Destino

Another Dali-related post. After all, one can never have too much Dali!


Film aficionados will know that in 1945 Salvador Dali and Walt Disney decided to make a short film together. Dali and Disney artist John Hench storyboarded the project, named Destino, for several months before it was ultimately scrapped due to the Disney Studio's financial woes in the post WWII period. The film was finally revived in the early 2000's and ultimately finished in 2003. The final project was directed by French animator Dominique Monfréy. The film went on to win several awards and was nominated for the 2003 best animated short Academy Award.

The film is not readily available on DVD except as a special feature on the Fantasia 2000 DVD. It is possible to view it on Youtube, though, and given that the US house of representatives and senate seem to be backing off from their more Orwellian attempts at curbing internet content, I thought it was apropos to provide our esteemed readers with the below link.

The film is lovely and beautiful. The stirring music is by Mexican songwriter Armando Dominguez and the song is performed by Dora Luz.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXa8s9R7-24

Rhinoceros!

Those who have savored the delectable ode to art, love and nostalgia that is Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris will surely remember Adrien Brody's delightfully inspired portrayal of that luminaries of luminaries, Salvador Dali. Having descended into the rabbit hole of Youtube last night I came upon an interview with Dali from 1958 on "The Mike Wallace Interview." Two things are of special note in this clip, though the whole thing is well worth watching: First, Dali both refers to himself in the third person and also seems genuinely intrigued by rhinoceroses, their horns in particular. These, he claims, are a symbol of chastity due to their geometric curve, which also corresponds to the geometric curve of the cauliflower. Second, the beginning of the program is a perfect example of the late 50's - early 60's sanguine cool that makes Mad Men so enjoyable. Wallace's line before the interview begins: "My name is Mike Wallace, the cigarette... is Parliament." Those, indeed, were the days.

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Today's episode: "With a Great Podcast Comes Great Responsibility"