Victory Through Air Power

History and Review By Michael J. Ruhland

Year Released:1943

Michael's Movie Grade: A


                                                            History
The Disney Studio became very involved in the war effort, when the U.S.A. entered World War 2. They made many training films for the army, and made many short films about the war effort for civilians (many staring Disney's already famous cartoon characters). They had also provided animated inserts for Frank Capra's Why We Fight series. However this film was a departure from those not only because it was a feature, but because it was not funded by the U.S. government, and actually was mainly made to try to change the military's approach to fighting the war.

 Walt Disney had read Major Alexander de Seversky's book Victory Through Air Power, and became convinced that this book was saying something that needed to be said. The book spoke of how aerial strategy was the only way The Allies could win World War 2. Walt felt he needed to make a film based on this book, so that hopefully people would listen.  

At this time Walt Disney was looking more and more into the world of live action film-making, though it would not be until 1950's Treasure Island that the Disney studio would make a film with no animation. However during this period almost all of the Disney features featured some live action. Even though the majority of the movie was animated, this film would feature live action sequences of Alexander de Seversky lecturing about the importance of air power to win World War 2. The rest of the film would be animated scenes showing visually what he was talking about. Like in The Reluctant Dragon, the studio had not yet found it's live action crew. The live action scenes would be directed by a man who never worked for Disney before and never would again. This man would be H. C. Potter, who directed such films as The Time of Your Life (1948), and Hellzapoppin' (1941). At the same time the animated sequences would be directed by Disney regulars James Algar, Clyde Geronimi, and Jack Kinney.

Since this film was so different from what people expected from Disney or animation, Disney's current distributor RKO did not want to release it. Because of this Victory Through Air Power became the first Disney film to be released through United Artists.

Victory Through Air Power lost money at the box office, because for obvious reasons it was not what people expected from a Disney film or an animated film. It also received mixed reviews from critics, many of whom felt it offered nothing other than propaganda. However one fan of the movie was Winston Chruchill, who was from this film very inspired to put more emphasis on air power in his war strategy, so the film accomplished what Disney set out to do, help The Allies win the war.  

                                                                     Review
Even if this is far from what one expects from a Disney film, it is an incredible achievement.

The animation in this film is incredible. This film really showcases the power and artistry of the Disney animators. For a type of film the animators were not used to making, this turned out not only surprisingly well, but a work that holds up as well as the best that they have done. During a time when most American animation was funny cartoons (Even if they were great ones), this must have come as a shock to people who might have been unfamiliar with the range of subjects and genres animation could cover, and how well it could do something that people wouldn't expect it to. That it could be art equal to live action film.

Major Alexander de Seversky seems very likable in this film, and never makes his message feel too heavy handed. This keeps the film from feeling as dated as it could feel, and keeps your mind open to what he has to say.

While Victory Through Air Power is not for everyone, and may in fact turn off some Disney fans,it is a great achievement that should be watched by people who want to watch something different from Disney, and for history buffs.

                                                     Film Credits

Sequence Directors: James Algar, Clyde Geronimi, Jack Kinney

Live Action Director: H.C. Potter

Based on the book Victory Through Air Power by Major Alexander de Seversky

Writers: Perce Pearce, T. Hee, Erdman Penner, William Cottrell, James Bodrero, Vernon Stallings

Cast: Art Baker (Narrator), Major Alexander de Seversky (Himself), Billy Mitchell (Himself)

Producer: Walt Disney

Music: Edward H. Plumb, Paul J. Smith, Oliver Wallace, Sidney Fine, Arthur Morton, Frederick Stark, Clifford Vaughan

Cinematography: Ray Rennahan

Art Directors: Richard Irvine, Tom Codrick, Don DaGradi, Cliff Devirian, Don Griffith, Bill Herwig, Karl Karpé, Charles Philippi, Elmer Plummer, Herbert Ryman, Glenn Scott

Story Sketches: Marc Davis

Set Decoration: William Kiernan

Production Manager:  Daniel Keefe

Assistant Directors: Jack Bruner, Lou Debney, Lloyd Richardson

Sound Recordists:  Lodge Cunningham, C.O. Slyfield

Supervising Animator: David Hand

Background Artists: Dick Anthony, Nino Carbe, Claude Coats, Al Dempster, Ray Huffine, Joe Stahley

Character Designer: Marc Davis

Ink and Paint Artist: Rae McSpadden

Animators: Edwin Aardal, Jack Boyd, Hugh Fraser, Ollie Johnston, Bill Justice, Ward Kimball, John Lounsbery, John McManus, Joshua Meador, George Rowley, John Sibley, Norman Tate, Harvey Toombs, Bill Tytla, Marvin Woodward

Color Director: Natalie Kalmus

Associate Color Director: Morgan Padelford

                                                  Resourses Used
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036497/?ref_=rvi_tt
The Disney Films by Leonard Maltin

-Michael J. Ruhland