Streaming Gems: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Photo from Disney
From Shane Conto
Where did it all begin for Disney Animation? There were certainly plenty of animated shorts that Walt Disney experimented with including his hefty Alice series of shorts. But there was one specific moment that changed the game in animation and the trajectory of Disney Studios for the next 90 years. The release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. 1937 might be almost 90 years ago but Snow White still feels so impactful today and presents so many tropes and ideas that would be leveraged in animated stories for decades to come.
Why does this film have such lasting power? That is a unique combination of what this film has influenced and just how classic of a story it is. We find comfort in watching such a film where we know the beats and feel just how iconic each twist and turn is in the story. This is a timeless tale of escaping greed and vanity. The timeless tale of purity of heart. This is a charming film with a lot of memorable characters. First off, there are all seven of the dwarfs who stand out in their own fun ways. They might each be defined by one trait apiece but the many writers on the project bring these characters so much charm. The titular princess is sweet and kind in an endearing way and seeing the joy she brings the dwarfs is so fun. Then you have the iconic Evil Queen who brings darkness and a foreboding nature to the film. Even the Magic Mirror leaves a last impression (long before he plays matchmaker in Shrek).
What is one of the most important elements of any Disney Animation project? The music. You gotta love the music. There are plenty of iconic songs that teleport you back to this classic tale. The dwarfs get a fun introduction with “Heigh-Ho” which has a fun jaunting rhythm as well as one that works perfectly for a work tempo. It even gets you a little hyped to be productive and get some work done. There are a few silly songs as well that capture the fun nature of these titular supporting characters. “Bluddle-Uddle-Um-Dum” is certainly fun and can even be a fun way to get the little ones to wash up for dinner. “The Silly Song” captures the mad yodel skills of the dwarfs and brings a lot of joy to their growing relationship with Snow White. But of course…you have “Someday My Prince Will Come”. A longing and romantic song that just captures the song's stylings of the time and really reinforces the princess/prince dynamic of the film.
But what deserves the biggest praise of all for this iconic and classic film? The animation. We just don’t see anything like this anymore. Hand drawn animation is kept alive by a few studios today but Disney left that approach in the past long ago. Watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs makes you want to bring it back immediately. The backgrounds are beautiful matte paintings with texture and a classic feel. These feel like painted landscapes out of a museum. The richness of color is a gorgeous addition to the film that brings so much life to the story. There are a few set pieces that really standout from the eerie castle of The Evil Queen to the miners that dwarfs work in. There is a great mix of creepy and dark elements that build good tension to the bright, lively fantasy elements of this magical forest.
Does Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs feel a bit too old-fashioned? Certainly. There are elements (especially the romance) that feel overly simplified and a bit archaic. But the magic of the experience still makes this classic animated fantasy a journey worth taking. Even from a technical standpoint, this is worth the stream because of how revolutionary it was at the time and how beautiful it still looks today. This was a towering achievement for Disney and set in motion almost a century of animated greatness.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is streaming on Disney+.
