Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs Movie Review

Walt Disney’s first animated feature film was a milestone in the industry, including the introduction of a new technological innovation. A fairytale come to life!

Genre: Animation / Fantasy / Musical

Director: David Hand, Perce Pearce, William Cotrell, Larrey Morey & Wilfred Jackson

Cast: Adriana Caselotti, Lucille La Verne, Ray Atwell, Pinto Colvig, Billy Gilbert, Otis Harlan, Scotty Mattraw, Moroni Olsen, Stuart Buchanan & Harry Stockwell.

Run Time: 83 min.

US Release: 04 Februar 1938

UK Release: 12 March 1938

German Release: 24 February 1950

Given that Disney’s new iteration of Snow White was released earlier this year, with my review out a few weeks ago, I decided to review the original animation, which is Disney’s first feature-length movie, from 1938. Growing up in a household filled with Disney VHS, this was one of the first films I ever saw as a small child. Not only is it considered a milestone in cinema, but it also paved the path for what the studio became today. A classic that, to this day, enchants with its musical skits plus simple story. So, let's get down to business, as we gleefully ask the magic mirror if my review for Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs is fair.

— WARNING, THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS! —

With Snow White's beauty exceeding that of the vain Queen, the princess needs to flee her home to escape the deadly wrath of her stepmother. Fleeing into the forest, she stumbles upon a tiny cottage belonging to seven magical creatures. Through a series of misunderstandings, the princess and the seven dwarfs finally meet face to face, with the latter deciding to keep her in the house, safe from the grasp of the Queen. 

However, the evil ruler, a practitioner of witchcraft, transforms into an elderly lady, who then dooms Snow White with a poisoned apple. The dwarfs, devastated, go after the witch, who falls to her death as she tries to escape. Now, it can only be true love’s kiss that can save the young girl from an eternal sleep.

Having been familiar with the Brothers Grimm tale since childhood, Walt himself recognised the potential of adapting it into a full-length animated picture that could enthral both children and adults, thanks to its straightforward structure. The reworked story manages to tell an emotionally engaging, as well as coherent narrative, incorporating important messages of innocence, naivety, plus jealousy. The screenplay effectively balances out darker, scarier moments with light-hearted humour.

That said, not all has aged well! For one, the love story is rushed, feeling forced, as the mutual attraction between the princess and the prince is purely based on looks. Then there is the fact that the lead character is a passive set piece in her own film. Finally, the second act detracts heavily from the main plot, puffing up the runtime by expanding sequences with the dwarfs.

Though conversations can be overly simplified at times, it still maintains its fairytale charm, coining lines as some of the most iconic in animation history. The musical lyrics are equally memorable, having become true classics. 

Snow White is the representation of innocence and naivety, even after everything she has been put through. She sees the good in people first, which is what makes her persona so likeable. Unfortunately, her depiction is very much a product of its time, meant in a negative way, limiting her impact by reducing her role to a pure domestic one (cooking, cleaning, etc). Casseloti’s voice was the perfect match.

Lucille La Verne gave a standout performance as the evil Queen, changing her voice mid-way from powerful to cackling. The character itself, though underwritten, is one of the most classic villain portrayals, showing how ruthless she can be. Her counterpart, the magic mirror, adds to the mystical tone with its echoing voice.

The seven dwarfs are given different types of personalities, which are reflected in the voice acting. Though come can sound overly goofy, they do inject the premise with a good sense of humour. Then there is the prince, who is completely underdeveloped, obtaining minimal screen time, only appearing at the beginning, as well as the end.

Technically, Walt Disney employed an ingenious new method of giving depth to two-dimensional animation. The multiplane camera photographs multiple layers of hand-drawn artwork at different distances, imitating a field of depth in panoramic scenes. This set new standards in the field of animation. Disney studied real actors' movements, employing them in its hand-drawn cartoons, paired with live-action techniques such as zoom-like effects, pans or dolly shots, to ensure lifelike visuals and movements. 

The animation itself makes use of extremely detailed background paintings to evoke the rich environment of a fairytale setting. Characters were rotoscoped to ensure they moved realistically, while the seven dwarfs were given exaggerated features that match their personality, to set them apart. The villain's transformation sequence is, to date, a pivotal moment, employing hauntingly dark visuals through the creative use of shadow plus light. 

The melodies composed for this timeless classic are magical, underlining the genre of the movie. Environmental tunes blend in well with singing parts, which enhance dramatic cues.

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Verdict: Walt Disney’s first full-length animated motion picture is an absolute classic, still able to captivate adults, as well as children, nearly a century after its release. The story, adapted from the works of the German Grimm brothers, tells an emotionally appealing narrative that contains valuable lessons for children, just like balancing darker themes with light-hearted humour. The cinematography is a technological innovation, employing the multiplane camera, developed by the studio itself, which replicates the field of depth, to traditional 2-D animation. The hand-drawn characters contain some of the most recognisable features. Yes, it has issues, most of which result from the era it was developed in, but they are easily forgivable, as the general outcome comes together beautifully. This is to this day, one of the best animated works of the studio, beloved by millions and deserving of all the praise! Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs obtains an 8.5  out of 10.

What are your thoughts on Disney's first animated flick for the silver screen? Do you agree with my thoughts? Which of the classics is your favourite? Leave a comment below to let me know! Thank you, as always, for reading!