March 17, 1970

The Old Mill (1937) ****

One of Walt Disney's most famous films, it was produced to test his revolutionnary invention, the multiplane camera, later used to great advantage in "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs" (1937) and many subsequent features. The film itself is set in an old mill that provides a refuge for many animals hiding from a violent storm. The depiction of nature's fury is perfectly realistic - it's a triumph of Disney's naturalistic treatment of animated characters.