Snow White: Not your average princess
After many animated shorts, each setting a new bar for the film industry, Walt Disney once again revolutionized Hollywood. In 1934, Walt decided he wanted to create a full-length, animated film in Technicolor. Walt Disney's ideas always pushed the envelope of technology, but many people, including his wife and brother, doubted they would all be successful. Lillian Disney thought no adult would want to sit through a full-length, fantasy cartoon. Despite all the doubt, Walt borrowed $1.5 million and began production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Walt intended the film's primary "attraction" to be the dwarfs' quirky, comical humor, and he and his writers spent several meetings discussing this topic alone. After throwing around many different dwarf concepts, they finally decided upon the seven dwarfs we know and love today: Doc, Grumpy, Bashful, Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, and Dopey. Once the dwarfs and their jokes were in order, the plot had to be mapped out. Originally, the story was going be on the darker side, involving several attempts on Snow White's life and the Prince being abducted by the Evil Queen. In the end, Walt decided on a more of a lighthearted, comical approach. After a year of story-boarding and plot-planning, and the animators began the cartooning in 1935.
After different animators, all with specific talents to enhance the appearance of the film and characters, designed the film, it was finally released at the Carthay Circle Theater in Los Angeles California on December 21st, 1937. Although the theater was packed, many people doubted Walt Disney and thought the movie was going to be a flop. Despite all the skepticism the movie ended with a standing ovation. The movie was released to the general public on February 4th, 1938. It made more than four times the amount of money of any other movie released in 1938, and grossed over $3.5 million in the United States and Canada. When the movie left the theaters, Snow White had grossed $7,846,000 in international box office receipts. The film was rereleased several times between then and 1993. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs won an Academy Honorary Award, for being "a significant screen innovation which has charmed millions and pioneered a great new entertainment field."
After different animators, all with specific talents to enhance the appearance of the film and characters, designed the film, it was finally released at the Carthay Circle Theater in Los Angeles California on December 21st, 1937. Although the theater was packed, many people doubted Walt Disney and thought the movie was going to be a flop. Despite all the skepticism the movie ended with a standing ovation. The movie was released to the general public on February 4th, 1938. It made more than four times the amount of money of any other movie released in 1938, and grossed over $3.5 million in the United States and Canada. When the movie left the theaters, Snow White had grossed $7,846,000 in international box office receipts. The film was rereleased several times between then and 1993. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs won an Academy Honorary Award, for being "a significant screen innovation which has charmed millions and pioneered a great new entertainment field."
Fun Facts
Though there were only seven in the film, there were over fifty dwarfs the writers and Walt had in mind. Some of these included Jumpy, Deafy, Dizzey, Wheezy, Baldy, Gabby, Nifty, Sniffy, Swift, Lazy, Puffy, Stuffy, Tubby, Shorty, and Burpy.
Originally, the Evil Queen was going to try to kill Snow White with a poisoned comb, like in Grimm's original fairytale.
Originally, the Evil Queen was going to try to kill Snow White with a poisoned comb, like in Grimm's original fairytale.