern kontrolliert wurde. Eine sehr detailliertes und ehrliches Buch, das auch die zahlreichen Schattenseiten von Walt aufzeigt. Sehr interessant und lehrreich. Klare Leseempfehlung!
Auf dem Markt existieren einige Biografien über den berühmten Gründer des Walt-Disney-Studios, aber keine beschäftigt sich so eingehend mit den Schattenseiten des innovativen Filmemachers wie die vorliegende Biografie von Marc Elliot. Bereits in der Einleitung erläutert er, wie er versuchte, Zugang zu den Disney-Archiven zu bekommen und wie die Auswahl der Informationen, die für solche Recherchen zur Verfügung gestellt werden, vom Disney-Konzern kontrolliert und gesteuert wird.
Der Autor machte es sich daraufhin zum Ziel, mit Freunden, Familie, Kollegen und Bekannten von Walt zu sprechen, um auch die dunklen Seiten seiner Person zu beleuchten, die in anderen Werken sozusagen zensiert wurden, um das Image des guten "Onkel Walt" nicht zu beschädigen.
Deshalb ist die Lektüre nicht nur interessant, sondern verändert unter Umständen das gesamte Bild, dass der Leser vorher von Walter Elias Disney hatte.
Marc Elliot beginnt mit der Biografie in Disneys Kindheit und Jugend, beschreibt hier klar die familiären Strukturen und wie Walt geprägt wurde. Über die Anfänge des jungen Walt mit seinem Animationsstudio, welches Zeichentrickserien vertrieb bis über seine verkannten Ideen wie bspw. die "Silly Symphonies" wird detailliert berichtet. Auch die finanziellen Schwierigkeiten, mit denen er und das Studio immer wieder zu kämpfen hatte, werden thematisiert - und das bis hin zu den Zeiten, in denen das Walt Disney Studio bereits seinen ersten abendfüllenden Zeichentrickfilm "Schneewittchen und die sieben Zwerge" Erfolge verzeichnete.
Besonders interessant waren die Interpretationen der Filme im Zusammenhang mit Walts Psyche und familiären Einflüssen.
Auch die Filmindustrie Hollywoods zur damaligen Zeit, politische Rahmenbedingungen und Machtspielchen zwischen den Studiobossen werden erläutert.
Weiterhin wird dargestellt, wie Walt mit seinen Mitarbeitern umging, wie diese sich in Gewerkschaften organisierten und in großen Streik traten und er es einfach nicht wahrhaben wollte.
Es wird darauf eingegangen, wo die wirklichen Wurzeln der Person Walt Disney liegen, was er für eine Verbindung zum FBI hatte und welche zwischenmenschlichen und politischen Ansichten er pflegte.
Auch auf seine Werke und sein Schaffen wird der Fokus gerichtet, aber nicht vordergründig.
SCHREIBSTIL:
Zuweilen fand ich den Schreibstil von Elliot ausschweifend und zu detailliert, gerade wenn es um die Zusammenhänge im damaligen Hollywood geht. Aber genau diese Detailtiefe machte es an anderer Stelle wiederum sehr spannend, wenn es um Walts familiäre Verhältnisse oder ihn als Person mit Ecken und Kanten ging.
Natürlich ist auch dieser Biografie mit anderen gemein, dass sie im Gegensatz zu anderen Genres ein recht überschaubares Lesetempo erzeugt, was den vielen Informationen geschuldet ist. Das tut meiner Meinung nach dem Lesevergnügen in dem Sinne keinen Abbruch, als dass die Fülle der Informationen ein nachvollziehbares und authentisches Bild einer sonst so schillernden Persönlichkeit vermittelt.
FAZIT:
Die Biografie "Genie im Zwielicht" von Marc Elliot bietet zu den gängigen Biografien ein interessantes Gegenstück, da sie auch die vielen Schattenseiten Walts und seines Konzerns beleuchtet. Der Blick auf ihn als Person, seine Filme, seinen Erfolg und sein Unternehmen werden durch diese Lektüre auf jeden Fall differenzierter. Denn Walt war nicht nur ein furchtbar schlechter Chef, sondern auch Sonderagent des FBI und ein großer Neider und Aufmerksamkeitshascher. Elliot vergisst dabei aber nicht, auf die psychische Verfassung Walts einzugehen, die durch seine Kindheit maßgeblich geprägt wurde. Somit bleibt dem Leser selbst überlassen, ob Walt wirklich mit böser Absicht handelte oder nicht doch von einer kindlichen Sehnsucht nach Anerkennung getrieben wurde, die ihn zu nicht weniger machte als zu einem Mann, der nie wirklich erwachsen wurde oder werden wollte. Eines jedoch bleibt allen Biografien gemein - die Würdigung seiner Werke und seines Strebens nach Perfektion. Denn Walter E. Disney machte niemals halbe Sachen.
Meine Begeisterung für Walt als Person hat sich durch diese Biografie nicht gemindert. Im Gegenteil machen seine "dunklen" Seiten und die traurige Wahrheit hinter dem Genie einen greifbaren Menschen aus ihm.
Die vorliegende Biografie ist ein wichtiges und einmaliges Werk, da es die einzige ist, welche nicht durch den Disney-Konzern kontrolliert wurde. Eine sehr detailliertes und ehrliches Buch, das auch die zahlreichen Schattenseiten von Walt aufzeigt. Sehr interessant und lehrreich. Klare Leseempfehlung!
May 2, 2022
A biografia de Walt Disney por Marc Eliot leva uma menção honrosa por ser o primeiro livro sobre o assunto não autorizado pela Disney Entertainment.
O autor faz um bom trabalho, conseguindo separar Walt Disney de sua indústria.
Há alguns capítulos sobre sua infância e como os traumas e alegrias da época influenciaram a estética de seus filmes e mesmo seus parques. O autor relaciona o enredo de várias obras com uma leve análise psicológica de Disney, alimentada por depoimentos de seus apoiadores e detratores - a única coisa que incomoda, porém, é o fato de que Eliot não é um psicólogo ou mesmo um semiólogo, então tudo ganha um ar de psicologia de botequim.
Há vários e extensos capítulos sobre a trajetória de Disney como informante do FBI a cerca da influência comunista em Hollywood. Adiciona também os contatos criminosos e o moralismo fundamentalista do Tio Walt, coisas normalmente não abordadas em outras obras. O interessante é que Eliot se recusa a assumir uma postura em relação a isso, preferindo apenas taxar as ações de Disney como resultado de uma personalidade vingativa.
O autor insinua em determinados momentos uma possibilidade de pedofilia de Disney com sua filha adotiva, mas recua rapidamente... talvez por falta de provas ou pelo simples medo de atacar uma das figuras de entretenimento infantil mais populares de todos os tempos.
Enfim, é interessante para qualquer um que gostaria de saber mais sobre o grande produtor - porém, há um ranço de medo em todo o texto que faz com o autor tolha suas palavras.
O autor faz um bom trabalho, conseguindo separar Walt Disney de sua indústria.
Há alguns capítulos sobre sua infância e como os traumas e alegrias da época influenciaram a estética de seus filmes e mesmo seus parques. O autor relaciona o enredo de várias obras com uma leve análise psicológica de Disney, alimentada por depoimentos de seus apoiadores e detratores - a única coisa que incomoda, porém, é o fato de que Eliot não é um psicólogo ou mesmo um semiólogo, então tudo ganha um ar de psicologia de botequim.
Há vários e extensos capítulos sobre a trajetória de Disney como informante do FBI a cerca da influência comunista em Hollywood. Adiciona também os contatos criminosos e o moralismo fundamentalista do Tio Walt, coisas normalmente não abordadas em outras obras. O interessante é que Eliot se recusa a assumir uma postura em relação a isso, preferindo apenas taxar as ações de Disney como resultado de uma personalidade vingativa.
O autor insinua em determinados momentos uma possibilidade de pedofilia de Disney com sua filha adotiva, mas recua rapidamente... talvez por falta de provas ou pelo simples medo de atacar uma das figuras de entretenimento infantil mais populares de todos os tempos.
Enfim, é interessante para qualquer um que gostaria de saber mais sobre o grande produtor - porém, há um ranço de medo em todo o texto que faz com o autor tolha suas palavras.
November 9, 2020
Much of this book is truly a stretch. Although much of the biography about Walt Disney out there is well polished to project the image of Uncle Walt, this book disregards any forgivingness to being a product of the times, or any of Walt's true virtues. It felt unresearched and not well put together. It is obvious that the author had lost the pixie dust and realized that Disney was human and had flaws- like they had been duped and wanted to raise the veil for others. Perhaps, I simply had know a bit of the information that was in here and had even seen it put into context better in other volumes. The author often repeated the exact sentence in other chapters of the book. One thing they seemingly could not get over that seemed unsubstantiated and honestly not that surprising, and the only thing in the book that became memorable: Walt Disney dipped donuts in whiskey.
May 15, 2018
As an avid lover of all things Disney I was hesitant about reading this book. In all honesty my boyfriend bought it thinking it was an ordinary bio, no reading the Dark Prince cover. I began the book and was hooked. I enjoyed learning about the ups and downs, the brights and darks of his past. It was well written. Walt was human like the rest of us.
March 1, 2025
the "dark prince" moniker derives from Walt Disney's working with the FBI during the 1950s (the McCarthy era). he had a variety of apparent issues with his family, that were not public, but sussed out by the author through deduction and inference.
still, the biography is a good read, but i need to read other works to round out the life of Walt Disney.
still, the biography is a good read, but i need to read other works to round out the life of Walt Disney.
October 12, 2018
A fairly good brief biography. I believe the book failed to give both sides of an argument sometimes not acknowledging that there was in fact an explanation or secondary view of his actions and feelings.
October 2, 2023
The authour mentioned a lot of important parts for a biography but I miss more reflection around it and the influence it had on his personal relations and his work. I also miss the reflection of how dangerous his work is for socity long after his death.
December 1, 2019
An intriguing insight into the character of a well-known name.
July 30, 2020
Good Read. Well documented facts. Tells a different side to Walt Disney.
Highly recommend
Highly recommend
January 21, 2025
an interesting read, but it skims over some pretty relevant stuff about the theme parks, but I guess I am biased
September 30, 2012
I guess that I was expecting a book bashing Walt Disney because of the use of "Dark Prince" in the title...so I was surprised that I didn't find too much bashing about Walt Disney. This biography painted Walt Disney as a creative human being, with emotions ranging from joy and wonderment to dark and gloomy. "Uncle Walt" was mischievous, hard-headed, opinionated, passionate, and more. He was a creative genius and had multiple visions on his direction in life. This book detailed the working relationships with Walt - the feeling of desertion of "family" when the workers went on strike, how mercurial Walt could be during the working process, the feelings that Walt took all the credit.
Most of the book dealt with events that are rather common knowledge and discussed in the other Disney biographies that I read (even though I only read 2). The surprising note was Disney's employment as a Special Agent in Charge (SAC). This detail is probably what made this book include the title "Dark Prince" - that Walt Disney was really a spy of a sort.
Either way, this book did not change my overall attitude about Disney. It did open my eyes to acknowledge that Walt Disney was a human being so he wasn't without any faults. But, his legacy of Disneyland, DisneyWorld, and all of the Disney movies/products/projects will continue on and began with him.
Most of the book dealt with events that are rather common knowledge and discussed in the other Disney biographies that I read (even though I only read 2). The surprising note was Disney's employment as a Special Agent in Charge (SAC). This detail is probably what made this book include the title "Dark Prince" - that Walt Disney was really a spy of a sort.
Either way, this book did not change my overall attitude about Disney. It did open my eyes to acknowledge that Walt Disney was a human being so he wasn't without any faults. But, his legacy of Disneyland, DisneyWorld, and all of the Disney movies/products/projects will continue on and began with him.
June 2, 2016
This biography sure is an interesting piece. I found it very exciting to know what Walt Disney was like behind the scenes of his magical making. Getting to know how Mickey Mouse was created, I got the butterflies because I love Disney with all my heart! I think that Walt Disney was and is still a very inspiring person- even though he is no longer alive physically, he is still alive through all his fancy work, dream- just like most Americans, he started from the bottom, but with his imagination, he made it to the top. If you have a dream, go and follow it, because your dreams will come true.
December 9, 2010
it was ssoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 19, 2015
I couldn't hate it, because of whom it was about, obviously. But I was counting on something more, something better. I'm not entirely satisfied after, having finished. Many things remain unclear, have been written in a vague way, or were simply not interesting. It was hard and quite boring to read. I wouldn't recommend it; having finished, I think I will look for another Disney biography to actually get to know his life.
August 18, 2018
Walt Disney, the man was not what we grew up believing. He took credit for animation work done by others, treated his staff members unfairly, wasn't a good father or husband and was antisemitic. Yet he created an entertainment empire that stands for all that is good and pure.
I felt disillusioned by what I read. But that didn't affect my rating. The biography details were written in such a boring, unentertaining way.
I felt disillusioned by what I read. But that didn't affect my rating. The biography details were written in such a boring, unentertaining way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews