The Liberty Story

Release Date: May 29, 1957

Watch Date: June 19, 2023

“Walt Disney presents a combination live-action and animated drama of America’s historical fight for freedom. Includes a segment from Johnny Tremain, depicting the Boston Tea Party and the battle at Concord, and is followed by Ben and Me.”

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    Juneteenth is a new federal holiday in the United States, but one that the African-American community, especially that of the South, has been celebrating since at least 1866. It’s a day to celebrate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States, commemorating the day when two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued the enslaved people of Texas were finally freed. So, while we didn’t plan to watch a film about the founding of the United States specifically on Juneteenth, I think I appreciate the coincidence of it falling on that day. The great American experiment has been bumpy for a lot of it’s people, and still is, and the enslavement of a large portion of it’s population is a stain on it’s history that America, and a lot of other countries, are still dealing with today. In 1776, liberty for all was truly only liberty for some, but it’s nice to reflect these centuries later and see that while it’s not perfect, America is closer than it ever has been to it’s ultimate goal.

    Now, I looked it up immediately upon realizing that Johnny Tremain is apparently a Disney movie from before this special came out, but no, Disney+ doesn’t have it. But, knowing nothing about the film, I have to assume I’ve seen most of it’s plot at this point, and as it feels mostly like Davy Crockett, I don’t feel like I’m missing too much.

    Ben and Me and seeing the old plans for Disneyland are kind of the highlight of this film, even if seeing Benjamin Franklin depicted as a bumbling fool who only achieves half the things he does because of a mouse made me feel a little weird for literally no reason I can think of? Ben and Me is a classic Disney short, with a lot of personality, even if it is in black and white, and I found it really charming, and it’s honestly something I would seek out again.

    Bob, of course, spent much of this film saluting, trying to get me to salute, and answering my questions about American history. I didn’t know about the Battle of Concord, and I didn’t hear the “shot heard around the world”, I didn’t know who…I want to say Otis was, or what a minuteman was. But I will give this to the American educational system, they know a lot about the founding of their country, a lot more than I know about the founding of mine.

    I’m going to miss hearing Walt’s voice and seeing his little introductions now that this brief period of the “Disneyland” specials has come to an end for our marathon. I don’t know why more of them aren’t on Disney+, and while they’ve been a little bit…Nazi heavy, they have been a glimpse into not only Disney history, but into the history of the time they were created, and I’ve loved every second.