Released in 1940, this Disney film (in Spanish) features a chopped up version of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring (1913). Stravinsky’s comments on this are widely cited as derisive, describing the orchestral recital as “execrable” and the accompanying animation as “an unresisting imbecility”. Stravinsky was the only living composer whose work was featured in this film. Stravinsky had no rights to the work in America and as such he was unable to take any action against Disney.
This film is considered a turning point in the way that films and music are made for each other. This is meant in the sense that music videos needn’t literally depict the singer but could actually be far more engaging accompanied by other film footage. Though this technique was not novel, this production is allegedly a key film in this turn in the music industry.
