6. Cinderella

Through the stories of ten of his greatest works, Mel Giedroyc examines the life of Walt Disney, a much mythologised genius. A man to whom storytelling was an escape from an oppressive father and a respite from periods of depression.

His name is truly iconic, but how much do we really know about this titan of the entertainment industry? Who was the real Walt and why did a man who moulded Western pop culture in his image end up on his deathbed, afraid that he’d be forgotten?

In this episode, Mel explores Cinderella, one of Walt’s most revered animations. The movie magically appeared on screens in 1950, emerging not from a pumpkin carriage, but from a period of the Disney studio’s most profound instability yet.

Walt had unwavering faith that salvation was just one Snow White-sized mega hit around the corner and in Cinderella he delivered it. It’s a film filled with romance and wonder, but as Mel discovers, Walt’s own love life wasn’t always a fairy tale.

A Novel production for BBC Radio 4