Here we go for the part two of this fantastic LIFE Magazine report on Walt Disney in Rio de Janeiro with his team of Disney Studios animators, in 1941. If you've missed the part one of this article you will find it HERE.
On these first pictures, above and below, Walt, walking with Disney animators is the one holding the bag on his head!
The next three pictures are very interesting. They show a Disney animator learning how to dance samba which... will lead to the famous "Saludos Amigos" sequence when Jose Carioca learn Donald how to dance the famous brazilian dance.
...and Mary Blair was not insensitive to its rhythm.
May be a litlle bit later, the group enjoy a drink - Herb Ryman, left and Frank Thomas and Mary Blair on the right.
The next pictures, showing Disney animators doing sketches of parrots, show the research - and the birth - of a new Disney character, Jose Carioca. On the first picture below, Frank Thomas.
On these two next pictures, Herb Ryman (center).
And here is a sketch of Jose Carioca by Jack Miller.
Let's have a look now at pictures showing famous Disney animators. I think it's Herb Ryman on the one below...
Here is a painting from Herb Ryman.
The next pictures show Jack Miller doing sketches...
...whether it's a man holding bananas...
...or another one walking with plants over his head (!)
...or a man sleeping on a road...
...or a small Brazilian village. I think it's Herb Ryman (right) who is here with Jack Miller (left).
Another painting of Herb Ryman, precisely showing a poor Brazilian village.
A last picture of Jack Miller in big conversation with a charming brazilian girl. Anyone know how the evening ended?
The next pictures show the great Mary Blair. First, in a botanical garden, with her husband Lee Blair, also doing sketches.
Mary Blair doing sketches of young schoolgirls...
...or ducks...
...or a military parade...
And everybody seems to be interested by Mary's sketches!
On the two next pictures, Mary Blair and Lee Blair, with Rio de Janeiro bay famous skyline in the background.
And here is Mary Blair painting.
Others pictures of Mary and Lee...
Visiting a Brazilian art gallery...
A last nice picture of Mary, by LIFE photographer Hart Preston
Let's come back to Walt who also met Brazilian musicians.
On the next picture Walt is the one holding a string basse. Which doesn't mean that he knew to play it!
Apparently there was a private screening (of probably a Disney animated movie), and Walt was doing a special commentary for the audience!
The Brazilian premiere of Fantasia also happened while they were in Rio de Janeiro.
And an evening party, may be on the same evening. On the picture below the atmosphere looks a bit ceremonious...
...but as you can see on this next one it didn't stopped Walt to be sensible to the charm of the woman next to him!
An evening party, may be after the Fantasia Premiere...
...where Walt seems to be amazed by the table decor.
A last picture with Walt listening to a young singer.
This is the end of this incredible LIFE Magazine report and i hope you've enjoyed all these rare pictures of this golden era!
Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat
All pictures: copyright LIFE Magazine - All pictures by Hart Preston
8 comments:
Thank you, Alain. It was fun to pour over these pictures of an innocent time, really makes you ask 'what ever happened to this world'? Amazing...
innocent? Wasn't it the time of race discrimination in the US, strict role models, and Second World war? But, you are right, everything at least looks at is was an innocent time.
Beautiful pictures! Thanks Alain for sharing them. It is nice for me to see the country that my grandparents knew, it looked to calm and peaceful, very different from today's Brazil.
P.S. We also had problems back them David, such as a dictatorship and political persecution, but in general it seems that it was very calm, peaceful and innocent.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GREAT EFFORT ON PUTTING THESE PICTURES TOGETHER FOR US. GREAT TO SEE IMAGES OF MARY BLAIR ALSO, IM A BIG FAN OF HER WORK!
GREETINGS FROM MEXICALI, MEXICO!
My question: is Brazil represented nowadays in Disney's parks? Jose Carioca, for exemple, is an almost unkown character. Unfortunately, it seems that Brazil was only visited and filmed when american governement had some interest in it.
Great post and amazing pictures. Just a little comments to help you improve the indentification of people that appears in the images:
In the picture in which you wrote "And an evening party, may be on the same evening. On the picture below the atmosphere looks a bit ceremonious...", you can see, in center of image, in the left side of Walt, a short man using glasses, between two ladies. That man is the president of Brazil in that time, the dictator Getúlio Vargas. Vargas appears agains in the next image, with a hand in the chin. Problably that was an official reception from the govern to the foreigner visitors. I think that is the reason for the ceremonious atmosphere. And in the photograph with the phrase "On the next picture Walt is the one holding a string basse." you can see a man stand behind a desk and waving a stick. He is Vila-Lobos, one of the great brazilian composers.
Thanks again for the post. And greetings from Brazil.
That´s Getulio Vargas. Brasil president and dictator at the time.. Great photos.
Disney en Chile 1941 www.disneyenchile.blogspot.com
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