The Disney Classic That Blew Robert Redford's Mind as a Kid
The late cinema titan Robert Redford left an indelible mark on Hollywood, not just with his films but with his Sundance empire. But what was the very first movie that sparked his lifelong passion for the big screen? The answer reveals the surprising origins of his unique vision for the moviegoing experience.
Some people are actors, a few become stars, but only a handful achieve the status of a true Hollywood titan. Robert Redford, who we sadly lost in 2025 at the age of 89, was one of those titans. His impact went far beyond the silver screen; he wasn't just a celebrated actor and director, but a visionary who championed independent film through his hugely successful Sundance Film Festival. His passing left a void in the industry that will be felt for generations.
A Magical Beginning
Like any artist, Redford's journey was shaped by the films he watched. His own career had defining moments, from the movie that launched him into stardom, Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, to Ordinary People, which proved his directing chops were as sharp as his acting. But what about the very beginning? In a conversation with Moviemaker, the icon was asked about the first film he ever saw in a theater.
His response was immediate and full of warmth. “I do! It was Fantasia, and I remember being blown away by it”. It's a fascinating choice, considering the film's unique nature. Released during a critical period for Disney, Fantasia is an unusual spectacle even today—a collection of animated vignettes set to classical music.
The Power of a Mouse
Of course, everyone remembers the segment ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,’ which features Mickey Mouse as an aspiring magician whose spells go haywire. The whole project was actually designed to boost the mouse's waning popularity. Without Fantasia's success, Disney's famous mascot might not be the global icon he is today.
Redford was just about four years old when the movie was first released. While he didn't specify the exact date he saw it, it's safe to assume his viewing was during his childhood, long before the film was rediscovered by counter-culture audiences in the 1960s as a so-called ‘head movie’.
Reviving the Golden Age of Cinema
That early experience clearly stuck with him. Redford often spoke about a different era of moviegoing, a time when a trip to the theater was a complete event. “It used to be you went and had a whole cultural experience, cartoons, shorts, newsreels and no trailers,” he once said. This longing for a richer, more communal experience became the driving force behind one of his later passion projects.
In 2007, he launched Sundance Cinemas, a theater chain aimed at bringing back that old-school magic. He wondered, “What if we brought that back with [a] Sundance product... We could show a variety of films in a centre with a bar, a restaurant and a film library? Where the whole community could gather for a community experience?” He proudly noted, “They’ve been very successful.” It's clear that the awe he felt as a little boy watching that animated masterpiece never really left him.