It is hard to imagine what life was like in 1937 when Walt Disney’s first full-length animated feature film was released. Please believe me. I was not born yet, but I do remember seeing SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS when I was a little girl in New York City. It scared and delighted my young critical soul. I couldn’t believe what I was watching. The colors, music, dancing, singing, and dwarf hilarity were spectacular. Is it what animation artists can create in 2023? Of course not. But everything is relative to the times and history. Walt was able to build his famous Disney Studios from the SNOW WHITE’s profits. What an amazing beginning! One hundred years later, they are still the leaders and innovators beloved around the world. It all began with one princess using her classically trained voice, a Prince, seven silly little men, and an evil, jealous queen. It has been retold for decades, but none have been as sweet and near-perfect as the first.
Adriana Caselotti was cast as Snow White. Twenty-five songs were created for Disney’s triumph, but only eight made the final cut. Three of the songs are still sung today by top vocal musicians. (SOMEDAY MY PRINCE WILL COME, WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK, and HIGH HO) These tunes have colored children’s dreams since they were written. SW was influenced by the cartoon character of Betty Boop. She also had ruby red lips, but Walt insisted on “skin as white as snow.”
Disney wanted to keep the movie less than ninety minutes, so much of the beginning of the BROTHERS GRIMM tale began as a book being opened. It started at the infamous mirror scene. “Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who’s the fairest one of all?” I think we all know the answer. Lucille La Verne portrayed the Queen and the ugly old hag who offers SW the deadly apple. Lucille achieved her two distinct voiceovers by taking out her false teeth for the ugly, cruel woman. How creative and imaginative!
What makes SNOW WHITE work so well are all the adorable birds and animals surrounding SW, the humorous shenanigans of the dwarfs, and the three “scary” chase scenes. Running through the forest to find safety, the race to save Snow, and forcing the old woman up the dangerous cliff were truly amazing. It took approximately 1500 colored cells to make it all come alive and look real.
The dwarfs are grown men who act like children. Their names were not in the original story. This was Disney’s creation. Dopey was the last to be named and kept as the silent one. Doc, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Grumpy, and Sneezy completed the group of loving, caring, funny men who watched over Snow White until the spell could be broken. It would be life-changing if only one kiss could lead everyone to true love, and guide women or men away on a white horse to live “happily ever after.”
SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS is one of the most celebrated classics of all time. It is magical and endearing. It is a Masterpiece that will no doubt be remembered and treasured for the next hundred years. It is available to stream of course, on Disney+.
