In 1960, Walt Disney Productions filmed an hour-long documentary about folk dance in Hungary. Filming took place at Hunnia Film Studio and in several rural locations, with the cooperation of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble.
The film focused on one of the company's major productions, the Békési esték (Eves in Békés). It was created by Lászlo Gulyás and Miklós Rábai. The choreography presented the dance and musical traditions of the peaceful County Békés in southeastern Hungary.
The film was directed by Steve Previn, who came to Hungary on behalf of Disney.
A 1960 Hungarian newsreel also reported on the shootings, providing a rare example of an American film company filming a Hungarian folk art production during the Cold War period. As a result, the recording documents both the era's cultural diplomacy and the appearance of Hungarian folk dance on stage, which generated international interest.
The film and its newsreel are now historical documents. They record a moment when Hungarian popular culture and the global film industry met right before a camera.
