-

How do you review a landmark film? I don’t mean ‘classic’ like, say, Army of Darkness or Bullitt. No, I’m referring to films that pioneered cinema and have had dozens upon dozens of great things already chronicled about them. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs carried impact when it first debuted in 1937, namely because it was the first animated feature film and it didn’t topple over like many nay-sayers predicted. Instead, like all films that stand with the weight of the critical world against them, Walt Disney’s first animated feature made a huge splash that forever changed the landscape of cinema. It’s a safe bet that without this picture, we would not be enjoying any Pixar films and would be left without the prospect of future Disney classics.

But again the question for one comes back to, what can be said that hasn’t already been boasted about this film? There’s nothing here that’s not to love, and this adaptation of fairy tale(s) to the silver screen has become the basis of what Disney is all about. There’s a reason The Queen earned her reputation as one of the most evil characters around. In fact it is socially relevant that her reasons for killing Snow White are no different than the evil popular girl wanting to rub out the new girl for being sweet, innocent, and everything she’s not. Of course it’s tough to find a high school teenage queen who has as stockpile of poison apples at her disposal. She might not be the best one, but she’s the villain all Disney villains for all time will be compared to.

Then we have the lovely Dwarfs who in some aspects have become more popular than Snow White herself. They too have cemented their place as some of the ultimate sidekicks in cinema history. They may be limited individually, and yet we’re still able to find an emotional connection to each one. True, Dopey, Grumpy, and Doc are more prominent, but one feels just as strongly about them as they would Bashful, Sleepy, Happy, and Sneezy. Maybe it’s how their drawn, or how lovable all of them are, or maybe it’s because there’s some expert characterization going on with each of the seven. Whatever it is, it’s tough not to fall in love with these guys.

All this and we’ve yet to mention the main character of this story, Snow White herself. To be fair, she is a little bland but the intent might be for the audience to project themselves onto her. No doubt Disney would better characterize his leads in future films, but Snow White, much like Superman (albiet not as complex) represents pure goodness in the world. Prince Charming represents what every woman wants in her life, and he gets the least amount of characterization, and that shows.

I’ve tried, but I don’t think I’ve really added anything to this film’s already phenomenal reputation. The stellar animation stills holds up to this day and as simple as the story might be, it has and will continue to survive for future generations to come. Maybe it’s not a flawless film, but it’s nearly a perfect one and it belongs in any collection, be it Disney, animation or otherwise.

Rating:  

The Video

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is presented in it’s original 1.33:1 aspect ratio and without question looks the best it has ever looked, and likely better than when it was first released. All of the colors come in very vibrantly and sharpness was never an issue. The details are all there, and quite honestly it appears as if Walt and his team animated this puppy yesterday. While the super-format might show off animation inconsistencies, who honestly cares when the film itself is the best it’s ever been?

Rating:  

The Audio

Snow White gets it’s original mono track in tact as well as a DTS-HA 7.1 track that sounds just as stellar as the animation. It’s not without its problems, but the audio is fine and remains centered throughout the film. Granted, we’re dealing with 72-year old audio so I’m more than willing to forgive flat effects and music as well as edginess in the dialogue. But again, the film sounds fine, especially when you kick up the mono track. Personally, I prefer mono to DTS here only because that’s how the film was originally released and it’s the best it’s ever sounded.

Rating:  

Packaging and Extras

Interestingly enough, Disney has done something with DVD release of this film. It’s marketed and released in a DVD case, but it has both Blu-ray discs as well as a bonus DVD disc with some special features – but no exclusive content.

First up is an audio commentary introduced by Disney Vice Chairman Roy E. Disney and features animation historian John Canemaker as well as audio recordings from Walt Disney himself. It’s not screen-specific; while Disney covers the origins of the project and the resentment he held toward the picture, Canemaker goes over the problems with animating the Mirror and more mundane things like naming the Dwarfs. It’s well handled piece and definitely worth a listen as it manages to engage and entertain.

Next up to bat is a feature called “Disney View” which gives the option of putting red curtains or a forest background in the black bar sections as the film plays. While this is nice for kids, I can’t see the thing catching on for adults. Still, at least the red curtains can be appreciated as a nice throwback to times of yesteryear.

Disney has also included the first eight minutes of their upcoming The Princess and the Frog and is designed to get the little ones, and hopefully adults, hyped for the release. In all honesty, it does this job well and is worth a look.

“Snow White Returns” runs roughly eight minutes and features unfinished storyboards narrated by producer Don Hahn and also allows us to see concept for an abandoned sequel to Snow White.

We also get two deleted scenes called “Soup Eating Sequence” and “Bed Building Sequence”. Neither is completed as they feature unfinished animation. Still, they’re nice to admire and look at.

We’re followed with a music video for “Someday My Prince Will Come” by Disney star Tiffany Thornton. Next.

Under “Family Play”, four mini-games are given and they are “Mirror, Mirror On the Wall”, “Jewel Jumble”, “What Do You See?”, and “Scene Stealer.” They’re all fun to play through, and should definitely keep the kids entertained.

An interactive game called “Dopey’s Wild Ride” has you travel through the mine and answer questions about Snow White. Interesting and fun, it’s worth a try.

Next is a whole section dedicated to Disney’s former Hyperion Studios. It’s broken into a number of sub-menus and is recommended for through-viewing from the index rather than through the very pretty hi-def menus. It’s informative and amazing, featuring audio clips, featurettes, and images with various studio personalities and film historians.

“Disney Through the Decades” features prominent Disney faces like Jodi Benson and Roy E. Disney and gives a brief rundown of the history of the company. Even if superficial, it features some nice material.

“Animation Voice Talent” takes us through footage of the animators working with the voice actors, namely Adrianna Caselotti working with animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnson. It provides us with info on how the actors got their parts and learn bits of their careers. Worth a look at least.

“Karakoe Sing-Along” is more tuned for the kids as it features the classic “Heigh-Ho” and this can be viewed in the original version or with no singing. The lyrics do appear at the bottom of the screen and bounce along.

“The One That Started It All” takes a look at Disney’s attraction to Snow White and why he chose that story, the film’s success and challenges it faced for getting made. Overall, it’s a nice celebration of the film.

Now I know the Platinum Edition is already out there with some stellar extras (and I also feel that’s why the DVD version skimped on extras) but for my money this is the version to own (obviously) as it does indeed present the best all-around view of the film.

Rating:  

Overall

For the film, there’s not much left to say other than it’s a landmark piece in the Disney library and pioneered animation features that we still enjoy to this day. While maybe not Disney’s best (Lion King or Pinocchio probably holds that distinction,) it’s still arguably their most important work. The Blu-ray has now landed with jaw-dropping visual presentation, good audio, and informative, entertaining extras. Even if you already own the Platinum Edition, this is a must-have in every sense of the word.

Rating: