Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs
(A+ or 4/4 stars)
'Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs' - the trailblazing, 1st feature-length animated movie in cinema history - tells the story of Disney's original princess. In a faraway kingdom, a wicked Queen (voiced by Lucille LaVerne) is so evil that she forces her beautiful, raven-haired step-daughter Snow White (Adriana Caselotti) to work as her servant. Obsessively vain, said Queen is only content when her Magic Mirror tells her that SHE is "the fairest one of all". On one fateful day, the mirror informs her that Snow White is actually the fairest of all. So the psychotically jealous Queen orders a huntsman to kill Snow White {nice, huh!?}, and not to return without her heart. Instead, the empathetic huntsman beseeches frightened Snow White to flee into the woods.
To that, he brings the Queen a pig's heart, instead. Eventually, adorable forest animals direct Snow White to a small, woodland cottage -- the home of 7 kindly dwarfs who sing jolly songs and become her loving friends & protectors. Their names: Dopey, Sleepy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Bashful, Happy & Doc. The Queen's Magic Mirror, however, knows that Snow White is still alive and, well ... the mad Queen stops at nothing to rid the land of her fairest rival. Disguising herself with black magic as an old crone; she encounters Snow White, entices her with a red apple {that is poisoned by a spell} & the innocent girl seemingly dies. The vengeful dwarves trap the Queen/crone on a cliff. In the torrential rain, she tries to roll a boulder onto them, only to have lightning strike ... causing her to plummet down a steep ravine to her doom {what a climax!}. The bereft dwarfs build Snow White a glass coffin; for all to look upon her beauty. But the evil spell is broken when aptly named Prince Charming comes upon the coffin & places one kiss of love upon her. Happily Ever After would soon follow.
Based loosely on the Brothers Grimm faerie tale, this film is, quite simply, one of my rare A+ masterpieces that I've ever seen. It is the 1st full length animated film that I ever saw and, I watched it mannnyyy times as a kid. You know, Snow White may not be THE bravest, edgiest, smartest or most talented of Disney princesses. But she is sweet, beautiful and, perhaps, the most iconic, anyway. This film tells a timeless tale that is chock-full of rich Technicolor beauty, chaste romance, light drama, sweet humor, intriguing mystery, mild peril, & memorable music {86 years later ... people still know the lyrics to "Heigh-Ho", "I'm Wishing", "Whistle While You Work" & "Some Day My Prince Will Come"}.
'Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs' simply has it all and, is a testament to the original Walt Disney animators & genius craftspeople that made movie magic. The traditional, hand-drawn animation evokes such joy & such terror {I'm thinking of the crone's bulging eyes, or perhaps the menacing look of the 2 vultures, etc.}, poignancy & tenderness {the somber sight of the dwarfs mourning Snow White's apparent death}. When all is said & done, though there are myriads of stunningly magical Disney animation classics ... the wicked Queen is THE scariest Disney villain of all, Snow White is, perhaps, THE fairest of them all, and my knee-jerk reaction is to say that this movie is THE jewel in Disney's crown; and of 1937, as well.
To that, he brings the Queen a pig's heart, instead. Eventually, adorable forest animals direct Snow White to a small, woodland cottage -- the home of 7 kindly dwarfs who sing jolly songs and become her loving friends & protectors. Their names: Dopey, Sleepy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Bashful, Happy & Doc. The Queen's Magic Mirror, however, knows that Snow White is still alive and, well ... the mad Queen stops at nothing to rid the land of her fairest rival. Disguising herself with black magic as an old crone; she encounters Snow White, entices her with a red apple {that is poisoned by a spell} & the innocent girl seemingly dies. The vengeful dwarves trap the Queen/crone on a cliff. In the torrential rain, she tries to roll a boulder onto them, only to have lightning strike ... causing her to plummet down a steep ravine to her doom {what a climax!}. The bereft dwarfs build Snow White a glass coffin; for all to look upon her beauty. But the evil spell is broken when aptly named Prince Charming comes upon the coffin & places one kiss of love upon her. Happily Ever After would soon follow.
Based loosely on the Brothers Grimm faerie tale, this film is, quite simply, one of my rare A+ masterpieces that I've ever seen. It is the 1st full length animated film that I ever saw and, I watched it mannnyyy times as a kid. You know, Snow White may not be THE bravest, edgiest, smartest or most talented of Disney princesses. But she is sweet, beautiful and, perhaps, the most iconic, anyway. This film tells a timeless tale that is chock-full of rich Technicolor beauty, chaste romance, light drama, sweet humor, intriguing mystery, mild peril, & memorable music {86 years later ... people still know the lyrics to "Heigh-Ho", "I'm Wishing", "Whistle While You Work" & "Some Day My Prince Will Come"}.
'Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs' simply has it all and, is a testament to the original Walt Disney animators & genius craftspeople that made movie magic. The traditional, hand-drawn animation evokes such joy & such terror {I'm thinking of the crone's bulging eyes, or perhaps the menacing look of the 2 vultures, etc.}, poignancy & tenderness {the somber sight of the dwarfs mourning Snow White's apparent death}. When all is said & done, though there are myriads of stunningly magical Disney animation classics ... the wicked Queen is THE scariest Disney villain of all, Snow White is, perhaps, THE fairest of them all, and my knee-jerk reaction is to say that this movie is THE jewel in Disney's crown; and of 1937, as well.