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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – 1937 Hand
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs must have blown people’s hair back in 1937. It stands as a major triumph for Walt Disney (still just 36 years old at the time of the film’s release)- it is a landmark film- the first feature length color animation film. And it was a monster at the box office, still one of the top 10 films of all-time when you factor in inflation.
- Heavy praise at the time from everyone from Eisenstein (he called it the best film of all-time) to the New York Times (comparing it to The Birth of a Nation)
- The film also serves as a blueprint for the many of the Disney films to come—Snow White is awoken by her prince like Sleeping Beauty, and she an animal-whisperer just like Cinderella (and many others)
- From the very beginning Disney’s animation feature cinematic and photographic traits like candles for natural lighting, a spotlight used on Snow White in bed, and even pulling back the “camera” to simulate a movement in the forest
- Highlights of animation include the rippling water in the well, the colored panels on the window of the queen (Maleficent is simply a much better character than Snow White—ditto for the Seven Dwarfs).
- Musical highlights include “Whistle While You Work” and “Heigh Ho”
- One of the strongest frames and sequences is the two candles lit around Snow White in bed directly after the death of the Queen.
- Highly Recommend- top 10 of the year quality
Drake2021-04-11T17:59:03+00:00
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I know auteur theory is usually limited to directors, but do you believe there is an argument for Walt Disney being an auteur as a producer on these animations he had a hand in? Obviously there isn’t much of an argument for producers as auteurs over directors in general, but there are a handful out there who at least leave a mark on their work. Maybe David O Selznick or George Lucas on Empire Strikes Back. What others are out there?
@DeclanG- Certainly a handful that are worth discussing and exploring. You have a good list here. I’d add Val Lewton.