Disney Project: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Can you believe it? I finally started this project! If you haven’t been aware, back in January, I announced the Baking Through Disney project.  You can find some more info HERE! The idea is that as I watch the Disney movies as in chronological order as I can, not only do I review that movie, afterwards, I will think up some nice dessert/baking adventure themed around that movie.  Afterwards, on my recent vlog in the end of March, I decided to add a little something extra. I’d go into adaptations if Netflix has some interesting offerings. Why Netflix? Because I’m trying to save for an A/C and fixing my roof. Unfortuantely, the blog is just a hobby so I need to make these choices 😉 Point is, WOOHOO! Disney Project starts now! Snow White week coming right up!

The first out of the gates is my review on Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs! Let’s check it out!

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Director: William Cotrell, David Hand, Wilfred Jackson, Larry Morey, Perce Pearce, Ben Sharpsteen

Voice Cast: Adriana Caselotti, Lucille La Verne, Stuart Buchanan, Roy Atwell, Pinto Colvig, Harry Stockwell

Snow White lives with her vain Stepmother, the Queen, who makes her the scullery maid of the palace.  Although a princess, she doesn’t live like one.  The Queen asks the Magic Mirror everyday whether she is the fairest in all the land.  She is satisfied until one day, the Magic Mirror says that Snow White is the fairest of the land.  Jealous of her beauty, the Queen asks the huntsman to kill her but luckily, she escapes and meets the seven dwarfs.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is pretty much known all around so a synopsis isn’t exactly needed.  Still, I tried my best, just in case someone doesn’t know about it.  There’s been a few spin-offs from what I’ve seen.  You should be expecting the reviews of Grimm’s Snow White (by Asylum, that’s going to be fun to review) and Snow White and the Huntsman (dreading to watch).   Before those reviews go up some time this week, I wanted to start with the classic.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the first full length feature for Disney.  That marks a lot.  Its what makes Disney movies the way they are now.  I’m going to be honest here and say that Snow White has never been the Disney princess I liked. She’s kind of too much of a girly-girl.  All she dreams about is finding her Prince Charming.  I’m a romantic but I don’t sit around singing about finding my true love while cleaning the front door steps and chatting up wild animals.  Although, if real life animals were as friendly and adorable as the ones she befriends, I’d gladly do it.  Snow White’s not exactly a strong princess.  She gets over her bad times with cleaning.  Which is pretty good because it emphasizes the desire to be normal and happy with whatever is thrown at her, even if the Queen is a threat.

I’m not hating on Snow White.  This time, I watched it, I think I’ve never enjoyed quite as much as I have for this project.  Maybe its the adrenaline rush from doing this project and just my praise of Disney in general.  Or just that I’ve been watching more movies and now I’ve learned to notice little things I didn’t before.  Snow White has beautiful colors and although, animation was not quite as detailed as in the character features, the detail went into the landscape and the little pieces here and there that make up for this one.  The story is known but still is able to capture the audience and those songs…they are really memorable and easy to remember.  I had “One Song” stuck in my head for maybe 3 days after I saw this.

If you think about it, Snow White was never really a love story.  She is trying to find her true love but Prince is just that. He shows up in the beginning singing and serenading her and then doesn’t show up until he needs to kiss Snow White to wake her up from her deep slumber spell.  But then, that’s probably why this movie is called Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and not “Snow White and Prince Charming” (or something like that). The seven dwarfs, although not around quite so much are the joy of this movie.  They bring this air that really makes it really fun to watch.  Plus, they are all quite loveable with their own personalities and just how they collectively love Snow White so much for who she is.  Its hard to believe anyone will just have like overnight knowing someone and then be all protective but the dwarfs do that.  If you think about it, the dwarfs did warn her about strangers but Snow White is either too kind-hearted and naive to realize when danger comes in sneaky forms.

This leads us to a little talk about villains.  The Evil Stepmother/Queen (whatever you call her) is pretty creepy.  I mean, there are a few rather scary scenes in Snow White from the wildly imaginative forest escape to the old lady transformation.  Was the Queen effective?  I really think she was.  How can you question the Queen and her poison apple? Its part of the fairy tale Disney villain and the standard of what evil is.  Plus, she’s not the fairest and that’s obvious 😉

Overall, Disney’s first full length feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs excels at setting the standards from what Disney movies are.  It has capturing storyline (suitable for all ages), beautiful and colorful art, memorable songs and a mix of evil and loveable characters.  Snow White may not be my favorite princess but there are definitely redeeming features of this animation all around and what it stands for makes it every bit respectable.

 What do you think of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs? Is Snow White your favorite Disney Princess? Which dwarf do you like the best?