The Reluctant Dragon

Throughout the film The Reluctant Dragon, Robert Benchley goes to the Walt Disney Studios to share his film idea with Walt Disney. As he is led around the studio by Humphrey the tour guide, he easily gets distracted and wanders throughout each department. Benchley’s childlike actions aren’t the only implied messages about “self-management.” It is also seen through the story of Baby Weems and The Reluctant Dragon. In addition, as Robert Benchley explores behind the scenes of the Walt Disney Studio “plant,” implied messages of “scientific management” appears.

“Scientific Management” is seen every time Benchley enters a new department, and everyone would like to show him around, yet they still need to work. Also, Humphrey, the tour guide embodies this idea within his character. He sticks to a script from his notepad that allows him to be efficient and stay on track, similar to working an assembly line. The way he searches for Benchley can also be interpreted as an adult trying to control and conform a child into “normal” behavior.

“Self-Management” is represented through the story of Baby Weems because he can talk, study science, play music and is seen as, “the one person capable of solving our gigantic problem...” Similarly to Babes of Tomorrowland where “Children were precious natural (and national) resources…" (110) that were responsible for society. Baby Weems represents this “precious” middle-class child.

In contrast, The Reluctant Dragon represents a child that needs “self-management.” The Dragon is the opposite of what he should be because he doesn’t want to fight. So he and Sir Giles fabricate a fight. They create the illusion that they are fighting, similarly to how The Walt Disney Studio creates illusions with each of their films. In the end, the town believes that “Sir Giles completely reformed the dragon” and the villagers, “welcomed him into society.” This relationship shows a child that didn’t fit the norms and needed to be reformed to fit the standards of society. The dragon seems to be a reflection of Benchley and his struggle to be disciplined and inability to conform to society around him.