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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Picture A++

Sound A+

Movie A++

Reviewed By: Stacy Marie

Walt Disney Films and Director David Hand team up to bring you the re-releases of the fairy tale classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on the first Platinum Collection DVD.

In 1937 Disney did the unthinkable. They created a feature length animated film. A far cry from the shorts of Silly Symphony and Mickey Mouse, Snow White was a milestone in film technology as well as a remarkable achievement. Walt Disney must have had the "luck of the mouse" when he embarked on this enterprise. To his credit it succeeded wonderfully. For over forty years since that magical moment Disney has had enormous successes with their films.

I remember lying sprawled out in the middle of the living room, my head perched on a pillow, giggling and smiling while little men danced across my TV screen. Many fond memories of my first Snow White experience stay with me to this day. A gentle hand with all living creatures, a kindness to everyone, and a childlike perception of her world have endeared her to generation after generation. A feeling of warmth and innocence overcomes me every time I watch the movie.

I am sorely afraid though that nothing I could write would do this film true justice. Be that as it may, I invite you sit down and listen to the tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I think it's best to tell this story from start to finish. But as most of us know, nothing ever ends. For an ending is only the beginning of a brand new adventure.

The tale of Snow White has everything. In pure Disney fashion nothing escapes the eye as you're dazzled by the wonder before you. The film introduces us to the wicked queen and the fair Snow White. With a knack for black magic and a magic mirror the queen sets out to be "fairest in the land." While Snow White, spends her days cleaning and dreaming of true love, her prince. The wishing well scene shows us the kind nature of Snow White. It also inspires a lovely rendition of "Someday my prince will come". While singing Snow White sees her true love for the first time. And true to any musical he greets her with song. What else is Snow White to do but flee behind a castle window and gaze longingly at her love.

After several years of consulting her magic mirror the queen is informed that someone else has become "fairer than she". "Lips red as roses, hair black as ebony, skin white as snow" the Princess Snow White has now become fairer than she. Upon hearing this, the queen orders her huntsman to take Snow White far out into the woods and make sure she does not return. He obliges and leads Snow White out into the woods under the guise of collecting wild flowers. But Snow White is far too beautiful and kind for him to kill her. The huntsman orders her to run away, far away for if she does not the queen will kill her.

Snow White does as told and runs through the forest. With the aid of nearby creatures she is lead to the dwarfs cottage. While cleaning up the cottage a lively tune of "whistle while you work" is sung. Upon cleaning the entire house Snow White retires upstairs to the dwarfs beds and falls asleep. The Dwarfs arrive home to find someone has been there. Upon hearing of her culinary skills the Dwarfs agree to let her stay in the cottage. Another song follows as the dwarfs clean up for dinner.

The next morning when leaving for work the dwarfs urge Snow White not to let anyone inside the house. Fearful of her safety Snow White agrees. However, the queen has disguised herself and convinces the princess to allow her inside the cottage. Once there, Snow White is persuaded to partake of a shiny red apple. Unknowing of the fate that awaits her should she consume the fruit, she wholeheartedly takes a bite of the "wishing apple." Within seconds she falls into the sleeping death and lies still on the floor. After being warned of the queen's trickery, the dwarfs rush home to find the queen running from the house. A chase ensues and the queen is forced to the edge of a cliff where she falls to her demise.

Moved by her beauty while in sleep, the dwarfs fashion a coffin for Snow White out of glass. Everyday is spent keeping vigil over the lovely princess. The prince, having heard of the sleeping princess, searches and finds his love. He is so moved by her beauty he tenderly kiss's the sleeping maid. With the taste of true loves first kiss Snow White awakens from her slumber. Joyous yells and laughs erupt from the dwarfs as the prince carries Snow White off. Never again to worry about the evil queen, she and the prince ride off into the sunset. And they lived happily ever after.

I fell in love instantly with this DVD. The music throughout the film represents a true Disney experience. Lively songs such as "Heigh Ho", "Someday my prince will come", and "Whistle while you work" make this film a treat for all ages alike. The special features are also a big plus. A 2 disc DVD set allows you to view the movie and have access to various features such as a wild mine ride game, past footage of Snow White theater openings, and the history of the film. I strongly recommend this DVD to anyone. If you have not yet seen or purchased this collection, I encourage you to do so as soon as possible. For I am sure it will become a classic in your home as it has in mine.

Enjoy!!

I recommend you buy this movie as soon as you can! You can click here to purchase the movie right now.

Edition Details:

• Region 1 encoding (US and Canada only)
• Color, THX, Animated, Closed-captioned, Dolby
• Disc One: The Film
• Magic Mirror on the Wall: To guide the viewer through all the features, the Magic Mirror is summoned as the host, through all-new animation created especially for this release.
• Guided Tour: Tour Guide Angela Lansbury takes you on a VIP tour sampling bonus features
• Some Day My Prince Will Come: Barbra Streisand performs a newly recorded rendition of the song presented over an animated montage of highlights from the film.
• "Still The Fairest of Them All: The Making Of Snow White:" A 40-minute documentary providing fascinating insight into the events leading up to the development of the film
• "Heigh-Ho" Sing-Along: With an option to hear the vocals from the film or perform your own, karaoke style.
• "Dopey's Wild Mine Ride" Game
• "The Goddess of Spring:" Silly Symphony animated short, which served as a test for the character Snow White.
• Audio commentary is gathered from dozens of hours of rare archival recordings of Walt Disney himself, hosted by film historian John Canemaker.
• Disc Two: The Lands of Snow White
• Snow White's Wishing Well (History And Development)
• Walt Disney biographical timeline
• Highlights of Walt Disney's life and career
• Snow White production timeline
• The evolution of the production
• Brothers Grimm original version of "Snow White"
• Storyboard to film comparisons
• The Queen's Castle (Virtual Galleries & More)
• Visual Development Gallery including preliminary designs and deleted concepts, highlights the creation of the European storybook world
• Layouts and Backgrounds Gallery including original designs and renderings
• Camera And Filter Tests including excerpts from Disney TV shows "The Story Of The Silly Symphony, " and "Tricks of Our Trade" with Walt Disney focusing on the Multiplane Camera
• Animation including a featurette on the original voices from the film
• Live-Action Footage including rare, live-action test footage featuring dancer Marge (Belcher) Champion and vaudevillian Eddie Collins with Disney artists
• Character Design Galleries
• Still art galleries showcase the production designs
• The Queen's Dungeon (Abandoned Concepts)
• Snow White Meets The Prince storyboard reconstruction of an alternate scene
• Some Day My Prince Will Come (Fantasy Version) storyboard reconstruction
• The Prince Is Captured storyboard reconstruction
• A look at the restoration process for the DVD
• The Dwarfs' Mine (Rare Treasures)
• Four partially animated (and one fully-animated) scenes that did not make the final film version plus the original RKO Opening and End Credits
• Disney Through The Decades: an new overview of the Walt Disney Studios, looking at each decade from the 1930's to the present with Roy Disney, D.B. Sweeney, Angela Lansbury, Fess Parker, Robby Benson, Dean Jones, Jodi Benson and Ming-Na.
• The Dwarfs' Cottage (Wonder Of An Era Gone By)
• The Release: Rare newsreel footage of the Hollywood premiere at the Carthay Circle Theater, a large selection of still photographs of original merchandise, and trailers from the various theatrical re-releases.
• Publicity: A retrospective of different theatrical poster designs used to promote "Snow White" over 65 years, press kits and the original 1937 Exhibitor's manual, stills from the premiere, the original press book, production photos, and posters.
• Vintage Black & White Short Subjects including "A Trip Through the Walt Disney Studios," (RKO exhibitors short), "How Disney Cartoons Are Made" (revised version of "A Trip Through the Walt Disney Studios," shown publicly as the first trailer for "Snow White")
• Supplemental Audio including Cecil B. DeMille talks with Walt Disney about his production and premiere for the Lux Radio Theater, radio broadcast from the premiere, Disney radio program celebrating "Snow White Day" (January 9, 1938), radio commercials, voice recording sessions and a deleted song: "You're Never Too Old To Be Young" (sung by the Dwarfs)
• DVD-ROM Features
• Number of discs: 2