The Reluctant Dragon (1941)

In the captivating cinematic journey of "The Reluctant Dragon" (1941), we follow the renowned humorist Robert Benchley as he ventures into the heart of Walt Disney Studios. His mission? Persuading Walt Disney himself to animate an endearing tale of a gentle, poetry-reciting dragon who prefers verses over violence. Benchley's adventure unfolds with comedic charm as he expertly sidesteps an overzealous studio guide, stumbling instead into the vibrant backstage world of Disney's creative powerhouse. From an energetic art class to a spellbinding sound effects session, he traverses the labyrinth of creativity, even witnessing the enchanting transition from monochrome to Technicolor in the multiplane camera studio. A peek into the paint lab offers a kaleidoscope of colors, while a storyboard session reveals the creative birth of the "Baby Weems" segment. Benchley's journey through the heart of animation continues with a movieola screening of a delightfully comedic Goofy cartoon, "How to Ride a Horse." The climax of the journey is a serendipitous encounter with Walt Disney in a private screening room. It's here that Benchley's initial quest finds its resolution, as he and Walt preview the studio's newest gem: a film featuring none other than "The Reluctant Dragon," the very character Benchley hoped to bring to life. This film provides an enchanting behind-the-scenes glance at animation's golden age, while celebrating a tale that champions gentleness and the power of words over might.

The Reluctant Dragon is an animation movie featuring Robert Benchley and directed by Alfred L. Werker.

The Reluctant Dragon is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Tubi TV and it's also available on Disney Plus.

It is also possible to buy The Reluctant Dragon on Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Vudu and YouTube.