Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Name	Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Director	William Cottrell, Wilfred Jackson, Larry Morey, Percival C. Olsen, Wolfgang Reitherman
Producer	Walt Disney
Starring	Adriana Caselotti, Lucille La Verne, Harry Stockwell, Roy Atwell, Stuart Buchanan, Eddie Collins, Pinto Colvig, Billy Bletcher, Scotty Mattraw
Music	Frank Churchill, Paul Smith, Leigh Harline
Studio	Walt Disney Productions
Distributor	RKO Radio Pictures
Released	December 21, 1937
Runtime	83 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1.7 million
Gross	$8 million

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a groundbreaking animated film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures in 1937, featuring the voice talents of Adriana Caselotti, Lucille La Verne, and Harry Stockwell. The film is based on the German fairy tale Snow White by the Brothers Grimm, which was first published in Kinder- und Hausmärchen in 1812. The movie's success can be attributed to the innovative use of multiplane camera technology, developed by William Garity and Ub Iwerks, and the memorable soundtrack, featuring songs like Heigh-Ho and Someday My Prince Will Come, composed by Frank Churchill and Paul Smith.

Introduction

The concept of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was first introduced by Walt Disney in 1933, and the production process took approximately four years to complete, involving a team of over 500 artists, animators, and technicians, including Albert Hurter, Ferdinand Horvath, and Vladimir Tytla. The film's story was influenced by various sources, including the Brothers Grimm's original fairy tale, as well as European folklore and mythology, such as the stories of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. The movie's historical context is also noteworthy, as it was released during the Great Depression, providing a much-needed escape for audiences, and was also screened at the 1938 Venice Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim.

Plot

The story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs revolves around the beautiful Princess Snow White, who is forced to flee her kingdom when her stepmother, the Evil Queen, becomes jealous of Snow White's beauty, reminiscent of the Biblical story of Esther. Snow White takes refuge with a group of seven dwarfs, including Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Sneezy, and Dopey, who live in a small cottage in the forest, similar to the Three Little Pigs. The Evil Queen, disguised as an old hag, offers Snow White a poisoned apple, which puts Snow White into a magical sleep, similar to the Sleeping Beauty legend. The dwarfs and Prince Charming ultimately save Snow White, and the Evil Queen is punished for her cruel deeds, in a manner similar to the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel.

Characters

The characters in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs are well-developed and memorable, with distinct personalities and traits, inspired by various literary and folkloric sources, such as Aesop's Fables and Grimm's Fairy Tales. Snow White is the protagonist, a kind and beautiful princess, similar to Cinderella and Rapunzel. The Evil Queen is the antagonist, a cruel and power-hungry ruler, reminiscent of Queen Grimhilde from Germanic mythology. The seven dwarfs are the comic relief, each with their own unique characteristics, such as Doc's intelligence and Grumpy's irritability, similar to the Seven Sages of Greece. Prince Charming is the hero, who saves Snow White from the Evil Queen's clutches, in a manner similar to Sir Lancelot from Arthurian legend.

Production

The production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was a complex and innovative process, involving the use of multiplane camera technology, developed by William Garity and Ub Iwerks, and the creation of over 2 million hand-drawn animations, inspired by the works of Émile Cohl and Winsor McCay. The film's soundtrack, featuring songs like Heigh-Ho and Someday My Prince Will Come, was composed by Frank Churchill and Paul Smith, and the orchestral score was conducted by Frank Churchill and Leigh Harline, with contributions from Paul Smith and Larry Morey. The film's voice cast, including Adriana Caselotti and Lucille La Verne, was carefully selected to bring the characters to life, with guidance from Walt Disney and Wilfred Jackson.

Release_and_Reception

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released on December 21, 1937, at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles, and was later screened at the 1938 Venice Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $8 million at the box office, and received widespread critical acclaim, with praise from film critics like Frank S. Nugent and Bosley Crowther. The film's success can be attributed to its innovative use of animation technology, its memorable soundtrack, and its timeless fairy tale story, inspired by the works of Hans Christian Andersen and Charles Perrault.

Legacy

The legacy of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is immense, with the film being recognized as a cultural icon and a pioneering achievement in the field of animation, influencing the works of Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. The film's success paved the way for future Disney classics, such as Pinocchio, Fantasia, and Bambi, and its influence can be seen in many other animated films and television shows, including Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry. The film's characters, particularly Snow White and the Evil Queen, have become cultural icons, and the film's soundtrack has been widely acclaimed, with songs like Heigh-Ho and Someday My Prince Will Come becoming classics, covered by artists like Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. The film has been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, and has been named as one of the greatest films of all time by film critics and organizations, including the American Film Institute and the British Film Institute.

Category:American animated films Category:Disney franchise Category:Fantasy films Category:Films based on fairy tales Category:Films set in the Middle Ages