Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Disney's first "Platinum Edition" DVD is a terrific 2-disc set that every DVD fan should keep for all eternity. (I received an early, free copy from Amazon which allowed me to review it before the Oct 9th release date. This is a promotion by both Amazon and Buena Vista.) The THX-certified video transfer of the movie is blemish-free, almost always sharp, and has only an occasional softness perhaps due to age. Colors look splendid. The sound is clean and without a scratch, although some dialogs lack detail. The 5.1 audio remix provides mildly effective separation and bass for the background music. Otherwise, it is neither better nor worse than the included original mono soundtrack. The supplements on the first disc includes a 40-minute retrospective documentary that actually serves as a nice introduction of the supplements on the second disc. For nearly every aspect mentioned in the documentary, the extras on the second disc cover at length. There is an audio commentary track by historian John Canemaker that includes contemporary recordings of Walt reminiscing about the difficulties and fortunes during the making of the film. The commentary reveals that Deanna Durbin was once considered for the voice of Snow White, but she was deemed "too old". Canemaker, besides introducing each of Walt's recordings, also provides excellent scene-by-scene analyses. After the movie is over, Michael Eisner introduces Barbara Streisand's decidedly more mature rendition of "Somewhere My Prince Will Come". The first disc also includes four games -- two for set-top players, two as DVD-ROM content. The second disc contains a large amount of archival material of the movie. There are over 400 stills (all high-quality scans) of pencil tests, backgrounds, layouts, character designs, photos of the voice talents, photos of the production, the premiere, the 1937 pressbook, merchandise, and posters. There are quite a bit of video content as well. Notable is a new, nicely conceived, 40-minute segment called "Disney Through the Years"; it chronicles SNOW WHITE's theatrical releases in every decade (all trailers are shown) as well as Disney's accomplishments through the years. There are the original credit sequences with the RKO logo. There are deleted scenes that were fully animated and dubbed, one of which is a spectacular soup-eating scene. There are scenes that were conceptualized but were abandoned before animation, such as a dream sequence for one of Snow White's songs. There is a segment about the film's restorations in 1987, '93, and 2001. There are also vintage video of voice actors, models for live action references, techniques used in animation (two excerpts of Disney's "Tricks of our Trade" TV show are included). And there is more! There is a half-hour live radio broadcast of the film's premiere in which many celebrities are interviewed. There is another half-hour radio program in 1938 in which several songs from the movie are performed. There are two 4-minute radio interviews of Walt Disney by Cecil B. DeMille, one of which was recorded on the eve of the premiere. There are eight radio commercials from the 50s and 60s. There are recordings of two deleted songs, one of which, we are told, were only recently discovered in Disney's archives. There are also text screens about the film's production and Walt's life and career. A nice inclusion is the English translation of the Grimms Brothers' "Snow White." Future Platinum Edition DVDs will include BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ALADDIN, THE LION KING, BAMBI, THE JUNGLE BOOK, CINDERELLA, THE LITTLE MERMAID, LADY AND THE TRAMP and 101 DALMATIANS. It disappoints me that DUMBO will not be a Platinum Edition (it will come out Oct 21st as a "Gold Edition" DVD). It irks me even more that only one Platinum Edition DVD will be sold each year for only a limited time; thereafter it will be put on a TEN-YEAR moratorium. This will no doubt lead to buying frenzies, so run, don't walk, to your nearest personal computer and order this SNOW WHITE DVD right away. I do not oppose releasing one Platinum DVD per year, since I understand it takes time and care to produce these great discs. But I do oppose Disney's long-standing policy of putting their video releases on moratorium for long, long periods. Their rationale has been that if people own the movie on video, they may not want to see it in theaters. Not true. Seeing this spectacular SNOW WHITE DVD has actually increased my desire to see the film in a theater.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is one hour and twenty-three minutes and premiere in theaters on December 21, 1937. This would be the first full length animated film and the one that started it all for Walt Disney. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs tell the story of Snow White who is the beautiful step-daughter to the evil and vain Queen; full name is never given in the movie. The Queen dresses Snow White in rags and makes her work as a scullery maid. Everyday the Queen asked the Magic Mirror who was the fairest of them all and as long as the Magic Mirror told the Queen she was one sexy babe then Snow White got to live another. One day the Magic Mirror told the Queen she was no longer the fairest and the land and that Snow White was the new beauty babe in town. This upset the Queen to no end so she devised a plot to kill Snow White. The Queen tells the Huntsman to take Snow White to the hillside to pick some flowers and to kill her and to bring Snow White's heart back as proof of the jobs. The Huntsman could not bring himself to do the job and to tell Snow White to flee and never come back. Snow White finds shelter in the cottage of the Seven Dwarfs. The Seven Dwarfs discover Snow White in their cottage and decides that she can live with them, mainly because she can make gooseberry pie. Grumpy is the only who want her to scram because in his opinion women are nothing but trouble. To some husbands and boyfriends that statement may be true. Well the Queen finds out from the Magic Mirror that the Huntsman did not do his job and as the old saying goes: "if you want something done right then do it yourself". The Queen turns herself into an old Peddler and creates a poison apple that will make Snow White take one long nap. The Queen, now an old hag, finds Snow White and tricks her into taking a bite out of the apple and Snow White is now in snooze land. The animals of the forest rush to warn the Seven Dwarfs and it is Grumpy that leads the charge to save Snow White. The Dwarfs chase and traps the Queen to a mountain cliff. The Queen tries to loosen a boulder to kill the Dwarfs, but a bolt of lightning strikes the cliff and she fall to her death; and you the folks out there already knows the ending to the story. The only thing I did not like was the extra DVD that came along with the movie. The case itself is thicker then your usual DVD case. The information was bit overkill and Disney could have just done a one hour documentary instead of all the details listed below. Also what is not included in this special two DVD set are movie preview for which I don't mind at all. Barring the negativity about the second DVD, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a great movie to own and gets an AAAAA+++++. Disc 1 Play Chapter Selection Set Up Bonus Features 1. Guided Tours 2. Still the Fairest of them All: The Making of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 3. Audio Commentary 4. Goddess of Spring-Animated Short 5. Heigh-Ho: Sing-Along Song a. Sing-Along b. Karaoke 6. Dopey's Wild Mine Ride' Game 7. Some Day My Prince Will Come: Performed by Barbra Streisand 8. DVD-ROM Guided Tours 1. Tour 1 2. Tour 2 Disc 2 Snow White's Wishing Well 1. History 2. Storyboard To Film Comparisons a. Introduction b. The Forest Chase c. Cleaning House d. The Dwarfs Chase the Witch e. The Queen's Order The Queen's Castle 1. Art and Design 2. Visual Development 3. Layouts and Backgrounds a. About Layouts and Backgrounds b. Layouts And Backgrounds Gallery 4. Camera And Tests a. Excerpt from "The Story of Silly Symphony" b. Excerpt from "Trick of Our Trade" c. Camera Tests 5. Animation a. Voice Talent b. Live Action Reference c. Excerpt From Tricks of Our Trade d. Character Designs i. Snow White and The Dwarfs ii. The Queen/The Peddler iii. The Huntsman/The Prince/The Animals The Queen's Dungeon 1. Abandoned Concepts a. Introduction b. Snow White Meets the Prince c. Some Day My Prince Will Come-Fantasy Version d. The Prince Is Captured 2. The Restoration The Dwarf's Mine 1. Deleted Scenes a. Introduction b. The Witch at the Cauldron c. The Bedroom Argument d. Music In You Soup e. The Lodge Meeting f. Building A Bed 2. Original RKO Opening and End Credits 3. Disney Through the Decades a. Introduction\Trailer b. 1930s\Trailer c. 1940s\Trailer d. 1950s\Trailer e. 1960s\Trailer f. 1960s\Trailer g. 1970s\No Trailer Available h. 1980s\Trailer i. 1990s\Trailer j. A New Century\Trailer The Dwarf's Cottage 1. The Premiere a. The Los Angeles Premiere b. Original Premiere Radio Broadcast (Audio Only) 2. Trailers a. 1937 Trailer #1 b. 1937 Trailer #2 c. 1944 Trailer d. 1958 Trailer e. 1967 Trailer f. 1987 Trailer g. 1993 Trailer h. 2001 Trailer 3. Publicity a. Scrapbook b. The Premiere c. Pressbook d. Merchandise e. Posters 4. A Trip Through Walt Disney Studios 5. How Cartoons Are Made 6. Vintage Audio a. Lux Radio Theater September 28, 1936 b. Lux Radio Theater December 20, 1937 c. Mickey Mouse Theater Of The Air January 9, 1938 7. Radio Commercials a. 1958 i. Radio Spot #1 ii. Radio Spot #2 iii. Radio Spot #3 b. 1967 i. Radio Spot #1 ii. Radio Spot #2 iii. Radio Spot #3 iv. Radio Spot #4 8. Songs a. Silly Song (Recording Session) b. Deleted Song: You're Never Too Old To Be Young

Ich beziehe mich ausschließlich auf die limitierte Sammleredition in der schönen Samtbox. Zum Film äußere ich mich nicht mehr, er ist einfach ein grandioser Klassiker. Zunächst einmal muss ich sagen, dass ich erst spät zu dem Glück gekommen bin, diese schöne Sammleredition zu besitzen. Glücklicherweise habe ich über den Amazon Marketplace ein Schnäppchen machen können und die Box sogar zu einem günstigeren Preis erworben, als er damals zum Release war. Das ist ein echter Glücksgriff bei einer so streng limitierten Auflage. Nun zum eigentlichen Objekt der Begierde: Die Samtbox ist größer als ich erwartet habe. Und schwer ist sie. Das macht schon Eindruck und zeugt von Qualität. Sie ist rundherum mit Samt überzogen (auch an der Unterseite). Das dunkle Rot erinnert - wie im Märchen erwähnt - an Schneewittchens Lippen rot wie Blut. Dazu die Goldschrift und Zierde. Das ist wirklich hübsch gemacht. Klappt man den Deckel der ansehnlichen Schachtel auf, erwartet einen gleich die kleine rote Samtschatulle, in der die 8 Pins untergebracht sind. Jeder einzelne Pin ist wunderschön anzusehen und sie wirken sehr edel mit ihrer goldfarbenen Umrandung. Die Aufmachung mit dem weltbekannten Szenenbild, auf dem die sieben Zwerge über einen umgekippten Baumstamm in den Feierabend marschieren und dabei singen, ist wirklich eine zuckersüße Idee. Die Pins werde ich niemals aus dieser Schatulle nehmen um sie irgendwo anders heran zu pinnen, denn sie gehören dort herein als gemeinsames Kunstwerk. Als Bonus ist ja noch ein Pin mit dem Cover enthalten, welches sich auch auf dem ebenfalls enthaltenen Buch widerfindet. Alle wichtigen Figuren des Films sind auf diesem Pin verewigt. Wenn man die Sammlerbox dann weiter erkundet, stößt man als Nächstes auf die Blu-ray Hülle im schön gestalteten, geprägten Pappschuber. Darin befinden sich 3 Discs. Eine Blu-ray mit dem Film und einigen Extras, eine weitere Blu-ray nur mit Extras und eine DVD mit dem Film. Danach kommt der "doppelte Boden". Innen ist diese Box übrigens in blau gehalten. Man klappt nun also den Boden wie eine Flügeltür auf und tadaaa: Es kommen das Echtheitszertifikat und die Kunstdrucke von Schneewittchen und jedem der sieben Zwerge zum Vorschein. Das Echtheitszertifikat macht schon was her. Hier wird noch einmal bestätigt, dass es sich bei diesem Sammlerobjekt um eine Auflage von nur 2.000 Stück handelt. Nachdem man die 8 Kunstdrucke ausgiebig bewundert hat, kommt ein weiteres Highlight zum Vorschein: Das "Making-Of Schneewittchen"-Buch würde ich es nennen! Es erwartet einen ein massives, dickes Buch, das wie bereits bei einem der Pins erwähnt, das gleiche Cover aufweist. Am Einband des Buches findet sich das Goldmuster auf rotem Untergrund wie auf der Samthülle der Box wider. Das Buch zeigt einen ausführlichen Einblick in die Produktion des ersten abendfüllenden Zeichentrickfilms und man kann einfach stundenlang darin schmökern. Für mich - als Disneyfan von Kindesbeinen an und mittlerweile leidenschaftliche Sammlerin - ist diese Collector's Edition ein wahrer Schatz, der aus meiner Sammlung nicht mehr wegzudenken ist. Ein hoher Kaufpreis ist für "Normalos", die keinen Wert auf diesen Schnick-Schnack legen sicher viel Geld. Aber mir ist so eine Box jeden Cent wert. Sie wird sich zwischen meinen anderen Sammlereditionen sowie weiteren Disney-Titeln und Produkten auf einem Ehrenplatz einreihen und mich immer wieder mit ihrem Anblick erfreuen. Ich bin froh, wenn auch erst so spät, eines dieser begehrten und seltenen Exemplare ergattert zu haben.

Biancaneve è una bellissima principessa, che vive con la matrigna malvagia e vanitosa. Quest'ultima, chiede ogni giorno al suo specchio magico "chi è la più bella del reame". Quando lo specchio le risponde che Biancaneve è più bella di lei, l'invidiosa regina ordina ad un cacciatore di uccidere la fanciulla. Biancaneve allora è costretta a fuggire nel bosco e trova rifugio nella casetta dei sette nani, i quali la ospitano volentieri. Ma la regina non si da per vinta: usando la magia per travestirsi da vecchia, va dalla principessa e la inganna facendole mordere una mela avvelenata. I nani, dopo aver trovato Biancaneve morta, la mettono in una bara di vetro e vegliano su di lei. La fanciulla ritorna in vita quando viene baciata da un principe. Era il lontano 1934 quando Disney annunciò la produzione del suo primo lungometraggio animato. Il suo progetto sembrava impossibile all'epoca, ma alla fine il nostro Walt, dopo aver speso soldi, tempo e tutte le sue energie, riuscì a regalarci questa meraviglia: delle animazioni eccezionali, delle scene d'impatto e una grafica incredibile. Anche la caratterizzazione dei personaggi è resa bene: non credo serva soffermarsi sui fantastici nanetti o sulla regina cattiva. La protagonista è spesso oggetto di critiche da parte di chi la definisce 'troppo sdolcinata, mielosa, ingenua'. Ricordatevi che quelli erano altri tempi. Al giorno è naturale che il pubblico impazzisca per una Principessa che mette k.o. un cacciatore, oppure per un'altra che colpisce gli avversari a suon di padellate. Ma Biancaneve è Biancaneve: è giusto che sia pura, innocente e che abbia un pò di lato materno; perchè è questa la sua vera bellezza. Biancaneve e i sette nani è impeccabile per essere un film del 1937, non solo per la sua perfezione grafica, ma soprattutto per l'atmosfera musicale e fiabesca che coinvolge lo spettatore e lo porta al di fuori della realtà, quell'atmosfera che, d'ora in poi, caratterizzerà quasi tutti i film d'animazione, Disney e non. Un vero capolavoro da trasmettere alle successive generazioni.

GREAT MOVIE

Bon film

La clásica de clásicas. El primer dibujo animado de Disney el cual se reestrenó y coloreó para su distribución (originalmente la película era en blanco y negro). La imagen es fabulosa y gana enteros en todos los apartados. Jamás se había visto tan bien y la crítica especializada le ha otorgado algunas calificaciones perfectas por la fabulosa restauración que realizó Disney. Trae el redoblaje del 2001, pero la verdad es que me gustó ese doblaje y nunca vi el del VHS. El audio latino es Dolby Digital 5.1, el cual se oye muy bien en teles sin barra de sonido. También trae audio en inglés 5.1 DTS-HDMA y subtítulos en ambos idiomas. El código digital es válido solo para USA.