The Blu-Ray Dissection: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Diamond Edition)
Posted by Chad Webb on 10.16.2009
Am I the fairest reviewer of them all? Click to find.
Featuring the Voices Of:
Adriana Castelotti: Snow White
Lucille La Verne: Queen/Witch
Roy Atwell: Doc
Stuart Buchanan: Huntsman
Eddie Collins: Dopey
Pinto Colvig: Sleepy/Grumpy
Billy Gilbert: Sneezy
Otis Harlan: Happy
Scotty Mattraw: Bashful
Moroni Olsen: Magic Mirror
Harry Stockwell: Prince
Directed By: David Hand
Theatrical Release Date: December 21, 1937
DVD Release Date: October 6, 2009
Running Time: 83 minutes
Rated G
The Film
Every empire has to begin somewhere. While Walt Disney indubitably released cartoon shorts before 1937, it was because of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs that the studio reigns supreme today. Its kingdom owes everything to that film. Over the past seven decades, that first full-length animated feature has survived as a genuine classic. Books and essays have been written on how groundbreaking Snow White was. Critics predicted that Walter Elias Disney's attempt at crafting this film would be a failure. The movie was made over a period of 5 years, during the Depression, and the company barely stayed afloat. But the stars aligned, and all the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place in order for the world to behold arguably the most influential film ever made.
It is scary and mind blowing to contemplate how much Disney has been a part of everyone's lives. Now, something associated with Disney is customary in everyday pop culture. Generations of children have grown up admiring and adoring the films that Walt and company brought to the screen. The same will occur for children now and in the future with Pixar's films. This trend of influence and shaping the minds of kids all started with the adaptation of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Snow White. From then on, if a fairy tale was adapted, all ages would recognize the Disney version as the definitive example of that story. Counting Disney's, there have been approximately 20 adaptations of the Snow White tale. Not one holds a candle to what Disney offered in 1937, and how could they?
The enigmatic magic mirror is seen twice in the film: Once at the beginning when the Queen is first told that Princess Snow White is the fairest one in the land, and once in the middle of the picture when the Queen realizes that the Huntsman has not killed her. The dark and violent nature of the story is apparent right away. There is no way that parents or the MPAA would allow a scene where an evil stepmother demanded a hunter bring her the heart of a girl today. Strangely enough though, this has not affected the films reputation, yet our society becomes increasingly prudish with regards to what we "think" our children can handle. But the Queen does order the huntsman to get rid of Snow White, and return with her heart, so that she can place it in a jewel box. In one of the most suspenseful and poignant moments of the film, the Huntsman approaches with an axe, but just cannot finish the deed. He weeps, and tells her to run away so the Queen cannot find her.
The Queen is given a pigs heart by the Huntsman, but it is the magic mirror that informs her of this in the long run. Meanwhile, Snow White races through the deep dark forest in a brilliantly animated sequence where the branches become hands clawing at her, the fallen trees in the water become alligators, and menacing eyes surround her. Walt Disney's sense of imagination and visual wonder was present from the onset. She eventually stumbles upon what appears to be an empty cottage. Soon she discovers that there are seven inhabitants, whom she suspects are children without a mother. She falls asleep on three of their beds, and is awaken by them before long. However, they are not children, but "little men" as she calls them. They are miners that live in the house, and their names are Doc, Happy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful, Grumpy, and Dopey.
Since Snow White took it upon herself to clean and tidy up the messy house, they instantly love this young woman. But Snow White understands, as do the dwarfs, that this coziness will not last forever. The Queen possesses powerful magic and will be searching for her where ever she can. The Queen elects a plan that will change her appearance, disguise her voice, and transform an apple into a piece of food saturated in poison. There is no question as to what the Queen wants. She uses the word "dead" as a clear indication of her aim with Snow White. This woman is not kidding around. The final portion is quite stirring, and I challenge anyone not to be emotionally invested when they watch the dwarfs placing flowers at Snow White's glass coffin. They did not have the heart to bury her because she was so beautiful, which is just about the sweetest and most loving sentiment one can think of.
The personalities of the most popular Disney Princesses will become more profound and evident the more one studies the films. Cinderella is very shy and withdrawn. Aurora (or Briar Rose), from Sleeping Beauty, has a bit of an edge to her, and she acts like royalty even when she doesn't know she is. Both of those blonde haired women dwell in classics of their own, but the difference in their personality puts them just a step behind Snow White. She is perhaps the nicest, tenderest, and most innocent character in all of cinema. It is impossible to meet her and not fall head over heels in love in some form or another because she brings joy into every life she touches...even Grumpy. His tears make the climax so heartrending. His foul mood being calmed by someone so loving makes Snow White the standard to which all other Princesses aim to achieve.
While the Wicked Stepmother in Cinderella and the evil Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty were mighty villainous vixens, the sheer determination and cold-bloodedness of the Queen is matchless in every respect. Instead of trying to rough up Snow White, and make her ugly, she goes straight for the permanent demise of her step-daughter. She wants absolutely no competition. Lucille La Verne is amazing as the Queen and the Witch. She exudes the meaning and aura of a woman that is cruel and vicious. Adriana Castelotti compliments the callous tone of La Verne with her delightful speech as the titular persona. From the Queen to the dwarfs, Snow White is indeed a movie with the perfect voice cast. Even Moroni Olsen is fantastic as the mirror, an entity with no human emotion. It just obeys the bidding of its master.
By all accounts, the seven dwarfs represented the most difficult task for Walt and his animating team. Enduring all the comments from people who said audiences could not enjoy a cartoon for such a long period of time, Walt needed to bring the personalities of these people and this universe to life flawlessly. He did not even know the names of the dwarfs until about a year prior the films premiere. Doc, Happy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful, Grumpy, and Dopey are all such endearing and adorable characters that have resulted in so many little statues and figurines for fans to display on their mantles. Three stand out from the pack. Doc is the leader of the bunch, though his stuttering can be an issue. Listening to him is always hilarious. Grumpy is the sourpuss of the group, and the only one who is against Snow White staying with them. The connection between him and Snow White is a crucial phase of the relationship between her and the dwarfs. And finally there is Dopey, easily the most likable and popular of the dwarfs, one cannot help but be fond of him regardless of his silliness.
Much has been said about the detailed facets of the animation, the complexity of the frames, and the risks of employing new techniques. Walt Disney and his large army of animators worked diligently for days, weeks, months, and maybe longer on individual scenes. The goal was to make sure everything was vivacious, alive, and moving. They were as worried about the attention span of the viewer as anyone, and to cure this, the film is packed with minor characters, songs, and dancing. It was imperative not to waste any moment. If people had doubts about spending 83 minutes or longer in the theater, they needed guaranteed entertainment from beginning to end, and Walt delivered for them. He integrated wild and breathtaking shots, like the one where we are gazing at Snow White from the bottom of the well, and he understood how body mannerisms and expressive actions can be incorporated into or even define the nature and humor of a character.
What separates many of the latest CGI offerings that feel as if they were pumped out of a conveyor belt, from that of the old classics, is that few possess the earnest themes and messages that Walt laced into his stories. While critics sit and analyze the animation, kids revel in the excitement and soak up the lessons Snow White teaches. This film instructs children, without them knowing, on manners, washing up for meals, and the importance of cleanliness. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs plants the seeds that helps the imagination prosper and the mind grow into maturity. And the obvious implication is that one should never talk to strangers, especially witches dressed in black, forcing us to digest apples that are shinier than normal.
Most of the Disney classics are instilled with songs and musical numbers that have enlivened their reputations over the decades. While I could certainly label one tune in Snow White as a stand out, every single song is unforgettable, more so than any other Disney film. Snow White has this distinction, and no other title can make that claim. With many of the masterpieces, you will walk away humming a certain melody or mouthing a particular lyric, while one or two songs might fall by the waste side. This is not the case with Snow White as upon pondering the movie, they should have no trouble recalling any of the whimsical and cheerful songs.
The same sequence where Snow White is leaning over the well, while the doves fly around listening to her vocals, is augmented by the song "I'm Wishing". Of course "Heigh-ho!" or "Whistle While You Work", the former owned by the dwarfs, are probably the best in the eyes of many. They linger in the head easier than the others, and are most of all...fun. My favorite is sung by Snow White, specifically when she pours her heart out with "Someday My Prince Will Come", which is the most touching in the picture, and should rank beside "Over the Rainbow" or "When You Wish Upon a Star" in terms of their legendary status.
These days, the amount a movie makes at the box office is sometimes mistakenly used to heighten its quality as well. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released in 1937, therefore many do not include it for box office records unless one enters the inflation debate. On the inflation adjusted list, Snow White is in the top 10, but what does that really mean after a coincidental seven theatrical re-releases? What about the amount of repeated viewings inside the home? If this were counted, there is no skepticism on the theory that Snow White is most likely the animated film watched the most times. That speaks volumes for a film. It cements that Snow White is not just popular and ageless because it was the first full length animated feature. After all this time, that fact is just a bonus. Snow White is the crown jewel of animation because it is a milestone and a masterwork...period.
The Video
Snow White was given the heavy duty restoration back in 2001 for the commencement of the Platinum Edition line, but they have improved the picture once more for the start of the Diamond line. Technology has come far since 2001, and the results are simply immaculate now. The color scheme is more restrained as the crews working on the restoration wanted to avoid being overly colorful. The contrast has been tidied up, the palette is still as vivid as ever, and the sharpness is flawless. We must remember that this is older than Pinocchio and Sleeping Beauty, whose transfers dazzled critics. Because of the new technology, it is refreshing to note that Snow White does not look too perfect, which was a worry. If you peer closely you will observe some inconsistencies and unfocused aspects of the picture, but this maintains that they did not go overboard. Still, this 1.33:1 aspect ratio is glorious and represents the finest video transfer for Snow White to date.
The Audio
I don't know about anyone else's home entertainment center, but when I pop in a Blu-Ray, especially one from Disney, the difference in sound is immediate. The audio comes booming through the speakers as clear, loud, and immersive. Snow White is almost on par with previous releases, handicapped only by how old the source is. Truth be told, this is not as spectacular in surround as the others, but that is to be expected. Comparing the mono and the DTS-HD 7.1 will result in few differences, but it is still the best Snow White has ever sounded. The most notable aspect of the audio is the speech, which will strike everyone as that of a film from 1937 (some fades and fuzziness), but the level of clarity and depth after the polishing is incredible in my opinion. This set also includes Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (French), Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (Spanish), and Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono (English). You also have subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.
The Packaging
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs the Diamond Edition, is distributed in various types of packaging. This can be very misleading to those who do not own a Blu-Ray player. The set is labeled “DVD + Blu-Ray”, but unless you look closely, you will not realize that only certain extras are available on the standard edition copy. For those who want the “2-Disc Standard” (with all the trimmings), you will have to wait until November 24th to buy it. It is kind of a sleazy marketing campaign in order to confuse buyers and get more Blu-Ray’s sold. The set is avilable in a standard keep case and a double-wide Blu-Ray case. Disney sent the one in regular DVD packaging to journalists for review. It has a tray that holds a movie disc on each side, with the bonus material disc placed on the interior case itself. I was able to track down a steelbook case with a slip sleeve cover that is only available at Best Buy. It has a sleeker look and cover with only the title and the apple as artwork. The menus are cool with the magic mirror guiding us through the navigation process. They are easy to navigate. On disc 1 you can select to switch to the features of disc 2, and the magic mirror will continue to speak to you even when the disc is removed. I have never seen that before, and it was very creative.
The Extras
While this new set does advertise the “Classic DVD Bonus Features”, many of the extras from the 2001 release are still absent, and it seems a bit stupid not to insert them. You will notice these missing: Barbra Streisand's rendition of "Someday My Prince Will Come," a featurette on the 2001 restoration, two storyboard-to-film comparisons, camera tests, live-action reference footage, one fully animated deleted scene, an alternate version of "Someday My Prince Will Come," and L.A. premiere footage.
Sneak Peeks - Every Disney DVD is packed with previews, and this is no different. You receive the following: Dumbo: Special Edition, The Princess and the Frog, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, G-Force, Up, Santa Buddies, Ponyo, Beauty and the Beast: Diamond Edition, D23, "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse": Mickey's Choo Choo Express, Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse,, along with Disney Movie Rewards, Disney Blu-ray, and Disney Parks.
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You can also view the film using “Disneyview”, which fills the empty side gaps left in the 16:9 frame by the film's 1.33:1 ratio with artwork by artist Toby Bluth.
The Princess and the Frog Sneak Peek (7:45) - After an enthusiastic introduction by directors John Musker and Ron Clements, the clip begins. They explain that some parts are not finished, and basically it means they aren't colored. This footage is actually pretty good, though I still think Disney is going a bit overboard with aspects of the black culture. Still, I am enticed to see this.
Audio Commentary - This is a recycled extra from the Platinum Edition that has John Canemaker hosting as sound clips of Walt Disney himself are laced throughout the film. Listening to Walt on the commentary is just outstanding, and even though what he is saying does not always relate to the scene on the screen, it is still terrific. Canemaker is a bit dry at times, but he is filled with trivia and does a solid job hosting.
--Backstage Disney--
Snow White Returns (8:44) - Don Hahn explains how the storyboards were uncovered, and that they were presumably to be used for a short sequel, and even narrates how the final product would have appeared. The intriguing part is that it would have utilized the two deleted scenes from the original Snow White. They do not divulge why it was shelved, but my guess is that Walt did not want to tarnish the reputation of the original.
Deleted Scenes - You have two scenes here. The first is “Soup Eating Sequence” (4:07) and “Bed Building Sequence” (6:28), the contents of which are self-explanatory. The self contained nature of the scenes was probably the main reason they were axed, and Walt always had an eye for this kind of thing. They are cut though.
--Music & More—
”Some Day My Prince Will Come” Music Video (3:34) – The singer is Tiffany Thornton, and this isn’t very impressive or memorable. It is generic pop at its finest.
--Family Play—
Mirror Mirror on the Wall - This is a princess personality quiz, but one can pretty much choose who they want to be associated with as the answers are obvious connection to the specific princess.
What Do You See? - Here you have blurred shots of various characters, and the viewer must select who the image is of. Points are awarded for speed and correct answers. This is one for the wee ones as the answers are obvious, and the playability factor is poor since these features take time to load.
Jewel Jumble - This game isn’t so bad as you must help Grumpy collect gems for his mine cart. Three identical colors in a row wipes them out, and you must continue to do this quick enough so that the gems do not pile up and tip over.
Scene Stealer - This is a BD-Live extra, which has the user uploading a picture of themselves to be placed over a dwarfs face. You may then watch the main feature as that dwarf. I don’t have BD-Live, so I skipped this one.
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--Backstage Disney--
Hyperion Studios - This is one of the original bonuses of the edition that gives you a virtual tour of the studio. The viewer has 13 rooms to choose from, and in each one, you can select various mini featurettes. Together they come to about an hour or so. I would have rather watched them as one documentary, but this is certainly inventive and eye-catching. Andrew Stanton introduces this extra before you can go to different rooms. One can select a room and its extras from an index, or travel around with your remote. Once inside a room you can see how long each extra is. This has just about everything one could ask for from artwork, lots of still photographs, interviews, and oodles of history. I appreciate the hard work it must have taken to construct this, but a “Play All” feature would have been nice.
The One That Started it All (17:08) – This is repeated from the Hyperion Studio tour, but since it is one of the longer featurettes of that tour, it can be viewed separately. This focuses on Walt’s quest to get the film made, and salutes the animators. It is too short to be enjoyed as a full documentary, but I enjoyed it all the same.
--Classic DVD Bonus Features—
Animation Voice Talent (6:21) – This examines the actors who lent their voices to the film. Adriana Catselotti, who voiced Snow White, is the only person interviewed, so historians and Disney employees do their best to honor the rest of the cast. This was fabulous, but too short.
Disney Through the Decades (41:39) – This is another recycle, but they throw in some new elements, one of which is an introduction by John Ratzenberger. This goes over the Disney accomplishments by decade, and has a different host and narrator for each decade. In between many of the decade outline speeches are trailers for the numerous re-releases of Snow White. Since the player must recognize the chapter change each time, this grows old, and we eventually skip the trailers, as they are pretty much the same. The decade hosts are Roy E. Disney for the 1930s, Angela Lansbury for the 1940s, Fess Parker for the 1950s, Robby Benson for the 1960s, Dean Jones for the 1970s, Jodi Benson for the 1980s, Ming-Na for the 1990s, and John Ratzenberger again for the 2000s. The trailers that link the segments come from 1937 (two of them), 1944, 1958, 1967, 1987, 1993, and 2001. This whole feature started off great, but as Disney grew, they felt the need to include everything that happened, even the purchasing of sports teams. It becomes tiring after awhile and some of the hosts are very unenthusiastic and seem like they are reading from paper. It also strikes me as very self-congratulatory, but oh well.
Dopey’s Wild Mine Ride - You must help Dopey round up the dwarfs by answering various questions, guessing clips, and matching certain items. This is ok if you like the games, but I usually don’t revisit them.
“Heigh-Ho” Sing Along (2:55) – This is taken from the Disney compilation of the same name. It includes the animated sequence with musical lyrics.
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The standard copy of the film unfortunately does not include all the Blu-Ray features. All you get here are “The Princess and the Frog Sneak Peek”, the Tiffany Thornton music video, and the commentary track.
The Film: 10.0/10.0
The Video: 10.0/10.0
The Audio: 10.0/10.0
The Packaging: 7.5/10.0
The Extras: 8.5/10.0
The 411: Disney succeeds once again at delivering one of the best DVD/Blu-Ray releases of the year. True, some of the older extras are not included, but that is a minor concern compared to the pack of new bonus features one has to sort through. This set will provide hours upon hours of entertainment. Plus, you know, the film is still great, still holds up after all these years, and will still stir the emotions inside you with memorable scenes, songs, and dance numbers. The technical specifications have been altered to perfection. They cannot get any better. As the first in the new “Diamond” line, Disney shows they know how to build an eye-catching and fulfilling purchase. I recommend checking your firmware updates before trying to play this DVD because I had to upgrade mine. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a landmark in animation for sure, but it is a masterpiece no matter what, and you would have to be a robot not to love it.
