Customer Reviews

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs [VHS]

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937) remains an enduring landmark in cinema history. Happily, the DVD edition does justice to one of the all-time great films, featuring a pristine transfer and a wealth of archival material. With the exception of "Fantasia" (1940), Disney never surpassed this remarkable achievement in animation.

The story of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is an enchanting, experimental romp with animation. At the time of its release, in December of 1937, Walt Disney was taking a heavy, financial risk with this movie. Film goers were used to watching short animated films, like "Steamboat Willie", starring Disney creation, Mickey Mouse. However, what was yet to be known was ... would audiences sit through an hour and a half cartoon?

The story itself is simple enough. A wicked queen, vane in every respect, has but one sinister ambition. That being to be "the most beautiful of all". Every day she asks her mirror, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the most fairest of them all?". One day, however, the mirror answers, "Snow White" as the most fairest. Outraged that there is another person more beautiful than her, she orders a huntsman to find Snow White, and kill her. He obeys this command up until a point. After taking her deep into the forest, he has seconds thoughts, tells Snow White what the queen wanted him to do, and pleads with her to escape, which she does.

Snow White meets up with seven dwarfs, who initially have no interest in her, nor her imposing ways. The dwarfs are bachelors, of sorts; at least, living in the manner of a bachelor. They are dirty and unkemp, as is their home. Snow White gets them to clean up and live more respectfully; a rough task in the beginning, and much despised by the dwarfs. However, she grown on them, and soon they come to respect her.

Meanwhile, the queen discovers Snow White is still alive. Finding out where she is, the queen disguises herself as an old hag, and goes in search of her. In her possession she carries an apple ... a poisonous apple with which she intends to give to Snow White to eat. While the dwarfs are out working, Snow White encounters the queen, and is given the apple. After taking one bite, she falls to the ground, dead, unable to be revived and brought back to life but by "love's first kiss". Eventually a prince comes along, as is the custom in fairy tales, and kisses Snow White, bringing her back to life. What happens to the queen is an entirely different matter indeed.

So is a short synopsis of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". However, problems evolved in the making of "Snow White". Based on a Grimms Bros. fairy tale, there was not enough material to make it into a film version, and Dinsey wondered how he could make an animated feature length film, and still keep the audiences attention. He also wondered what he could do to offset the horror in the film. "Snow White", after-all, dealt with, and ultimately contained, much terror that even today still frightens some younger viewers.

The answer came in several factors. One was in fast paced crosscutting scenes, so that the action was not concentrated on one particular character for too long. Another answer came with using sweet, mellow songs to help move the story along. "I'm Wishing", "With A Smile In My Song", "Whistle While You Work", and "Heigh Ho" were just some of the songs that helped carry "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". A third factor, and perhaps the most important of them all, came in the comedics of the dwarfs themselves. Doc, Sleepy, Grumpy, Happy, Sneezy, Bashful, and Dopey were all meticulously created, each with their own identities; and but for them and their silliness throughout "Snow White", the film may not have moved with the speed it did, and older members in the audience may have become bored, while younger ones may have become more frightened.

All of the elements were now in place, including a wonderful cast
that starred Adriana Casoletti as Snow White, Harry Stockwell, as the prince, and Lucille Laverne as the Queen. In its initial release, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" pulled in over four million dollars, thereby securing both Disney's future, and the future of animated films. Without the success of Snow White, it is easy to conclude Disney would not have attempted it again, and we never would have known of "Bambi" "Pinocchio", or "Dumbo". Thanks to Walt Disney's heavy gamble with "Snow White", his exhausting persistence in seeing it through, a flood gate of highly successful animated films have graced the silver screen, amusing and entertaining audiences for decades hence.

I am often sickened by Disney's overpriced cheesy books, toys and other merchandise that are far from "classic" as well as their idiotic marketing ploy for their videos - the Disney vault. Yet when I watch a wonderful classic film like this all is forgiven. One caution the movie could be frightening to very young or fearful children. The Queen and her mirror are really scary as are her various plots to kill Snow White. I don't think the typical kid over seven would be afraid of it especially since there is so much comic relief from the dwarfs and the cuddly animals though the film is somewhat of a curious mix. I do find Snow White's singing and speaking voice annoying as well as her role of little homemaker but you have to remember she is a product of the late 1930's and appreciate the film as a hallmark of that time.

Since this is Spanish version of the title, I'll write my review in Spanish as well: Creo que esta es simplemente maravillosa y magica por ser la pionera en una nueva forma de comunicar: los dibujos animados a color. No solo la historia es conmovedora y llena de magia, si no que conlleva un gran mensaje. Quien no ha dicho alguna vez las palabras magicas de 'espejito... espejito...'. Mi padre relataba su aventura del dia en que fue a ver la pelicula el dia del estreno alla por los anos 30s, y de como recordaba la pelicula y casi la tenia memorizada aun a sus 65 anos de vida. Yo no me escape de verla con el algunas veces tambien. Hoy (gracias a Amazon) encontre este video el cual quiero compartir con mi hija para continuar la tradicion...

Item was shipped and received very quickly. Cost of item was more than reasonable.

I would do business with this vendor in the future.

My girls have been waiting for four years to watch all the princesses in one night. When it came time to play the movie the tracking was horrible and would not adjust with my tracking controls. The color jumps from B&W to Color constantly, and the tape jumps scenes. My girls were very disappointed and I would like to mail it back to them and get my money back. No exchanges no replacements.

My granddaughter and I love the original version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It's great. The color and clarity are amazing for such an old movie.

After much discussion our family ranked this Disney classic as their 6th favorite out of the 41 cartoon based movies we own. Of all the old classic cartoons, SWAT7D probably contributed for to the Walt Disney World theme park than any other movie. Snow White herself, the most evil bad guy, the step mother witch, the 7 dwarfs, the diamond mine, the poison apple and the mirror on the wall are all familiar pictures in the culture even today.
Some had said this is their favorite family movie and I can't blame them. We only gave 7 of the 41 a 5 star rating, what we called the magnificent 7. But, Mirror mirror on the wall, which is the best Disney movie of all? The debate was fun.

We had a lot of fun by gathering the family together to rank the 41 Disney movies we have that include some cartoon work. All the kids, ages 6 to 27, participated along with mother and dad. Peter Pan is no Codfish, we rank it #2. Lion King was selected number 1 of the 41 as the family favorite, but narrowly. Peter Pan was 2. Pete's Dragon 3, Beauty & the beast 4 and Sleeping Beauty 5.

I think these Snow White videos are absolutely timeless! I watched them when I was a kid and now my children enjoy them. I highly reccommend for ANYONE! These never get old!

I personally believe that all children must see this movie. It's a classic fairy tale where a beautiful daughter (Snow White) has to ward off her jealous evil stepmother. Eventually, Snow White has to escape through the forest to a little cottage where she meets the 7 Dwarfs, who let her stay with him. Then, her stepmother finds her and tries to kill her by giving her a poisonous apple. The only cure is a kiss from the handsome prince. Will he come in time? Duh! This is a Disney movie! Of course, he will! And they will all live happily ever after. Sure, it's predictable, but it's definitely still worth the time and money to see it.