Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs
begs the basic question – can something that was revolutionary and
completely unique in its time still feel fresh nearly three quarters of a
century later?
After all, in many ways, 72 years down the line, Snow White feels
kind of dated. Particularly in its title heroine, who looks and sounds like
a flapper and is honestly not nearly as interesting as the characters
surrounding her.
However, while in many ways Snow White is out of step with modern
sensibilities – for example, Snow White wins the dwarfs over by cooking and
cleaning for them, kissing their foreheads and because she
sure is “purdy” – it
is still a fascinating and stunning piece of film history.
The
film would be historically noteworthy if for no other reason because it is
the first feature-length animated film. Of course, that in of itself would
not necessarily have made the film a perennial favorite for over seven
decades now. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is so much more than
just the first. It is still, to this day, the model upon which all animated
films are built.
Itself loosely based on a Grimm’s fairy tale, the story of Snow White and
her little protectors has been ingrained upon generations of children. Yet,
looking back at the movie as an adult, the film is
surprisingly complex and somewhat downbeat for a children's fable.
The
storytelling alternates between pleasingly cutesy (furry forest creatures!)
and chilling (the evil queen is still a terrific villain). The dwarves
thoughtfully are named in accordance to their personality.
Still,
72 years later, every frame of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is
bursting with imagination and savvy. There is a reason why this movie
is an all-time classic. Most modern animated features could learn a
thing or two from this ancestor.
Jay S. Jacobs
Copyright ©2009 PopEntertainment.com.
All rights reserved. Posted: October 5, 2009.
