After the success of SNOW WHITE, the Disney studios were, financially, doing quite well. Walt built a new studio for the animators.
But then the war in Europe broke out causing a decline in the foreign revenue for his films. Then, the animators went on strike.
Amid what he calls one of the worst times of his life, in 1941 Walt is recruited by the government to go on a goodwill tour of South America. With both Germany and the US trying to get the continent to side with them, Walt was thought to be the perfect ambassador for the country. He was to travel in Argentina, Brazil and Chile, with a group of writers and animators from the studio and use that material for a future film.
Using archival footage of the trip, along with letters sent home by family members, this is a very interesting look at this period in history, before Pearl Harbor. Like an actual trip to South America, this is a leisurely journey. It might go on a bit too long, with some interview segments not adding much to the overall story. But when it focuses on Walt and the trip itself, it is very good.
The DVD contains a few short deleted scenes. Most valuable is the inclusion of SALUDOS AMIGOS, the cartoon that was the direct result of the trip. This is the original version of the film. Earlier DVD releases have removed scenes of Goofy smoking.
WALT & EL GRUPO is available on Walt Disney Home Video.
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