Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  Walt's first full-length animated feature film!  The film premiered on December 21, 1937 and clocks in at 83 minutes.

One of my favorite things about Snow White and Walt Disney is that all of the experts were telling Walt that a full-length animated feature simply could not be done.  People would not be able to handle looking at the bright colors and pictures of an animated feature for too long without feeling sick.  Yet Disney pressed on.  And I'm so glad he did!

Snow White  tells the tale of a beautiful princess who has been forced to work as a scullery maid by her stepmother- the evil queen.  The evil queen's sole purpose in life is to be the "fairest of them all."  She fears Snow White's natural beauty.  Snow White is eventually forced to flee and ends up seeking refuge (and spreading joy) in a small cottage- the home of the seven dwarfs who spend their days working in a diamond mine.  And what story would be complete without a dashing prince to come to the princess's aid?

Before I share my thoughts on this film, I must confess that the dwarfs stole my heart!  From Doc's adorable stutter to Bashful's blushes to Grumpy's "surliness."  They were my favorite part of the movie! 

I think there are certain key ingredients that Disney included in his movies that when put together they make Disney magic!  The ingredients:

• A good story (the heart of any great film)
• A likable hero/heroine
• A little bit of romance
• A scary villain
• Humor
• Music - this is what I really think sets Disney apart!  The movies have all of the other great characteristics and then the music carries them over the top!

 Snow White has all of these ingredients!   A good story - a princess forced to flee the vanity of an evil queen.  A likable heroine - Snow White herself is not only physically beautiful, but her true beauty shines through in her kindness, gentleness and hard work.  A little bit of romance - Did I mention there's a dashing prince?  A scary villain - evil queen equals chills (and that's before her wicked transformation).  Humor - the dwarfs (love them!) and there is this turtle who just can't quite keep up with the animals helping Snow White tidy up the cottage, but watching him try is so much fun!

Finally, the music.  Oh the music!  Before re-watching this film, I would have summed up the music of Snow White with "Some Day My Prince Will Come." (A truly great song!)  But there is so much more!  Snow White begins the film by singing "I'm Wishing" at her Wishing Well.  Thousands upon thousands of people still journey to Snow White's Wishing Well at Disneyland to share their own special wishes and dreams. (It's also a very popular marriage proposal spot!)  And the dwarfs get two show-stopping numbers with "Heigh Ho" and their yodeling song.  Finally, Snow White also sings the merry "Whistle While You Work" while tidying the cottage.  To me music is an instant mood lifter, and if you can apply that to cleaning a dirty old cottage, then there's some definite Disney magic happening.

It was so much fun to visit the story of Snow White again!  A beautiful story- full of adventure, love, laughter with a dash of danger.  I will remind everyone to heed this great advice: Do not eat food from strangers (particularly if the stranger is dressed in a suspicious black cloak and is handing you a shiny red apple).

Finally, I will leave you with this great quote from Walt Disney:

All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. 

 

 Here's to pursuing your dreams in 2014!
 

 

Coming up Next Week: Pinocchio