|
DVD Corner: ‘Snow White’ is too happily ever after
Mac Olsen
for Spotlight
Rated G by Canadian Home Video Rating: 1 hour, 24 minutes: $31.99 for two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo edition at www.amazon.ca: Note: Only the DVD version is reviewed
Walt Disney’s earliest animation projects were well known for their “happily ever after” feel, including 1937’s ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’, a storytelling style which is out of fashion in the early 21st century.
David Hand directed the movie and the voice casting included Adriana Caselotti as Snow White and Lucille La Verne as the Queen/Witch. Harry Stockwell voiced the Prince and Moroni Olsen voiced the Magic Mirror.
The voice casting for the Dwarfs consisted of Roy Atwell as Doc, Eddie Collins as Dopey, Pinto Colvig as Sleepy and Grumpy, Otis Harlan as Happy, Scotty Mattraw as Bashful and Billy Gilbert as Sneezy.
In brief, the rag-tattered Snow White sings and dreams about marrying the Prince. But the jealous Queen tries to have Snow White killed and she’s forced to flee into the woods where she encounters the Seven Dwarfs.
The eight of them form a strong bond, dancing and singing the night away. She also makes a connection with the animals and they help her with chores and look out for her. Snow White appears to have found happiness and security.
However, the Queen learns of her continued existence courtesy of the Magic Mirror. Infuriated, she transforms into a cackling old hag, the Witch, and travels to the Dwarfs’ house to deal the final death blow to her adversary.
There’s a poignant scene of Snow White in her clear glass coffin and the Dwarfs grieving for their loss. But, to uplift the moment, the Prince comes and provides Love’s First Kiss. When she awakes, they go off to their kingdom, marry and live happily ever after.
Such was Disney’s storytelling style in his early years of animation. This formula is found in two other movies, ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Sleeping Beauty’, which I would place second and first best, respectively.
‘Snow White’ is third best mainly because it has such a campy feel to it, plus a pure, unwavering good-versus -evil, black-and-white view of the world. The other movies have these elements, too, but they provide far more character and story development.
One thing going for the DVD release is the great digital transfer. There’s no graininess or dust specks and the colours are brilliant. The Disney Home Theatre Mix soundtrack is good and the original theatrical soundtrack is provided as well.
In the audio commentary, John Canemaker provides insights into the production process, such as the use of live actors to give the animation artists ideas in how to create some of the scenes. Interviews with Walt Disney are spliced into the commentary, too.
Overall, ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ deserves 3½ stars out of five for an outstanding digital restoration, as well as an interesting commentary. However, while it is considered a classic, its storytelling style is definitely out of date.
< Previous
Home
Next >
|
