Disneyland USA:A Review

There are have been many great movies throughout the years.Star Wars,Casablanca,and Pulp Fiction have been celebrated as works of art.However I would like to dominate a new classic:People and Places-Disneyland USA released in 1956.Some may laugh and say Disneyland is just a theme park.However,in my humble opinion,theme parks are like works of art.Disneyland USA captures the essence of the true,original Disneyland through cinematics.It is a Disneyland of nostalgia,adventure,America,the future,and childhood fantasy.It is not the Disneyland destroyed by corporate greed.

When the movie starts and after the introduction,its impossible as a Disneyland historian and themed design junkie not to get a little choked up as panoramic view of the Disneyland park,accompanied by orchestral strains of “When You Wish Upon a Star”it’s hard to not get a little choked up.The score in this movie is amazing all original compositions all done by composer Oliver Wallace.Each piece perfectly fits the land it’s supposed to represent.Winston Hibler does a great job with narration.He speaks well but doesn’t overpower the score or visuals.

The structure of the film is impressive.The idea is that this is a virtual visit to Disneyland.You start at the Disneylnd Hotel and then experience all that Disneyland had in 1956.First you take a look down Main Street USA,accomponied by the song “Meet Me Down on Main Street” inspired by gay 90s waltzes of the time Main Street is supposed to take place.Frontierland’s score is an orchestral version of folk music of the great American Frontier.Adventureland has strange,exotic sounding score that evokes the jungles of Africa,Asia,South America,the Caribbean,and the South Seas all at once.Tomorrowland doesn’t have the techno music that we think of when we here about the future today but a grand score embodies the greatness of the future.We end in Fantasyland which is accompanied by a medley of Disney classics.The film ends with fireworks flashing above a glowing Sleeping Beauty Castle.

One thing I really enjoy about this movies is that it captures the idea of theme parks as works of art.It may seem strange to think about but its the truth.Take Adventureland for example.It captures the idea of leaving our cities and neighboor hoods and exploring the jungles of the world.Yet Adventureland also evokes a sort of relaxing,exotic atmosphere.Adventureland is not only wild beast and mysterious cultures,it is also luaus and banana fans.Disneyland is also possibly one of the best records of American history out there.The Haunted Mansion goes with the American obsession with haunted houses and ghosts.The Country Bear Jamboree is the sole survivor of the great American tradition of the vaudeville theater.The Enchanted Tiki Room is more a reflection of American 60s pop culture than actual South Seas culture.In conclusion I nominate not only Disneyland USA the movie as a work of art but Disneyland USA itself.