Disneyland Handcrafted is now streaming on Disney+ and Disney YouTube. The documentary tells the story of Disneyland’s creation from the ground up for the year leading up to its 1955 opening, through archival footage and audio.
Disneyland Handcrafted
Director Leslie Iwerks searched through over 100 hours of raw material showcasing the early days of Disneyland, including unused 16mm film reels from Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color, to unearth the untold “Imagineering Story.” The finished product includes first-hand accounts of real artists and Imagineers on-site in 1955, with preserved conversations and construction sound.
Leslie Iwerks is descended from two Disney Legends: her grandfather Ub Iwerks and father Don Iwerks. She’s directed multiple documentaries related to Disney, including The Imagineering Story, which influenced Disneyland Handcrafted.
The film’s description reads, “The magic of Walt Disney’s dream unfolds in Disneyland Handcrafted, a full-length feature documentary directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks. Go on an unforgettable journey through the exhilarating year that gave rise to The Happiest Place on Earth. Built from rare archival footage and original audio recordings, Disneyland Handcrafted reveals the extraordinary artistry and grit it took hundreds of craftspeople to bring Walt Disney’s impossible dream project of Disneyland to fruition – from groundbreaking to Opening Day on July 17, 1955.”
Read Tom’s honest review of the documentary or watch it below:
See our interview with Leslie Iwerks as she talks about the Disneyland Handcrafted Documentary
You can watch the documentary now on Disney+ or Disney YouTube:
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