The Introduction.
You’ve possibly noticed, haven’t you … ?
At any rate, I watch movies, and feel that I should review them: both here on Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar, and on my YouTube channel, @MrCuddy2977.
Feel free to subscribe, both here, and on YouTube.
It’s very appreciated.
At any rate … ?
It’s a quiet Monday night.
And I felt I should watch a movie.
Something I’ve felt I should do, over the years?
Is simply watch films that have some sort of worth to them.
Which is why I’ve all sorts of things, over the years: Nosferatu, for example, Der Golem, or The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, as others.
More recent ones, too: Close Encounters, or Blade Runner.
I’m using the term ‘recent’, loosely, there: but you get my point.
I’ve tried to see things that are viewed as historically significant.
Which is why — as I’m burning sausages to death — I’m writing this.
It’s to let you know that — given the fuss about the live action remake, and given I first saw it as a child — I going to watch the original Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs.
Even if it’s not my usual thing.
~≈👸🏻≈~
Given all that … ?
Given that, I’m going to give this a watch, tonight: then let you know what I thought about it by tomorrow, Tuesday, 1st April.
Hopefully?
I’ll see you then …
31st March, 2025.Part One: The Summary.
Originally released in December of 1937, Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs opens with the film’s credits: telling us the film is produced by Disney, distributed by RKO, and shot in Technicolor.
Then shifts … to show us a story book in white leather, embossed in gold.
A book that tells of a beautiful princess called Snow White, whose jealous step-mother forces her to work as a scullery maid.
Until one day — when her Magic Mirror tells the Queen that Snow White is destined to become the fairest in the land — the Queen decides to act … by ordering her favourite huntsman to take Snow White into the woods … and to come back with the young girl’s heart.
In a box.
Deep in the woods, and out of the Queen’s sight … ?
The Huntsman has a crisis of conscience: telling Snow White to run as far as she can, to keep running until she is well away from the Queen, and to head for a place of safety …
Something the Princess does.
Only to collapse, miles from anywhere.
That … ?
Is where her troubles start …
~≈👸🏻≈~
1st April, 2025.Part Two: Questions.
Now …
What did I think of Walt Disney’s first feature film?
Of a film that set the bar for every animated film that followed?
Of a film that helped turn the Disney studio into the media giant it is, today … ?
OK: it’s a story that started life as a fairy tale.
And one you wouldn’t think would appeal to a man in his fifties.
And, normally?
You’d be right.
But, every-so-often, I feel I should watch the occasional keynote film.
I’ve already mentioned The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, and the original Nosferatu.
Both of which Walt Disney told the animators making Snow White to see: he felt the scarier scenes in them would be suitable inspiration for the piece.
2001: A Space Odyssey and the original Solaris, are others I’ve seen.
Those were — are? — supposed to be the best science fictions films ever made.
There’s more: I keep thinking that The Birth of a Nation could make for interesting watching.
It’s supposed to have introduced several now-common techniques — fade outs, close ups, what have you — but also turned the Ku Klux Klan into heroes.
Even though it — and Disney’s The Song of the South — are both readily available on Amazon, I’m still mulling those over.
They have reputations.
My point is simply this: given the release of the remake, and the fact Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs was Disney’s first feature film?
Is one of those keynote films?
Watching seemed like a good idea.
What did I make of it … ?
~≈👸🏻≈~
Part Three: Points.
Just as a brief thought, here?
I am very well aware that the usually accepted plural of the word ‘dwarf’ is ‘dwarfs’.
I grew up reading Tolkien’s The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings.
So I’m aware that Tolkien — language professor that he was — preferred spelling the plural form as ‘dwarves’: mirroring the plural forms of ‘wolf’, ‘elf’ and ‘self’, which become ‘wolves’, ‘elves’ and ‘selves’.
Whatever version of ‘dwarfs’/‘dwarves’ you use is down to you.
But I prefer the version spelt with a ‘V’.
As another point?
We see vultures at a couple of points in the film.
The last time?
We see them circling overhead, after the Queen has fallen to her death.
I’m no expert: and don’t know if that realistic touch is seen in other Disney films.
But, as the animators decided not to show us the Queen’s body — this is a children’s film, after all — they used this to tell us what’s happened to the Queen.
As a — ha! — third point?
I noticed the celebrations at the end of the film: celebrating Snow White’s survival.
In amongst the various woodland animals were a female deer and her child, and a couple of rabbits.
I can’t but wonder if those creature designs were re-used, or influenced, characters in Bambi.
We’ll possibly never know …
~≈👸🏻≈~
Part Four: Thoughts.
With that lot out of the way … ?
What did I think of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs?
I think I’ve seen a very good film.
Granted: Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs is shy of ninety years old.
Granted, there’s several questions.
How realistic are those fluffy woodland creatures?
Can rabbits really wash dishes?
Is a young woman living on her own with seven men, safe?
I’ve heard jokes.
On other fronts?
Snow White’s singing is just a little dated: there’s a bit too much vibrato for my tastes!
The comedy routines are definitely dated.
There’s only so many times the tortoise can hide in his shell.
Do princesses really expect to be rescued by a handsome prince … who’s been following them around for an hour and a half … ?
We could seriously take the pee, couldn’t we?
But … ?
What I saw, last night, was a vivid Grimm Brothers fairy tale brought to life: with a sympathetic central character, comedy that’s dated … but still funny, and a sound track that will have a least one song you will want to sing along to.
The transformation of the Queen into her witch form, and the making of the poisoned apple, were as unnerving now as when I saw it as a child.
The dwarves, themselves?
I am willing to bet those of us who have watched it will have a favourite dwarf.
Mine was Grumpy.
Who was yours?
Yes: Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs is an old film.
Much has changed in the generations since this film was first aired.
A woman wouldn’t be cleaning house for men, these days, as Snow White does for the dwarves.
But?
The film I saw, last night, was utterly enchanting: as enchanting, last night, as I’m willing to bet audiences found it in the 1930s.
~≈👸🏻≈~
Part Five: Finally.
So … with all that said?
I’m going to leave you to hunt up a copy of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs for yourself: it’s in a few places, I know that.
All I will do now?
Is say ‘Thank You’ for reading this.
And that I’ll see you next time.
Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs.★★★☆
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