Live-Action Films
Mary Poppins, Disney's most popular film
With these two newly successful movies, Disney had the idea of making a documentary. So, he came out with “Seal Island” in 1948. This was simply short, documentary footage of seals in Alaska. It won Academy Award for best live-action short. “Seal Island” was such a hit, that Disney made a series of nature films. The production of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” was started in spring of 1954 based on a popular Jules Verne’s classic science fiction novel. It was about a ship sent to investigate a wave of mysterious sinkings that encounters an advanced submarine called the Nautilus. Starring the famous Kirk Douglas and the highly respected James Mason, “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” premiered in late 1954 and earned two Academy Awards. Throughout the 1950s, the live-action films kept coming, some of which include “Swiss Family Robinson”, “Kidnapped” and “Johnny Tremain.” Disney also came out with comedies: “The Shaggy Dog”, “The Absent-Minded Professor” and “Parent Trap.” All of these full-length films earned a decent-sized profit, but none were as successful and “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” Disney next big production was “Mary Poppins,” based on the book by P.L. Travers. In 1961, they began planning for the film and lavished great care upon the making of it. The results of their efforts were spectacular! “Mary Poppins” opened in 1964 starring a well-known actor and actress: Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins and Dick Van Dyke as Bert the chimney sweep. It earned thirteen Academy Award nominations and won five of them in addition to Julie Andrews Academy Award for best actress. “Mary Poppins” was the biggest hit in the history of Walt Disney Studios and continues to be the top-rated Disney movie in the 21st century. But Walt Disney’s biggest risks were still yet to come. By 1950, Disney was getting offers from some of the biggest and most popular TV networks in the world! Walt refused every one of them because he believed the quality of cable TVs were unacceptable for his high-quality films. But the need for money changed Disney's mind. He had been dreaming about building a special amusement park with attractions, rides and restaurants. With the theme park in mind, he started making TV shows that were played on cable TVs. Some of the most famous of Disney's shows were his space episodes, made right after the first man landed on the moon. This series moved and inspired a lot of people and even the President himself sent Walt a personal letter telling how impressed he was. Another of his most famous TV series was "Davy Crockett." It was such a big hit that people sent him letter requesting more westerns. And of course, Disney's most famous TV show is "The Mickey Mouse Club" starring the well-known and beloved Mickey Mouse. This show was made specifically for children and the children and even adults embraced it! There was a lot of singing and dancing and it got extremely popular. People all over the world bought Mickey Mouse ears and many more items. With the new support of the TV networks, shows and movies, in 1951, he decided he was ready to start building what we now call Disneyland.