Disney Era Analysis – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

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As mentioned in a previous blog post, I’ll be writing analysis content on all 60+ Disney animated feature films and their film making eras.

The first era is the Golden Age, which ran from 1937 to 1942 and started with Disney’s debut animated feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. As mentioned in my previous blog post, the Golden Age is known for setting the now-famous features in Disney’s animated feature films – being based on fairy tales, taking well-known literature and turning it into a child-friendly film, movies about and from the perspective of anthropomorphic animals, exaggerated villains, musical moments, adventures, and comedic sidekicks.

So how did Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs measure up to these now-famous features and was it the right choice for Disney’s very first animated feature film?

Being based on fairy tales:

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was adapted from the 1812 Grimms’ Fairy Tale of the same name. After reading the Wikipedia summary of the original, as well as a copy of it I managed to find online, the film stayed mostly loyal to it, albeit with a few changes which would have been necessary for both the purposes of film making, and to keep it child-friendly and for all audiences. For example, the Queen’s first two attempts to kill Snow White using a too-tight bodice and a poisoned comb were omitted, and her death was changed from being forced to dance in red-hot iron shoes by the Prince to falling off a cliff and being crushed by a boulder (off screen), during a storm as the Dwarfs chase after her for poisoning Snow White.

Taking well-known literature and turning into a child-friendly film:

As mentioned above, the film’s plot was adapted from the 1812 Grimms’ Fairy Tale of the same name, and Walt Disney and his staff made necessary changes to make the film child-friendly. As well as plot changes, the fact that the film in itself is animated, there are more musical moments than dialogue, and that Snow White and the Dwarfs become a tight-knit family, proves that Walt Disney and his staff were capable of taking well-known literature and turning into a child-friendly film.

I also feel that adapting a well-known fairy tale was a solid choice by Walt Disney for his first animated feature film. His adaptation was appropriate for children and adults alike, and a lesser-known story may not have resonated as well with both critics and audiences.

Movies about and from the perspective of anthropomorphic animals:

While the animals in the film did play a major role, the film wasn’t about them and they weren’t completely anthropomorphic.

It’s made clear from the beginning of the film that the animals understand and love Snow White, and her relationship with the animals is highlighted mainly through them guiding her to the Seven Dwarfs’ cottage and helping her clean it up, as well as when they go to the Dwarfs for help when the Queen shows up at the cottage with the poison apple. They also bring flowers to her coffin after her death and say goodbye to her after she is revived by the Prince and leaves with him.

Exaggerated villains:

Considering how vain the Queen is and the fact that she practices witchcraft, I personally don’t think that she was exaggerated.

Musical moments:

I actually felt watching the film that there were more musical moments than dialogue, especially when it came to Snow White’s interactions with the Prince. Snow White doesn’t actually speak to him, whereas he has one to two lines of dialogue asking her not to run away from him when he unintentionally scares her.

When Snow White makes her first appearance, she briefly talks to the birds before starting to sing “I’m Wishing” to them as she does her chores outside. When the Prince hears her, he tries to introduce himself, only for Snow White to run off into the castle, which leads to him serenading her with “One Song.”

When Snow White finds the Dwarfs’ cottage and decides to clean it for them, she sings “Whistle While You Work” as she does so (with the help of the animals). Similarly, when the Dwarfs make their first appearance, they are singing whilst they are working, finishing for the day and making their journey home (“Heigh-Ho”).

The Prince makes his return on screen by singing “One Song” again as he finds Snow White’s coffin, and as they are making their way to the Prince’s castle in the film’s final moments, a choir can be heard singing, “Someday My Prince Will Come” with no dialogue between them being spoken.

Adventures:

Whilst not an adventure in the traditional sense as she ran into the forest and found the Dwarfs’ cottage out of fear for her life, Snow White does have an adventure living with the Dwarfs once she meets and develops a familial-like relationship with them.

Comedic sidekicks:

While they were technically titular co-stars and not sidekicks, the Dwarfs definitely filled the much-needed comedic role in the film with their different personalities and mannerisms, especially the mute Dopey. His slapstick mannerisms and nature made up for his lack of dialogue.

My overall thoughts:

I watched the film twice before writing this analysis, appreciating it more the second time around. I was surprised that the pace of the film was slower and there were more musical moments than traditional dialogue on first watch, however on second viewing and further research, I understand and respect Disney’s choices, as it really is a simple story that is well-told.

I loved the watercolours and the colour palette of the film. The choice to deliberate darken the colour palette in the Queen’s scenes and brighten it with Snow White, the Prince and the Dwarfs was very clear, and the watercolour aesthetic gave it more of a fairy tale and fantasy vibe.

After watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, I’m definitely looking forward to watching the remaining Disney animated feature films and seeing how they progress throughout time.

The next part of the Disney Era Analysis series will be released next week and will focus on Pinocchio.

Fun Facts and Trivia:

  • As well as being Disney’s first animated feature film, it was also the first full-length cell-animated feature in motion picture history, the first animated feature film produced in America, and in full colour.
  • All the dwarfs were modelled after real people.
  • The highest-grossing animated film of all time (adjusted for inflation).
  • Snow White is the youngest Disney Princess at the age of 14.
  • Adriana Caselotti (Snow White) was not invited to the premiere of the movie. When she tried to get in, security wasn’t convinced that she was in fact, the film’s star.
  • 750 artists worked on the film. This total includes 32 animators, 102 assistant animators, 65 special effects animators, 25 background artists, 20 layout artists, and 158 female inkers and painters. Two million illustrations were made for the film using 1500 shades of paint. 

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