Customer Reviews

Faerie Tale Theatre Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs [VHS]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of the best entries in the fabulous FAERIE TALE THEATRE series, with a superb cast and haunting music score.

Elizabeth McGovern is luminous in the title role of Snow White. Her acting is very understated and she perfectly captures the innocence and bewilderment of the character. Vanessa Redgrave offers a tour-de-force performance as the Wicked Queen, who dons several magical disguises to ensnare our heroine. Rex Smith gives us a Prince who is handsome yet goofy (a refreshing change), and Vincent Price is a delight as both the Magic Mirror and Narrator. Series creator Shelley Duvall has a brief role as Snow White's mother during the prologue.

Sharp direction by Peter Medak and a brilliant, haunting musical score round out the package. This is FAERIE TALE THEATRE at it's height.

God bless Shelley Duvall for offering an alternative to, and saving our treasured fairy tales from, the violating clutches of Walt Disney! Duvall's outstanding "Faerie Tale Theatre", along with the admirable Cannon Movie Tales series, proves that the Disney Version IS NOT THE ONLY version of classic stories worth viewing. One reviewer exspressed disappointment that this "SNOW WHITE" does not have the Seven Dwarfs singing "Heigh-Ho" or a singing, soprano, air-head Snow White. Well, if you want the Disney versions, the Disney versions are still around. I like my fairy tales presented with live actors, more depth, humor, and fidelity to the original stories. For all this, I can't praise Shelley Duvall enough. This "SNOW WHITE", along with the Cannon Movie Tales version, is the best ever. It easily leaves Disney in the dust! You get the story without the unnecessary slapstick touches from Disney, and without the sappy songs. The musical underscoring in this version is quite lovely. Directed by Peter Medak from a teleplay by Robert C. Jones.
Don't mess with Vanessa Redgrave as the Evil Queen here. Redgrave certainly does not treat the material as "kiddie stuff" here. In fact, she offers one of the finest performances of her illustrious career. Casting Vincent Price as her Magic Mirror was a stroke of sheer genius. The interplay between Redgrave and Price is perfectly priceless. Elizabeth McGovern is perfectly lovely as Snow White. Rex Smith makes a very handsome and sexy prince. Lou Carry, Tony Cox, Billy Curtis, Phil Fondacaro, Daniel Frishman, Peter Risch, and Kevin Thompson star as the Seven Dwarfs, who, in this version, all have names that begin with the letter "B." The Dwarfs are very humorous and funny. One of the Dwarfs refers to Snow White as "my favorite big person."
The underlying themes of the values that make a person truly beautiful, inside and out, and the values of true, real friendship, are strongly conveyed in this production.

I am a big fan of the Faerie Tale Theatre series. This film is one of my absolute favorites. Vanessa Redgrave gives a wonderfully over the top performance as the wicked and vengeful queen. Elizabeth McGovern is a kind and gentle Snow White and Vincent Price is unforgettable as the Magic Mirror. These films are great for kids because there is all of the wonderment of fairy tales. They are especially entertaining for adults because there is some crude humor in them that will have the older folks laughing. As far as the production, the music is beautiful and the sets are wonderful. Everything about these films is based after the theatre, as if you were watching a play. Very entertaining and intriguing films that will create memories to last a lifetime. If you've seen these movies then you understand how special they are. It was great to see actors and actresses before they became big and had a little fun in these great films!!!!! I recommend these films to anyone who wants to be whisked away to another time and place or to anyone who wants to have a little laugh. A+

With her lips as red as rubies, hair black as ebony, and skin as white as snow, our heroine Princess Snow White (Elizabeth McGovern) is the most beautiful in the land. This is much a curse as blessing, and earns her the muderous jealousy of her stepmother, (Vanesa Redgrave) the queen of the land, and the former most beautiful in all the land. Fortunately for Snow White, she has the loyalty of seven drarfs who take her in, but ultimately cannot protect her from the queen's scheme to see her lovely, innocent stepdaughter dead. Can the love of a handsome prince save our innocent Snow White from a premature death?

Ms. Redgrave is perfect in this role. Unlike some versions, she's lovely enough to convince us she could be a runner-up in the beauty department. She's brings the humor to her wicknedness, and her scenes in front of the witty, longer-suffering mirror, (Vincent Price) had me in stitches. Ms. McGovern brings Snow White's innocence/naivete to the forefront, and looks pretty. Alas, not much is needed for this character. The real female with meat to sink her teeth into is the queen.

The dwarfs are an endearing bunch, always good for additional laugh. The stand out performance is by Tony Cox who plays Bubba. The prince fell a little flat with me. There was zero chemistry between him and his leading lady, but thankfully, there are only about five minutes of the movie left by the time they meet, so it doesn't do too much damage.

I reccomend this for the young, and the young at heart.

Faerie Tale Theatre's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is phenomenal. Starring Elizabeth McGovern, Vanessa Redgrave and the late Vincent Price, its screenplay is intelligent and its soundtrack manages to be both romantic and melancholy.

The costuming is remarkable, especially the range of costumes that Ms. Redgrave wears. She retains a cold appeal in colorful gowns as the queen, and her performance shifts effortlessly to match the nondescript rags she wears as a disguise to twice prey on Snow White. Elizabeth McGovern is exceptionally stunning as Snow White, looking as though she were born to play the part. She perceptively acts the role with an understated quality that naturally elicits the innocence and goodness her character must have. Vincent Price may have been the only actor working at the time who could believably be the Magic Mirror. He plays the Mirror with whimsical coldness, and the production solves the logistical problem of a "magic" mirror existing within the realm of credible effects for its budget with odd ingenuity.

Also featuring a cameo appearance by series creator Shelley Duvall and solid narration by Price, Faerie Tale Theatre's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is nothing short of brilliant.

For the record,I am currently 22 years of age. I wanted to share this little tidbit with anyone who might be interested in this series. From the time I was around 4 years old, every sunday my mother and I would buy a bunch of junk food, lay around the house, and watch Faerie Tale Theatre. At the time, my mother was single and working. We didn't have enough money to buy a VCR but at the time, you could rent VCR's at the video store along with your movies. So everytime a new movie from Faerie Tale Theatre came out we'd hit the video store and have one of our special days. A little sentimental, I understand, but it's something I won't forget. Its been a VERY long time since I got to watch one but I still remember and have my favorites. I recomend these videos for all the little ones out there and for parents who want to share something special with their child. Thank you.

This effort from the Faerie Tale Theatre is a charming episode that will enthrall the kiddies. The innocence of Snow White will draw them into the story, while the crazy antics of the Seven Dwarfs will keep them engaged and laughing throughout.

Guest stars in this one primarily include Elizabeth McGovern, Vanessa Redgrave, & the diminutive Tony Cox

Just a lot of dumb, silly humor in this one makes it an enjoyable experience.

Great series for adults as well. Our grandkids had a lot of giggles watching this.

Irresistable and classic episode of Faerie Tale Theatre featuring one of the best Snow White adaptations besides the Disney version. Elizabeth McGovern makes a sweet and totally believable Snow White, and Vanessa Redgrave is wickedly excellent as her wicked queen of a stepmother. Rex Smith turns in a terrific performance as the singing Prince, and all the actors who play the dwarfs are amazing and very funny. Great film by Peter Medak features a great cast, superb script and a sweet music score.

This was my favorite version of Snow White as a child! I am so happy that it is finally on DVD!!!