Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Last night I began my journey with Walt Disney's first full length animated feature: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I am trying to figure out how I am going to organize my thoughts about these films when I write. For this review I will write about the plot, my opinions, characters, animation, my favorite and least favorite parts, and songs/music of the movie.
Plot
Not much happens in this film, therefore the plot is pretty simple.The movie begins with the classic pre-movie Disney credits and then a story book appears. There are world on the page that we are expected to read for there is no narrator. This storybook introduces us to the plot. We see the Evil Queen's castle and learn her concerns about being "the fairest of them all". We meet Snow White, then the prince as they first meet. The Queen then finds that Snow White is more fair than she as reported by the magic mirror. A huntsman is summoned by the Queen to take Snow White into the woods, murder her, and bring back her heart as proof that the deed was done. The huntsman in turn lets Snow White go and returns with a pig's heart. Snow White runs away, terrified, until she meets a herd of woodland creatures. They help her find a small cottage in the woods (and clean it). The audience is then introduced to the dwarfs as they mine for diamonds. Snow White ends up meeting the dwarfs and befriending them as she is squatting in their cottage. We go back to the Queen who discovers that Snow White is alive. She devises a plan to poison her by disguising herself as an old hag and offering her a poison apple. There is then an extremely cool transformation scene. Back to the cottage Snow White continues to enjoy the company of the Dwarfs until bedtime. The next morning the Dwarfs head off to the mines and the old hag/Evil Queen comes to cottage and gets Snow White to eat the poison apple. Snow White immediately falls to the floor and presumed dead. The Dwarfs in anger chase the old hag/Evil Queen up a mountain where she eventually falls to her death. The Dwarfs encase Snow White in a glass coffin above ground for they can not bear to see her go. The Prince who Snow White met 70 minutes ago appears and kisses her. She awakes, they run off, and, of course, they lived happily ever after.
Pretty straight forward. No complex characters. A simple, lovely fairy-tale plot.
Overall Opinions
I would have to say Snow White is not my favorite movie. Certainly it created milestones in the animation industry and basically completely changed it. Although the plot is simple and the characters pretty plan this film brought a whole new light to animation. It is truly a classic.Storyline - The plot of this film erks me just a little. Frankly they stretch out a short story into 80 minutes without expanding the story, just stretching. There are many areas I find unnecessary, most of the side Dwarf events. Some parts drag on and on while others seem to quick. I want to explore the castle, see more of the Queen. What was the Prince up to? So many things that could be explored, but he movie spends the majority of the time focused on the Dwarfs. Which is great! Just not my thing.
Characters - The character are very, very plain. Although lovable they are not complex or very interesting. Lets look at them 1 by 1:
Snow White - The main "protagonist" of the film. I put protagonist in quote for Snow White does absolutely nothing against the antagonist, other than being pretty. Snow is sweet, kind, and lovely. She the type of girl that you just can not be mean to because she is TOO nice. I do not like much about Snow White. She is weak and vague, granted that is what the times of this movie called for, a strong woman was not a popular image in the late 1930s. I do love her character design, she looks great in every scene. The way she moves is extremely graceful. Despite her dumb, girly, and vague tendencies Snow White is a lovely and iconic character.
The Evil Queen - Two words: Freaking fierce. Officially as the first Disney Villian she rocks. I wish there was more development on her. The voice actress (Lucille La Verne - what a villainous name!) nails the fierceness that The Evil Queen requires. She hardly has any lines but she makes them all worthwhile and worthy of speaking. As the old hag she is still incredible. Hands down, favorite character in this film
The Dwarfs - Each unique enough to be regonizable. Designs well done as we do not confuse them as we watch the film. They include Happy, Doc, Sneezy, Sleepy, Grumpy, Bashful, and Dopey. Dopey obviously the best, I'd say Bashful as a close second. Love that guy. As a group they can be hilarious. The comic relief of the movie
The Prince - All he does is sing a few lines. SO BORING. No character what so ever. Practically an object. I have no idea what Snow White sees in him.
The Magic Mirror - Stoic and magical. Love it. It would be interesting to see him developed but I believe the character does it's job.
The Huntsman - I think he looks super creepy. Like homeless man creepy. Simple character, does his job. Always wondered what the Queen did to him after she found out he didn't kill Snow White. Underdeveloped, but not upset about it.
Woodland Creatures - There are SO many little animals. I love it. They are adorable and fun. Sometimes I feel like they have the most interesting expressions and characterizations. Love em.
Animation - There are some very, very pretty images in this film. The animation does not seem to be that revolutionary compared to some of the old cartoon shorts but there are specific instances that are fantastic and really stick out. The first one I noticed was the ripples in the well when Snow White is singing "I'm Wishing" it is beautiful and smart. Her voice creates this little ripples and makes you really believe that this cartoon is singing. The next part of animation I loved in this movie is definitely, DEFINITELY, the transformation scene with the The Evil Queen. When she begins to start transforming after consuming her magic potion the animation gives the illusion of a camera spinning and the colors and scales used are gorgeous and super awesome. You see her hands transform before your eyes! I love it! Next of my animation favorites of this movie would be the backdrops in general. I love them. They seemed to work really hard on them for they are gorgeous. The forest, the castle, the cottage, the trees, they are all gorgeous, like paintings.
< Like how pretty is that! Adore it. Adore. It.
Next, I love the sparkles of the diamonds in the mine. I can just imagine a little 5 year old in 1939 just MARVELING at that. Good stuff. My last 2 favorite animation moments would have to be when Snow White's hand rolls out behind the table after eating the poison apple. So pretty and haunting. And finally the chase scene with the beautiful rain falling down as the hag hobbles up the mountain. It is awfully exciting!
Overall, I enjoy the animation in this movie. There are some extremely beautiful scenes and images. This film has some truly iconic moment in animation and deserves a roaring applause for doing so.
Songs/Music - The creation of the Disney full-length movie musical! So exciting! The score of this film features 24 original tracks composed by Paul J. Smith, Albert Hay Malotte, and Milt Franklyn. 11 songs were featured in the movie. The songs in this film are fun and effective. Some people despise Snow White's voice (Adriana Caselotti) I actually enjoy it! It created the soft, gentle princess stereotype. Her voice is so fragile and, in my opinion, enjoyable and pleasant. The music in the film is very melodramatic and fits the drama happening. Super accurate for its time and reminds me of the live action movie in the 1930s. Sometimes it gets to be a little much but it just isn't a sound or style my ear is use to. It is extremely well done and well timed. Here is a list of the songs in the film and little comment for each:
1. "I'm Wishing" - Stellar, great introduction to the type of music in this films. Also lets you know how dumb and just plain happy Snow White is. Which isn't a bad thing.
2. "One Song" - The Prince has a beautiful voice. But this is the only thing he sings (or even does in the film) which is disappointing. Pleasant to listen to.
3."With a Smile and a Song" - Pretty. Enjoy this one. Strange that Snow's ADD self goes from absolute panic/fear to happy song-singing. It's a skill I guess.
4. "Whistle as You Work" - SO FUN! I love this sequence! Although it supports stereotypical gender roles and sexism it is so fun! But really Disney? A woman finds a dirty house and HAS TO clean it for the men/children that live there? Let's calm down here. I do love how the animals try to cheat clean (sweep dirt under carpet, licking the dishes clean) and Snow will not have it! Hilarious.
5. "Heigh-ho" - Great Song! GREAT SONG! Fantastic intro to the Dwarfs. Also great lyrics, "We don't know what we dig them for but we dig, dig, digga, dug, dig". Love it. It's like someone was like "Why are they gather diamonds?" and Disney was like, "No idea, lets make that a joke in their song!". I like to fantasize about Disney's creative process.
6. "Bluddle-Udlle-Um-Dum (Dwarf Washing Song)" - Fun. I believe complete unnecessary for the plot. But as a child I remember LOVING when they washed Grumpy. Great song for children.
7. "The Dwarfs Yodeling Song (The Silly Song)" - Another fun unnecessary song. But fun.
8. "Someday My Prince Will Come" - THE song of the film. Most people in world can recognize this tune or at least the phrase. That is how iconic it is. I would have to say that this is my favorite song. It sounds so sweet and beautiful and was the start of one of my favorite things: Disney Princess Songs. Love them.
9. "Heigh-ho (Reprise)" - Self explanatory.
10. "One Song (Reprise)" - Oh look! The Prince is back!
11. Someday My Prince Will Come (Reprise)" - Lovely, classic, beautiful Disney ending
Overall, the songs work great and help form this Disney classic and Disney movies to come. I approve.
THE DOWN AND DISNEY DIRTY
Favorite Character: The Evil Queen
Favorite Song: "Someday My Prince Will Come"
Favorite Animation Sequence: The Evil Queen's transformation scene
Favorite Voice Actor: Adriana Caselotti (Snow White)
RATING:
A perfect score of 5 Mickey ears! Although this movie is not my favorite, and honestly does not entertain me the entire way through, it is a classic. Without it Disney would have never came to be what we know it is today (and I'd have no other movies to watch!). So for that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs deserves 5 Mickey ears!
NEXT UP! Disney's Pinocchio
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