Ben Sharpsteen

Visual Effects

Ben Sharpsteen

Born — Died

1895-11-04 — 1980-12-20

Place of birth

Tacoma, Washington, USA

Known for

Visual Effects

Credits

41 titles

Benjamin Sharpsteen was an American film director and producer for Disney. He was born on 4 November 1895 in Tacoma, Washington. He graduated from an agricultural college but gave up farming to join the Marines during World War II. He became an animator, joining the old International Film Company in New York, but soon joined Walt Diseny. He directed 31 films between 1920 and 1980. He also created a museum documenting the history of California's first millionaire, Sam Brannan, and the history of the Upper Napa Valley as well. He died in Napa County, California on 20 December 1980.

Known for

Pinocchio poster
7.1

When the gentle woodcarver Geppetto builds a marionette to be his substitute son, a benevolent fairy brings the toy to life. The puppet, named Pinocchio, is not yet a human boy. He must earn the right to be real by proving that he is brave, truthful, and unselfish.

Pinocchio

1940

Dumbo poster
7.0

Dumbo is a baby elephant born with over-sized ears and a supreme lack of confidence. But thanks to his even more diminutive buddy Timothy the Mouse, the pint-sized pachyderm learns to surmount all obstacles.

Dumbo

1941

Fantasia poster
7.3

Walt Disney's timeless masterpiece is an extravaganza of sight and sound! See the music come to life, hear the pictures burst into song and experience the excitement that is Fantasia over and over again.

Fantasia

1940

Mickey's Trailer poster
7.4

Goofy's in the driver's seat, Mickey's in the kitchen, and Donald's in bed in Mickey's high-tech house trailer. When Goofy comes back to eat breakfast, leaving the car on autopilot, it takes them onto a dangerous closed mountain road. When Goofy realizes this, he accidentally unhooks the trailer, sending it on a perilous route. They come very close to disaster several times, while the oblivious Goofy drives on and hooks back up to them.

Mickey's Trailer

1938

On Ice poster
6.8

Mickey shows off his ice-skating skills to Minnie; Goofy does some unconventional ice fishing; Donald straps skates to Pluto and laughs at his attempts to skate. Donald gets strapped to a kite and is about to be swept over a waterfall when Mickey pulls off an heroic rescue.

On Ice

1935

Boat Builders poster
6.9

Mickey buys a boat kit, and enlists Goofy and Donald to help assemble it. The plans say, "so simple a child could do it", so of course, they have their share of troubles. But before long, they're ready to launch the Queen Minnie, with appropriate fanfare, at which time, all the collapsible parts collapse.

Boat Builders

1938

Film credits

Behind the camera

Pinocchio poster
7.1

When the gentle woodcarver Geppetto builds a marionette to be his substitute son, a benevolent fairy brings the toy to life. The puppet, named Pinocchio, is not yet a human boy. He must earn the right to be real by proving that he is brave, truthful, and unselfish.

Pinocchio

1940

Dumbo poster
7.0

Dumbo is a baby elephant born with over-sized ears and a supreme lack of confidence. But thanks to his even more diminutive buddy Timothy the Mouse, the pint-sized pachyderm learns to surmount all obstacles.

Dumbo

1941

Fantasia poster
7.3

Walt Disney's timeless masterpiece is an extravaganza of sight and sound! See the music come to life, hear the pictures burst into song and experience the excitement that is Fantasia over and over again.

Fantasia

1940

Mickey's Trailer poster
7.4

Goofy's in the driver's seat, Mickey's in the kitchen, and Donald's in bed in Mickey's high-tech house trailer. When Goofy comes back to eat breakfast, leaving the car on autopilot, it takes them onto a dangerous closed mountain road. When Goofy realizes this, he accidentally unhooks the trailer, sending it on a perilous route. They come very close to disaster several times, while the oblivious Goofy drives on and hooks back up to them.

Mickey's Trailer

1938

On Ice poster
6.8

Mickey shows off his ice-skating skills to Minnie; Goofy does some unconventional ice fishing; Donald straps skates to Pluto and laughs at his attempts to skate. Donald gets strapped to a kite and is about to be swept over a waterfall when Mickey pulls off an heroic rescue.

On Ice

1935

Boat Builders poster
6.9

Mickey buys a boat kit, and enlists Goofy and Donald to help assemble it. The plans say, "so simple a child could do it", so of course, they have their share of troubles. But before long, they're ready to launch the Queen Minnie, with appropriate fanfare, at which time, all the collapsible parts collapse.

Boat Builders

1938

Hawaiian Holiday poster
6.7

Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto experience all that Hawaii has to offer. Donald tries hula dancing, Pluto explores the beach and Goofy takes up surfing!

Hawaiian Holiday

1937

The Living Desert poster
7.1

Although first glance reveals little more than stones and sand, the desert is alive. Witness moving rocks, spitting mud pots, gorgeous flowers and the never-ending battle for survival between desert creatures of every shape, size and description.

The Living Desert

1953

Clock Cleaners poster
7.1

It's time to laugh like crazy as Mickey, Goofy and Donald fight against raging gears, twisted springs, deafening bells and a sleeping stork. Watch them reach new heights of humor as their valiant efforts to clean a bell tower turn into a real circus!

Clock Cleaners

1937

Don Donald poster
6.2

Donald is courting Daisy (called Donna, here in her first appearance) Duck in Mexico. He arrives on a burro, which doesn't get along at all well with her; she convinces him to buy a car. They head through the desert, but the car breaks down, and throws Donald out, then takes off on its own with Daisy trapped inside the rumble seat. The car hits a rock, throwing Daisy into a mud puddle, to Donald's excessive amusement. Daisy pulls a unicycle from her purse, and rides off.

Don Donald

1937

Polar Trappers poster
6.2

Donald and Goofy are trappers in the frozen south (Antarctica) with different approaches. Donald sees a penguin and dresses as one to lure her to the chopping block; Goofy baits a trap with fish (then acts like a walrus to capture one that steals his bait bucket).

Polar Trappers

1938

Orphan's Picnic poster
6.0

Mickey and Donald take a truckload of mouse boys on a picnic. The boys delight in tormenting Donald, first by filching the picnic food, then giving him a flower with a bee inside (Donald eventually gets the whole hive after him), and finally a sandwich with another bee in it.

Orphan's Picnic

1936

The Fox Hunt poster
6.1

Donald controls the hounds , and Goofy is riding on Horace Horsecollar, as the fox outwits both of them.

The Fox Hunt

1938

Moving Day poster
6.4

Donald and Mickey are overdue on their rent, so the sheriff is preparing to evict them and sell their belongings. Goofy the ice-man comes by and helps them move out before the sale, but their piano doesn't want to stay on his truck. Meanwhile, Donald has a fight with a plunger and a fishbowl after removing a heater from the gas line.

Moving Day

1936

Donald and Pluto poster
6.7

Plumber Donald is using a large magnet in his work. When he drops it, it causes trouble for Pluto, especially after Pluto swallows it. Things begin clinging to him, especially his metal dog dish.

Donald and Pluto

1936

Mickey's Circus poster
6.3

Mickey is ringmaster of a circus for orphans. Donald has a trained sea lion act, and does a bit of juggling himself. Mostly, though, he fights with a baby sea lion who keeps stealing both the fish and the show. Donald then finds himself and Mickey in an unrehearsed high wire act, which kicks into high gear when one of the orphans electrifies the wire. They end by doing a high dive into the seals' tank.

Mickey's Circus

1936

Pluto's Quin-puplets poster
6.6

Pluto wants to chase the sausage man, but Fifi convinces him to look after their five rambunctious puppies instead. The puppies end up in the basement, where they tangle with a compressed air tank, paint, a jug of hooch, and other hazards. Fifi returns and finds a drunk Pluto, paint on everyone, and gets very angry.

Pluto's Quin-puplets

1937

Cock o' the Walk poster
6.0

The title character comes to town, complete with portable boxing ring. He grabs a local chicken and dances with her, inspiring several other barnyard animals to dance. But her rooster takes offense, and enters the ring to do battle.

Cock o' the Walk

1935

Moose Hunters poster
6.5

Goofy (front) and Donald (rear) are dressed in a moose suit, trying to lure moose for hunter Mickey. When they do find one, it turns out to be more than they can handle.

Moose Hunters

1937

Celebrate Christmas With Mickey, Donald & Friends poster
7.0

This charming collection features 7 classic Disney cartoons from the 30's and 40's. "The Cookie Carnival" The other unrelated christmas short is "Ferdinand the Bull" The delights are "Santas Workshop" (1932) where its Christmas Eve and Santa and his elves are preparing the toys for Santa to deliver. "The Night Before Christmas" (1933) where we see Santa deliver the presents to a house and the toys come alive in this enchanting animation. "Pluto's Christmas Tree" where Mickey's newly decorated christmas tree is infested with those mischevious chipmunks Chip 'n' Dale. "On Ice" (1935) where Mickey shows off for Minnie during some ice skating, but must rescue Donald when he's nearly blown over a frozen waterfall. Meanwhile, Goofy tries a new form of ice fishing. "Donalds Snow Fight" (1942)

Celebrate Christmas With Mickey, Donald & Friends

2000

Mickey's Fire Brigade poster
7.1

Mickey, Donald and Goofy are a fire department. As you might expect, their attempts at fighting a boardinghouse fire are not particularly effective. They hear Clarabelle singing in the bathtub and rescue her, tub and all, against her will (she won't believe there's a fire).

Mickey's Fire Brigade

1935

Ama Girls poster
7.0

Oscar winning documentary short from 1958

Ama Girls

1958

Mickey's Service Station poster
6.6

Mickey, Goofy & Donald have 10 minutes to fix Pete's car. Or else!

Mickey's Service Station

1935

Lapland poster
10.0

High in the frigid zone of the continent of Europe, where the Arctic Circle cuts through the upper tips of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, is the land of the Lapps—a people privileged to cross these frontiers unrestricted because of their nomadic traditions and their owing allegiance to no one nation. Their economy, dependent on migrating livestock, is explained, as well as their customs and gypsy-like existence.

Lapland

1957

The Cookie Carnival poster
6.7

Cookies, pastries, and other desserts have a parade.

The Cookie Carnival

1935

Mysteries of the Deep poster
6.8

Mysteries of the Deep is a 1959 Disney nature documentary short film. Though not an official True-Life Adventures film, it did accompany the release of The Vanishing Prairie and was included on the Walt Disney Legacy Collection's True Life Adventures releases as a bonus feature. It is narrated by Winston Hibler. The film is a panorama of animals inhabiting the sea near the coast: dolphins, sharks, whales, crabs, rays and fish of all kinds.

Mysteries of the Deep

1959

Water Birds poster
6.8

Water Birds is a 1952 short documentary film directed by Ben Sharpsteen. The film delves into the still waters of lagoons and marshes to the wild blue wilderness of the vast oceans, to experience the beauty and variety of their majestic birds, each perfectly designed for its habitat. It won the Oscar for Best Short Subject, Two-Reel.

Water Birds

1952

The Worm Turns poster
6.0

Mad scientist Mickey has just brewed up a potion; to test it out, he squirts it on a fly that's been trapped by a spider, a (regular) mouse being harassed by a cat, then the cat when Pluto goes after it, and Pluto when dogcatcher Pegleg Pete goes after him. Each of the underdogs turns against his tormentor.

The Worm Turns

1937

Two-Gun Mickey poster
6.2

Minnie rides into town and takes a large sack of money out of the bank. Pegleg Pete gathers his gang to take it from her, and they chase her out of town. Lonesome cowboy Mickey, who met Minnie earlier and was told she could take care of herself, sees this chase unfolding from his high perch, and rides down to save the day.

Two-Gun Mickey

1934

The New Spirit poster
5.8

Animated documentary promoting timely filing and payment of Federal income taxes, demonstrated by Donald Duck's difficulties with his tax return.

The New Spirit

1942

Sardinia poster
NR

A train ride takes the audience through the rugged countryside to see the Sardinian people of today. Their independence and self-reliance is emphasized. Sheep are tended and the treatment of their wool is depicted. A wedding and a funeral service are shown, as well as the annual “Ardia” festival with horsemen commemorating historical events.

Sardinia

1956

Out of the Frying Pan Into the Firing Line poster
5.7

Documentary short film demonstrating the process by which waste fats from the kitchens of American homes can be transformed into the raw materials for explosives for the war effort.

Out of the Frying Pan Into the Firing Line

1942

Portugal poster
8.0

This program looks at the people, history, culture and geography of: Portugal.

Portugal

1957

DTV: Rock, Rhythm & Blues poster
NR

Compilation of D-TV music videos, combining rock and R&B tunes with footage of Disney animation.

DTV: Rock, Rhythm & Blues

1984

Donald Duck's First 50 Years poster
6.0

Includes: "The Wise Little Hen," "Donald and Pluto," "Don Donald," "Donald's Nephews," "Donald's Double Trouble," "Rugged Bear"

Donald Duck's First 50 Years

1984

Escape to Paradise/Water Birds poster
NR

A behind-the-scenes show on the filming of Swiss Family Robinson on the West Indian island of Tobago. Then the True Life Adventure Water Birds.

Escape to Paradise/Water Birds

1960

100 Years of Disney Animation: A Shorts Celebration poster
5.0

Fragments from Cinderella (1922), Alice’s Wonderland (1923), Trolley Troubles (1927), Steamboat Willie (1928), Clock Cleaners (1937), The Old Mill (1937), Trailer Horn (1950), Lambert the Sheepish Lion (1952), Paperman (2012) and Going Home (2021).

100 Years of Disney Animation: A Shorts Celebration

2023

Broken Toys poster
6.7

A sailor doll, thrown into a toy dump, rallies the demoralized dolls that were already there.

Broken Toys

1935

The Crisler Story/Prowlers of the Everglades poster
NR

A look at the people that shot the footage for Disney's True-Life Adventures.

The Crisler Story/Prowlers of the Everglades

1957

The Navajos: Children of the Gods poster
NR

The story of the Navajo, at work and play, in the Southwestern United States, and in particular, in scenic Monument Valley. The film focuses on a typical Indian family, its daily life, struggles, and folkways, as every aspect of living is governed by Navajo gods and legends.

The Navajos: Children of the Gods

1957