The Reluctant Dragon

“The Reluctant Dragon” is a 1941 American live-action/animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Productions. The movie is a mix of live-action and animation, featuring Robert Benchley, a popular humorist and actor, as the main character.

The story follows Robert Benchley, who visits the Walt Disney Studios with the intention of selling a story idea to Walt Disney himself. He explores the studio and meets various artists and animators, providing an inside look at the animation process.

The majority of the film is a behind-the-scenes tour of the Disney studio, showcasing how animated films are made. The tour includes glimpses of animators at work, voice recording sessions, and the creation of animated characters. Throughout the tour, Benchley encounters a wide variety of Disney characters, including Donald Duck, Goofy, and the title character, the Reluctant Dragon.

The Reluctant Dragon is a friendly dragon who prefers poetry and music to fighting and is generally shy around people. As Benchley interacts with the dragon, they form a bond, and the dragon shares some of his poetry with him.

The film features several animated segments, including the story of “Baby Weems,” “Casey at the Bat,” and “The Reluctant Dragon” itself.

“The Reluctant Dragon” is considered a unique and charming film, giving audiences a rare glimpse behind the scenes of a famous animation studio in the early days of Disney. It has become a cult classic and is celebrated for its clever blend of live-action and animation.

Fun Facts

• The film includes a segment where a behind-the-scenes tour of the Disney studio is showcased. This tour provides viewers with a humorous and informative look at the animation process, making it a unique and educational part of the movie.
• The dragon character in the film, who is initially believed to be a threat, turns out to be a pacifist and a poetry lover. This twist adds a humorous and heartwarming element to the story, emphasizing that appearances can be deceiving.