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Roy Atwell, Stuart Buchanan, Adriana Caselotti, Marge Champion, Eddie Collins ... see more see more... , Pinto Colvig , Marion Darlington , Billy Gilbert , Otis Harlan , Lucille La Verne , Jim MacDonald , Scotty Mattraw , Moroni Olsen , Harry Stockwell

It was called "Disney's Folly." Who on earth would want to sit still for 90 minutes to watch an animated cartoon? And why pick a well-worn Grimm's Fairy Tale that every schoolkid knows? But Walt Disne... read more read more...y seemed to thrive on projects which a lesser man might have written off as "stupid" or "impossible". Investing three years, $1,500,000, and the combined talents of 570 artists into Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Disney produced a film that was not only acknowledged a classic from the outset, but also earned 8,500,000 depression-era dollars in gross rentals. Bypassing early temptations to transform the heroine Snow White into a plump Betty Boop type or a woebegone ZaSu Pitts lookalike, the Disney staffers wisely made radical differentiations between the "straight" and "funny" characters in the story. Thus, Snow White and Prince Charming moved and were drawn realistically, while the Seven Dwarfs were rendered in the rounded, caricatured manner of Disney's short-subject characters. In this way, the serious elements of the story could be propelled forward in a believable enough manner to grab the adult viewers, while the dwarfs provided enough comic and musical hijinks to keep the kids happy. It is a tribute to the genius of the Disney formula that the dramatic and comic elements were strong enough to please both demographic groups. Like any showman, Disney knew the value of genuine horror in maintaining audience interest: accordingly, the Wicked Queen, whose jealousy of Snow White's beauty motivates the story, is a thoroughly fearsome creature even before she transforms herself into an ancient crone. Best of all, Snow White clicks in the three areas in which Disney had always proven superiority over his rivals: Solid story values (any sequence that threatened to slow down the plotline was ruthlessly jettisoned, no matter how much time and money had been spent), vivid etched characterizations (it would have been easier to have all the Dwarfs walk, talk and act alike: thank heaven that Disney never opted for "easy"), and instantly memorable songs (Frank Churchill, Leigh Harline, Paul J. Smith and the entire studio music department was Oscar-nominated for such standards-to-be as "Whistle While You Work" and "Some Day My Prince Will Come"). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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G, 1 hr. 23 min.

Directed by: David Hand

Release Date: December 21, 1937

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DVD Release Date: October 6, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (16,901)

  • brooklynspo
    July 7, 2007
    brooklynspo
    shenlong
  • blacksheepboy
    March 12, 2013
    blacksheepboy
    Walt Disney's first animation is an enchanting and delightful adaptation of Grimms' fairy tale. Carefully drawn, with a great attention to details, it not only opened the door for this art in cinema but every modern animation owes a lot to this important masterpiece.
  • mumby1988
    August 13, 2012
    mumby1988
    The recent release of Mirror, Mirror and Snow White and the Huntsman makes this the perfect time to re-examine the Disney version of Snow White, whose success and reputation these films are trying so hard to emulate. The temptation would be to go in intending to rip the film to s... read morehreds, holding it up as a glorified relic to give the modern versions of the fairy tale a fighting chance. But for all the cynicism surrounding Disney (most of which is justified), there is no getting away from the fact that their first feature-length animation is a masterpiece.

    In an age where fairy tales have been thoroughly deconstructed, and their positions on gender and sexuality have been analysed down to the letter, it would be very easy to dismiss Snow White as outdated, chauvinist claptrap - or to blame it for the arguably worse, more offensive claptrap that followed. While the film isn't as overtly limiting in its depictions of women as some of the more recent Disney offerings, you can make the point that its success set the template for everything that followed, and therefore it deserves its fair share of the blame.

    If you were incredibly cynical, you could sum up the story of Snow White as follows: an icy bitch tries to kill a prissy brat because she's prettier than her, and apparently looks count for everything as far as women are concerned. The brat breaks into the house of seven men who are old enough to be her (grand)father, becomes domesticated while they do the work, falls for the oldest trick in the book (being tempted by an apple) and is then given the Vladimir Lenin treatment. Then, just when all hope is lost, a man whom she barely knows comes along and saves the day.

    All this criticism and more, from people far better versed than me, holds up to some level of scrutiny. And Disney's subsequent record leaves them open to accusations of exploiting and slowly deflowering their first child. And yet, for all the self-righteous resistance you attempt to put up, it remains completely irresistible. Whether you view Snow White as a gigantic technical leap forward or as a strong and distinctive retelling of the Grimms' fairy tale, the film still fundamentally works, as a piece of animation, as a piece of storytelling, and as an outstanding visual experience.

    It's important to understand just how ground-breaking Snow White was on animation. As I mentioned in my Peter Pan review, the film was dubbed "Disney's folly" when first announced. The conventional wisdom of the time was that the only way to make money with animation was through shorts: you could produce a large number of them relatively quickly, allowing you to build up a regular audience, and always had something in reserve if one of your cartoons fared poorly. Feature-length animation was a huge financial risk which threatened the future of Walt Disney as a creative artist. Hence he and director David Hand were as thorough as possible with the finished product - and it shows.

    By creating a 90-minute cartoon with very high production values and such relatively large narrative scope, Disney shifted the goalposts for what animation was capable of doing. While the studio continued to produce shorts, particularly in the form of US propaganda during WWII, the emphasis was now on full-length animation which could compete with the live-action talkies. You may go so far as crediting Snow White as the first of many breakthroughs in the quest to put animation on equal footing with so-called 'proper' filmmaking.

    If you choose to ignore the influence of Snow White on the film industr, it still holds up as a product of its time. The animation is outstanding, utilising the technique of rotoscoping to create realistic physical movements for all the characters. Like Peter Pan, the majority of Snow White was created by filming the actors on partial sets, with the animators using stills of the actors as a basis for character construction. Disney's philosophy was always to treat the magical or fantastical as if it really could happen, and be making the characters both look and feel human, we settle into the story much quicker than we might in a more modern, CG effort.

    The visuals of the film also demonstrate the amount of choreography that goes into animation. In an animated film nothing is improvised or made up on the fly, and Snow White feels like it has been worked out to the tiniest detail. That's not to say that it feels cold or clinical - quite the opposite. The musical sequences in particular are inventively choreographed to work in outlandish and hilarious jokes as the physical comedy builds. One of the best moments in the film finds Dopey playing the drums, and having multiple sticks run through his sleeves to create a drum roll.

    Disney has often been accused of softening the edges of its subject matter, with "the Disney version" serving as a pejorative means of defending the source material. But whatever truth this may hold today, there is still plenty of rgenuine darkness in Snow White, which is both indicative of the original fairy tale and an intelligent elaboration of it. The scenes of Snow White running through the creepy trees are every bit as scary as the Pleasure Island scenes in Pinocchio or the Pink Elephants in Dumbo. It's not hard to see what Dario Argento was talking about when he claimed to have based Suspiria on this film.

    Although it takes certain liberties with the original fairy tale, Snow White does retain some of its substance. The story is at its heart about characters dealing with jealousy and resentment, contrasting the wicked Queen's fortunes with those of the dwarfs. The Queen feels threatened by Snow White's beauty and youth, but also by her popularity, whether with the birds or with a handsome prince. While most of the dwarfs welcome Snow White in, Grumpy resents her for poisoning his friends' minds with her "wicked wiles". While the Queen's spite result in her destruction, Grumpy manages to overcome his suspicion of women and plays a sizable role in the rescue.

    There are also vague Biblical elements to the film, which are reflective of both Disney and the German traditions from which the source emerged. The most obvious element is the poisoned apple: the Queen is Lucifier, who takes on a more trusting form (the old woman) and tempts Eve (Snow White) to eat the forbidden fruit in return for what she truly desires. The Queen's demand to have Snow White's heart reflects the Devil's desire to remove humanity's capacity for love and compassion. And of course, the ending in which Snow White comes back to life is a clear paraphrasing of the resurrection, with the handsome prince standing in for God.

    While none of this imagery is conveyed in an overly heavy-handed way, it is the music of Snow White which guarantees its approachability. 'Whistle While You Work' and 'Heigh Ho' are still infuriatingly catchy, while 'Some Day My Prince Will Come' is orchestrated with suitable grandeur. Frank Churchill would later go on to write 'Baby Mine' for Dumbo¸ while the incidental composer Paul J. Smith would later work on Pinocchio and Bambi. Their inventive melodies are brilliantly arranged and the lyrics remain wittily acrobatic.

    For all the baggage it carries as part of the Disney brand, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs remains the jewel in Disney's crown after the best part of 75 years. Its ground-breaking technical work is matched by its breezy storytelling, rich imagery and the extent of our emotional involvement. Its influence on American film is vast and various, and on its own terms it still holds up as a fantastic piece of fantasy filmmaking. In spite of everything you care to throw at it, however true or justified your complaints, it is still the fairest in the land.
  • fb100000145236770
    May 31, 2012
    fb100000145236770
    Ranked 34 on AFI's top 100 movies of all time, and considered the Disney Animated feature film. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is an all time classic movie. Fantastic animation,catchy songs,and memorable characters make this cartoon truly timeless. It's the fairy tell told ... read morewith beauty and charm,that has never been often imitated,never duplicated. I remember loving this as a child,and rewatching it brought back many memories and lots of whistling. I still sing "hi ho, hi ho it's off to work I go" some mornings. The dwarfs are 7 of the simplest,yet most effective characters ever in an animated film. Dopey barely makes a peep,and 75 years later he is still loved. Hard to believe this came out 75 years ago, but it holds up beautifully. I remember a couple years ago this was on tv, and I was with my nephew. He's used to the cartoons now like "shrek" and "toy story." But he stopped and watched and loved it. Even got a little scared during the scenes of the forest. It's just awesome to see a new generation fall in love with this,like each before it. Can't wait til my boy is old enough so I can share it with him.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    April 28, 2012
    TheDudeLebowski65
    The first fully animated feature film is a definite classic of the cinematic medium. This film changed cinema forever, and introduced the world to Walt Disney. The studio has always made memorable, classic animated features; But Snow White is the definitive Disney classic. Based ... read moreon a classic fairy tale, Walt6 Disney set ahead and created this memorable take of an old tale. If you're to watch one Disney animated film, this is definitely the one to watch. Perfect for every one of all ages, with stellar animation and a great cast of voice talents, Snow White is a phenomenal achievement in film. This is the perfect film to watch with your kids, and it still holds up to this day. This is a brilliant film, which really doesn't need a review, because after all, everything that needed to be said has been said. This is the film that put Disney on the map, and remains one of the finest films that the studio has ever made. Watch it if you haven't seen it. This is one of cinema's greatest classics, a film that has stood the test the time, as is still great fun after all these years. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a terrific film that is a must see for every true lover of cinema. No matter how old you are, this is a film that is a must see, and should be seen as a wonderful piece of art on its own. Brilliant in every aspect, this is the real Disney classic, a film that would bring Disney's vision in the public conscience.
  • fb733768972
    March 30, 2012
    fb733768972
    "Snow White and the Seven Dwarf's" is a classic Walt Disney feature that will have everyone in tears. As the queen (an evil witch) needs to find and destroy a princess named Snow White due to the fact that a mirror tells her she is "the fairest of them all," we follow Snow White ... read moreas the main character who meets seven little dwarfs with very unique character attributes. It is a very basic premise as Snow White befriends these seven dwarfs while we await the appearance of the Queen's confrontation. I absolutely loved this movie aside from the fact that the queen is such a huge part of the story and is kind of brushed off to the side until the end of the story. Also, it may be a little too dark for kids and the animation may be a little scary, but "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is pure disney magic that will never go out of date. This is an amazing film!
  • spielberg00
    September 17, 2011
    spielberg00
    Ahh, those wholesome, G-rated days of my early childhood when SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES was "the best movie ever". I just recently discovered for myself that the original "Snow White" fairy tale didn't even have dwarves ("oh, so THAT'S why the titles are different!"), and... read more if anything, that little factoid just makes this film five times more creative. We look down at a lot of the more modern Disney movies that aren't really as good (take G-FORCE or THE PRINCESS DIARIES, for instance), and we also have moved movies like this one, CINDERELLA, and SLEEPING BEAUTY into a category of "Disney princess movies" (which can be decoded as "Disney movies we never want to see again"), but if you look at how successful this film was back when it first was released in 1937 and how popular it is still today, you'd be surprised. That said, SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES is a definite children's classic, but even though I've seen it ten times, I could care less. For ANY classic, ten times is enough.
  • fb100001050230219
    August 18, 2011
    fb100001050230219
    It is the first film I remember seeing and still remains a classic close to my heart. Wonderful.
  • fb729949618
    August 9, 2011
    fb729949618
    First animated Disney film! Even if you haven't seen it, you know it HAS to be good. Remind's me of my sister.
  • jamers2011
    July 7, 2011
    jamers2011
    Disney's first, and a classic animated film!

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Critic Reviews

Otis Ferguson
February 15, 2011
Otis Ferguson, The New Republic

To say of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs that it is among the genuine artistic achievements of this country takes no great daring. Full Review

John C. Flinn Sr.
June 28, 2007
John C. Flinn Sr., Variety

So perfect is the illusion, so tender the romance and fantasy, so emotional are certain portions when the acting of the characters strikes a depth comparable to the sincerity of human players, that th... Full Review

Dave Kehr
June 28, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

You've probably seen it 15 times by now, so why not make it 16? Full Review

Geoff Andrew
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

...the animation itself is top-notch, and in a number of darker sequences (Snow White's terrified entry into the forest, for example), Disney's adoption of Expressionist visual devices makes for genui... Full Review

Frank S. Nugent
May 20, 2003
Frank S. Nugent, New York Times

It is a classic, as important cinematically as The Birth of a Nation or the birth of Mickey Mouse. Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 30, 2001
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

To one degree or another, every animated feature made since owes it something. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Like many of the Disney films, from Pinocchio to Fantasia, this film is a cinematic rite of passage -- for children and adults. Full Review

Tim Brayton
October 28, 2009
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

There are only a tiny number of films that have come anywhere close to equaling its achievement. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
October 10, 2009
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

It luxuriates in the art of animation, watching the various animals race through the woods, or watching Snow White running scared from an array of imaginary horrors. Full Review

James Kendrick
October 10, 2009
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk

the film's overall effect is undeniable, not only on the history of cinema as a whole, but in each new viewing that reveals another dimension or additional detail, the sum total of which is one of the... Full Review

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    • Grumpy: Hah! Women! A fine kettle of fish.
    • Snow White: Want to know a secret? / Promise not to tell? / We are standing by a wishing well / Make a wish into the well / that's all you have to do / And if you hear it echoing / Your wish will soon come true.
    • Happy: I'd like to dance and tap my feet / But they won't keep in rhythm. / You see, I washed 'em both today / And I can't do nothin' with 'em.
    • Grumpy: A fine bunch of water lilies you turned out to be. I'd like to see anybody make me wash, if I didn't wanna.
    • Queen/Witch: Oh! What a cute little chair. Why, there's seven little chairs. Must be seven little children. And from the look of this table, seven untidy little children.
    • Snow White: I'm awfully sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. But you don't know what I've been through. And all because I was afraid. I'm so ashamed of the fuss I made.
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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Trivia

  • What is the name of Disney's first full-length animated film?  Answer »
  • "Oh! What a cute little chair. Why, there's seven little chairs. Must be seven little children. And from the look of this table, seven untidy little children."   Answer »
  • In the movie Gremlins what movie are Stripe and the other Mogwai watching in the theatre.  Answer »
  • What is the name of the movie with the 7 dwarfs in it?  Answer »
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