In honor of the Sherman Brothers, Disney has released a 3-minute and 30-second short film titled The Last Verse, featuring a new verse to the songwriting duo’s iconic song “It’s a Small World.” The unheard verse was written by Richard Sherman before passing away in May of this year.
“As the legendary creators of some of the most cherished music of the past century, the Sherman brothers will be remembered for their profound impact on our global culture,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement. “Hearing Richard Sherman recite the final verse to ‘It’s a Small World’ before he died will be a moment I will carry with me forever. This beautiful short film is our tribute to their immeasurable musical contributions, their memory, and to the countless memories they helped create for generations of people around the world.”
Check out The Last Verse short below (watch more trailers):
What is The Last Verse short about?
“This touching short film takes viewers on a journey through the past 60 years of the song’s history, showcasing its impact on global pop culture,” reads the logline.
The Last Verse serves as a tribute to Richard and Robert Sherman’s decades-long musical collaboration with Disney. Besides “It’s a Small World,” the duo had also produced timeless songs and scores for movies such as Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book (1976), Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), and more. For their work in Mary Poppins, they received two Oscars for Best Original Song and Best Original Score.
The short was directed by Henry Alex Rubin (Murderball) for Disney and creative partner adam&eveDDB. The original song was written by the Sherman Brothers for the attraction of the same name in 1964.
