I stumbled upon this little gem purely by chance when I saw it listed as one of comedian Steve Martin's film credits. I looked into this a little further and discovered that the actor appears in the film for only a few seconds when he was caught on camera while working at Disneyland during his pre-acting days. I was intrigued, and the film was only half an hour long and easily available online, so I watched it and I'm glad I did.I love things that are different and unique. This is a home movie made by a family about their trip to Disneyland in 1956. When I read the description of the film, which stated that it was a home movie, I was reminded of the films of Chris Marker, which were marketed as documentaries but which the director himself always maintained were nothing more than his home movies. And I love his films, so I would have been happy if this had been in line with those, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was something completely different, heartfelt and original.The style and tone are different from most movies for that reason and—although it's very amateur—that is exactly why it is so charming. A lot of love and dedication went into the making of this film. It wasn't made for profit, it was made for pleasure, and that is what I love about it.One last thing I should mention is that this is a time capsule into the United States as they were in 1956. It's a brief look at a few people in a few places during that time, just as it was. It's a better glimpse and record of the time than Rebel Without a Cause or other films of the era because, while those are dramatic forgeries, this films is real and it is raw. And it is wonderful. Even at just thirty minutes in length, it seemed even shorter and I didn't want it to end.

In July 1956, the five-member Barstow family of Wethersfield, Connecticut, won a free trip to newly-opened Disneyland in Anaheim, California, in a nationwide contest. This 30-minute amateur documentary film tells the story of their family adventure, filmed on the scene at Walt Disney's "Magic Kingdom." What makes this such a great documentary is how it really is not a true documentary at all. While for the most part it is the true story of a family who entered a 3M contest to win a trip to Disneyland, the best parts are the ones that happen to be staged. The fake fainting is great, for example. And even the mailman gets in on the act.1950s American may not be the ideal time we wish it was, but if it ever was magical, that feeling is captured best here. This looks like a truly happy family. And then Steve Martin shows up...

In 1956 Robbins Barstow and his family answered a competition to come up with a slogan for Scotch cellophane tape. They were one of 25 winners in the United States to win a 7-day trip to Disney Land, California. This film document's this in a way that all other home-movies strive to do, a way that makes this feel like a genuine documentary. In 1995 a voice-over was added by Barstow which better introduces all the people and locations in the film and overall is a lovely companion to the footage. It's amazing to see how little Disneyland really has changed, sure there are a lot more attractions and such, but the fundamentals remain the same. There isn't a moment of unhappiness in Disneyland Dream, it is a pure joy to watch and re-live this families Disneyland adventure.

Disneyland Dream is a surprisingly engaging home movie about a visit to Disneyland, Anaheim, in 1956, by the wonderfully American Barstow family. Robbins Barstow's narration (from 1995) is better than competent and he handles the camera much more skillfully than your average amateur. The best thing about the home movie is the view we have of mid-1950s America: the clothing and customs, pre-jet airline travel, side trips to Universal Studios, Santa Catalina Island, Hollywood Boulevard, and Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park. Living in Orange County, I have been to Disneyland countless times in the last 55 years and it is a thrill to see what it looked like a couple of years before my first visit.