Posted on 05/23/2020 7:31:04 AM PDT by Kaslin
Particularly since the dawn of the 20th century, Judeo-Christian archetypes and imagery have stirred the American imagination, as reflected in these 10 films on Disney Plus.
One can only speculate what British author C.S. Lewis, who spent his boyhood in rural Ireland a century ago, would think of today’s WiFi-enabled home entertainment revolution.
Doubtless, the Christian apologist would be curious to see movie versions of “The Chronicles of Narnia” — his best-selling mythic allegories grounded in virtues and sacraments — on Disney Plus. The streaming service has two big-budget Narnia adaptations listed right between modern updates on Winnie the Pooh and “Cinderella,” with its “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” soundtrack.
Staunchly religious American families have long had a complicated relationship with The Walt Disney Company, as VidAngel founder Neal Harmon shared in a recent interview. After his company developed filtering technology to allow subscribers to sanitize streaming films and shows, Disney and other Hollywood studios promptly sued them. Litigation is ongoing.
Still, when asked what films sparked his creativity as a child, Harmon did not hesitate to name two titles featured on Disney Plus.
“Entertainment shaped the way we saw the world,” he said, having grown up on an Idaho farm with his three brothers. “I remember watching ‘Swiss Family Robinson,’ then building treehouses in the trees behind our house. After watching ‘Star Wars,’ we’d jump in the canals during a big snowstorm and pretend the Empire was coming to attack.”
Others are less enthused by the Magic Kingdom and its wares. Due to religious or other values, they ardently avoid all things Disney, concerned about consumerism, undertones of a progressive agenda, or corporate values that conflict with their own. Biblically engaged believers freely admit that “the gospel according to Disney” has always been animated more by pixie dust and wishing stars than a loving God come to seek and save humanity.
Disney filmography has for decades provided many fascinating, imperfect reflections of American civil religion. On-screen stories of faith are rarely told with doctrinal orthodoxy or austere respect, which is also true of how most of the nation treats religion. Now with hundreds of past films one click away, it provides a window into the evolution of faith on-screen.
Particularly since the dawn of the 20th century, Judeo-Christian archetypes and imagery have stirred the American imagination, as reflected in the following 10 films on Disney Plus. This list concludes with five faith-conscious titles not yet released on the rising streaming service.
1. “The Sound of Music” (1965)
The Sound of Music (Modern Trailer)
When top Hollywood director Robert Wise (“West Side Story”) took on the hit musical by theater team Rogers and Hammerstein, it was destined for greatness. Winner of five Academy Awards, “The Sound of Music” took liberties with the true story yet portrays religious aspects of the Catholic teacher’s love story and later flight from the Nazi regime during World War II.
I’ll watch Song of the South....
I watched it a year or so ago, but I don’t remember the channel it was on.
Wow thank you!i don’t have Tv but would like to keep note of these films. Bookmark!
If you want to see Disney at their zenith of family friendly production, get the “Disney’s American Legends” DVD. It includes short films about John Henry, Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan and The Brave Engineer.
Disney’s American Legend’s “ The Legend of Johnny Appleseed short was made in 1948 and will make you cry because it’s so beautifully done, and because it makes you realize how far Disney has fallen in terms of a company that made entertainment for the family guided by Biblical principles.
Description from Wikipedia:
“In 1806, Pittsburgh farmer Johnny Appleseed watches as pioneers depart out west and wishes he could follow. Johnny is inspired by an angel to abandon his farm, go west, and plant apple seeds everywhere he goes. The angel tells Johnny that he has all that he needs to go out West: a bag of seeds to plant, a Bible, and a pot that he can use for a hat. In his travels, Johnny befriends a skunk, and thereafter, all animals instinctively trust him. As Johnny travels, he uses his pot to fry in, and sings a tune “The Lord Is Good to Me.”
In the end, after walking hundreds of miles and planting apple trees all along the way, Johnny finally rests for the last time under a tree; his angel appears before him, and tells Johnny that it’s time to go. Johnny gets up, scared at first upon realizing he’s dead, but refuses to go to his final resting place, believing that his work is not done yet. However, the angel tells him that, where they’re headed, they’re low on apple trees, so Johnny picks up his seed bag and happily agrees to go with him.
The story ends with the narrator saying that the clouds in the sky aren’t really clouds at all: they’re apple blossoms in Johnny’s heavenly orchard.”
Disney would never make this today.
Link in case anyone wants to check it out: (I have no stock in Amazon, and do not work there. You can also probably buy it somewhere else. This is just for informational purposes)
I find it baffling that this reporter (I’m assuming he covers the entertainment world and is familiar with its members) doesn’t know it’s Richard “Rodgers”, not “Rogers”. Especially if you’re recommending his work.
Sloppy writing, sloppy editing.
They missed one of my favorites. JOHNNY APPLESEED...loaded with religious words and deep moral message. When I saw it, I thought HOW FAR Disney has fallen into the Pit.
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