Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Walt Disney's Masterpiece) Reviews

• Disney Magic Makes SNOW WHITE Classic DVD

  
  By A2F8R40Z2OMIJM on 2001-10-02
  I was extremely excited to receive this DVD.... Upon opening it, one gets the feeling that it is truly a special edition. The packaging is very nice: the DVD box is sturdy with two openings for each disk. The pamphlet inside the DVD is gorgeously produced and very helpful.

  My first impression is that Disney has spent much time making this DVD user-friendly. There is an abundance of directions and drawings showing you what is on the disk and how to get there. Since there are two disks and a KINGDOM of information to pour through, these directions are very welcome (even to this seasoned DVD-viewer!)

  Disney pulls out some familiar faces to make the experience as warm as possible: Disney himself appears in various footage; Angela Lansbury narrates the documentary and provides a "tour" of the disks; Michael Eisner shows up; and Barbra Streisand sings a specially recorded version of "Some Day My Prince Will Come".

  SNOW WHITE, the movie, looks gorgeous and, although old fashioned, is quite wonderful. SNOW WHITE, the double-disk, is a lot of information to wade through. I am amazed at the amount of behind-the-scenes film that exists! Disney must have suspected that he was creating a classic - he filmed every aspect of it! I especially enjoy the HALL OF ART section. There are 3 halls of various story art (i.e. "The cottage"; "The castle"; "the Forest"; etc.) Although initially I found it hard to move from hall to hall, I eventually figured it out. The animated HALLS are extraordinary and the art that "hangs" there is incredible -- various renderings and attempts at bringing the story and locales of SNOW WHITE alive. It's even more incredible that Disney Co. held on to these papers for all these years.

  Well, in case you can't tell, I highly recommend the special SNOW WHITE disks. You will spend days looking at everything that is included -- or you can opt to spend an hour and a half viewing the original,gorgeous film that started the Disney empire....
  
  
  

• A Masterpiece gets the Treatment it Deserves

  
  By A2I6MHMAZZDCRX on 2003-02-06
  The Disney Company has over used the term Masterpiece when referring to its own movies. But this one truly deserves that title. While its animation betray its age, the story and characters are still fun, and its place in history also makes it a must.

  The story is simple and familiar. Snow White's wicket stepmother wants her killed because Snow White is "the fairest of them all." She is saved from this fate, and hides out with seven dwarfs. But will the queen find her and try to kill her?

  Walt's genius here was in creating the characters. The dwarfs have very distinctive personalities, and some of the best scenes in the movie revolve around them. (The scene where they first come home is a classic.) The animals add some humor as well, especially when cleaning the cottage.

  The plot moves along well, and when I first saw it in college, I was drawn into the story even though I knew the ending. I actually felt tears when the dwarfs were mourning Snow White.
  
  By today's standards, the animation is flawed, especially for the prince. However, there are some truly beautiful scenes as well, particularly the sun set when the dwarfs are coming home. Fans of Disney in the 30's will recognize the feel of some of the silly symphony cartoons. The important thing to remember when watching this movie is its place in history. This is the first animated movie ever, produced when everyone thought no one would ever see it. The fact that we're still watching it is a testimony to Walt as a filmmaker and pioneer.

  This DVD set is the perfect way to enjoy this movie. The picture and soundtrack have been lovingly restored, and look and sound incredible. The sound is presented in Dolby 5.1 and its original mono. I didn't notice that much difference between the two modes, but it's nice to have the option. The first disc also contains a wonderful audio commentary. Recorded interviews with Walt Disney are interspersed with comments from John Canemaker. I learned quite a bit about the film from this commentary. The second disc contains all you would ever want to know about the history of the film. They've got character design changes, completely abandoned concepts, deleted scenes, and information on the releases over the years to name a few things. I spent hours soaking up the information and enjoying every moment of it.

  This is truly a classic movie that belongs in any film fan's library. Hurry and get this wonderful set before it disappears.
  
  

• Disney's DVD release policy is idiotic!!

  
  By A3PKO5MRIFPP8R on 2004-11-02
  My rating applies to Disney's DVD policy rather than this Movie. Because of Disney's stupid limited release policy, generations of children will not be able to purchase certain DVDs. Snow White was released in 2001 and put in the "vault" in 2002. A child born later than 2002 will not see Snow White on DVD in a store for atleast a decade. So much for experiencing Snow White in the magical years. The nimrods who came up with this anti-consumer policy need to be put in a vault. DISNEY wake up! Release ALL the Disney classic movies on DVD and keep them in stores. If you really cared about children experiencing Disney Magic, you would dump this wrong-headed policy!!!
  
  

• A Timeless Treasure

  
  By A1J03J0HZ7KU5T on 2001-12-17
  Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937) remains an enduring landmark in cinema history. Happily, the DVD edition does justice to one of the all-time great films, featuring a pristine transfer and a wealth of archival material. With the exception of "Fantasia" (1940), Disney never surpassed this remarkable achievement in animation.
  
  

• The Classic Disney film in a DVD Edition for the Ages

  
  By A2NJO6YE954DBH on 2001-10-04
  It is clear from the DVD edition that Disney has put together for "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," the beloved film enshrined in cinema history as the first full-length animated film, that this is the standard by which all future Disney releases will be judged. Your kids or grandchildren might find the animation to be somewhat quaint, but they will certainly be impressed by this "Immersive 2-Disc DVD Experience." There is so much to do with the extras that they might even forget to actually watch the movie, which has been digitally restored. However, this would be a big mistake as you are not going to be able to solve the puzzles and win "Dopey's Wild Mine Ride" game if you have not seen the film.

  Everything is hosted by either Roy Disney or the Magic Mirror on the Wall (you have to love that that dry sense of humor), and what they have on the first disc along with the movie is enough to thrill any fan of Snow White. You can listen to Barbra Streisand sing "Some Day My Prince Will Come" or you can all sing the Karaoke version of "Heigh-Ho." Then there is "The Making of 'Snow White'" documentary, the aduio commentary and even the Silly Symphony cartoon "Goddess of Spring." And all of this is before you even get to the second disc where you are simply going to find what must be EVERYTHING Disney has relating to this film as we explore "The Legacy of 'Snow White.'" There are not just deleted scenes and a deleted song ("You're Never Too Old To Be Young"), there are abandoned concepts for several scenes, such as a "fantasy version" of "Some Day My Prince Will Come." Just look at the Edition Details for this DVD: have you ever seen a list that long? It took me the entire weekend just to get through MOST of what is on this DVD.

  Yes, you bought the Disney animated films on videotape and then you went out and got them on DVD. But the extras alone are worth the price of this first "Platinum Edition." Most importantly, Disney has clearly made a covenant with its audience that this is indeed the level of excellence they will do with their entire collection of classic films and I only hope they do this not just for "Pinocchio" but also for "Mary Poppins" as well. This is what happens when a studio cherishes its classic films as much as we do.
  
  

• Snow White has bells! Snow White has whistles!
  By A2C27IQUH9N1Z on 2001-11-27
  You could never accuse the guys at Disney of being on the cutting edge of progressive social thought, but they sure knew about fun -- and the current crew augments that same idea of fun with the latest technology by coming up with the best bells and whistles I've seen on a DVD. There are two discs to hold it all -- pretty remarkable when you condsider that the movie itself is only 84 minutes long.

  The movie looks and sounds great .... a beautiful restoration. Images are sharp, sound is clear. You can listen to the original mono soundtrack, or an improved digital track in English or French. If you choose French, even the opening sequence of a printed fairy tale book appears in French. Pretty cool.

  The extras include Streisand singing 'Some Day My Prince Will Come'; a karaoke edition of 'Heigh Ho'; a 39-minute documentary about the making of the film narrated by Angela Lansbury; audio commentary by Walt Disney himself, pieced together from archived materials; an animated short used to test some of the animation; and Dopey's Wild Mine Ride -- a great little trivia/puzzle game -- and that's just the first disk!

  The second disk is spectacular -- there are dozens of elements here, but I will mention (what I consider to be) the best: storyboard/film comparison; scenes deleted from the film (including a great scene of the dwarves making Snow White a bed, with comments penciled in by an animator); camera tests; featurettes about the voices, audio sessions, restoration of the film, and artistic concepts -- layouts, backgrounds, character sketches and development; publicity materials (posters, photos, trailers, radio commercials); and a timeline of the history of the film *and* Disney studios.

  The amount (and quality) of extras is truly incredible; and there is a well-designed print brochure, as well as on-disk tours of the material, to help you find your way around.

  This is a great version of a wonderful film -- and an exemplary use of the DVD format.

  Highly recommended.
  
  

• Timeless film; handsome DVD package
  By AO461REE0KA4J on 2001-10-10
  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.
  
  

• Oh, For More Movies Like Snow White
  By A3O9LMY2DTV2B2 on 2001-11-18
  The story of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is an enchanting, experimental romp with animation. At the time of its release, in December of 1937, Walt Disney was taking a heavy, financial risk with this movie. Film goers were used to watching short animated films, like "Steamboat Willie", starring Disney creation, Mickey Mouse. However, what was yet to be known was ... would audiences sit through an hour and a half cartoon?

  The story itself is simple enough. A wicked queen, vane in every respect, has but one sinister ambition. That being to be "the most beautiful of all". Every day she asks her mirror, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the most fairest of them all?". One day, however, the mirror answers, "Snow White" as the most fairest. Outraged that there is another person more beautiful than her, she orders a huntsman to find Snow White, and kill her. He obeys this command up until a point. After taking her deep into the forest, he has seconds thoughts, tells Snow White what the queen wanted him to do, and pleads with her to escape, which she does.

  Snow White meets up with seven dwarfs, who initially have no interest in her, nor her imposing ways. The dwarfs are bachelors, of sorts; at least, living in the manner of a bachelor. They are dirty and unkemp, as is their home. Snow White gets them to clean up and live more respectfully; a rough task in the beginning, and much despised by the dwarfs. However, she grown on them, and soon they come to respect her.

  Meanwhile, the queen discovers Snow White is still alive. Finding out where she is, the queen disguises herself as an old hag, and goes in search of her. In her possession she carries an apple ... a poisonous apple with which she intends to give to Snow White to eat. While the dwarfs are out working, Snow White encounters the queen, and is given the apple. After taking one bite, she falls to the ground, dead, unable to be revived and brought back to life but by "love's first kiss". Eventually a prince comes along, as is the custom in fairy tales, and kisses Snow White, bringing her back to life. What happens to the queen is an entirely different matter indeed.

  So is a short synopsis of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". However, problems evolved in the making of "Snow White". Based on a Grimms Bros. fairy tale, there was not enough material to make it into a film version, and Dinsey wondered how he could make an animated feature length film, and still keep the audiences attention. He also wondered what he could do to offset the horror in the film. "Snow White", after-all, dealt with, and ultimately contained, much terror that even today still frightens some younger viewers.

  The answer came in several factors. One was in fast paced crosscutting scenes, so that the action was not concentrated on one particular character for too long. Another answer came with using sweet, mellow songs to help move the story along. "I'm Wishing", "With A Smile In My Song", "Whistle While You Work", and "Heigh Ho" were just some of the songs that helped carry "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". A third factor, and perhaps the most important of them all, came in the comedics of the dwarfs themselves. Doc, Sleepy, Grumpy, Happy, Sneezy, Bashful, and Dopey were all meticulously created, each with their own identities; and but for them and their silliness throughout "Snow White", the film may not have moved with the speed it did, and older members in the audience may have become bored, while younger ones may have become more frightened.

  All of the elements were now in place, including a wonderful cast
  that starred Adriana Casoletti as Snow White, Harry Stockwell, as the prince, and Lucille Laverne as the Queen. In its initial release, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" pulled in over four million dollars, thereby securing both Disney's future, and the future of animated films. Without the success of Snow White, it is easy to conclude Disney would not have attempted it again, and we never would have known of "Bambi" "Pinocchio", or "Dumbo". Thanks to Walt Disney's heavy gamble with "Snow White", his exhausting persistence in seeing it through, a flood gate of highly successful animated films have graced the silver screen, amusing and entertaining audiences for decades hence.
  
  

• Disney's Limited Issue: Dumbest. Idea. Ever.
  By A2IQF4WLE0A68C on 2006-03-12
  Disney. Listen up. You make movies for children. People have children who didn't have them before. Those children grow up and aren't children anymore. Are your DVDs only for the people who happen to have children during the period you choose to sell them?
  
  When this movie was released, I didn't have a child. I didn't buy Snow White. Now that she is getting to the age that she might enjoy it THE MOVIE ISN'T AVAILABLE! I WANT to buy Snow White, but I CAN'T buy Snow White. By the time you decide to re-release it SHE WILL BE TOO OLD TO ENJOY IT! I WON'T buy Snow White.
  
  This idea of limited issue of children's movies has to be the dumbest idea...ever.
  
  EDIT: I found a copy on eBay. I don't know if it's legitimate (there are a *lot* of obvious fakes available) and, frankly, I don't really care.
  
  
• I think it's safe to say that...
  By A2GR3H560WKCPX on 2001-08-03
  DISNEY has finally come to their senses!!! I am an avid DVD collector (200+) and I do not own a single Disney-animated DVD. Why? For years, people have been begging Disney to put their massive catalog on DVD. Disney obliged and the resulting DVDs were horrible- nothing more than inadequate upgrades from their previous VHS format. Simply put, their presentation in the ever-so-popular DVD format was RIDICULOUSLY skimpy (in terms of bonus features)!!! Do you remember the 9-DVD box set they put out in 1999 for $300? They called it "The Classic Disney DVD Collector's Set!" HA!! It was a box of tripe! The box was anything BUT "classic." It included none of the memorable DVDs of days gone by. FAST FORWARD 2 YEARS...they have sold millions of "bare-bone" DVDs and now are re-re-re-re-re-releasing them to the public...in a format they should've been in initially! Either Disney purposely planned to MILK MILLIONS from their customer base or someone threw a brick upside their heads- finally making them comes to their senses. Whatever the case, the latter case being said in EXTREME sarcasm, Disney is finally starting to release QUALITY DVDs.

  The PLATINUM 2-DISC edition of Snow White is a must have for everyone. The picture and sound on both discs are flawless. The sound on each disc is THX certified and has been remixed in Dolby Digital 5.1 (English & French). Also, BOTH DISCS have a truckload of features including rare newsreel footage from the premiere, an insightful look at the restoration process, archaic featurettes and original trailers! WAY TO GO DISNEY! This set is truly worth every penny! My only hope is that Disney will continue to do this with future titles and re-re-re-re-re-release all of the classics (The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, etc.). PRE-ORDER/BUY THIS TODAY!!!
  
  

• this is not as advertised--(the original animated version)--
  By on 1999-09-21
  this was a great disappointment to my 3 yr old son --he was looking forward to the singing version and i believed that this was what i bought--i would call this false advertising
  
  
• Disney's divinative masterwork makes its awaited DVD debut!
  By A6225HHQKBE2M on 2001-04-03
  Disney's divinative animated masterpiece.... What more need be said? I am so pleased that it will finally be released on Disney DVD October 9th. From Disney's official "Snow White" website....:

  SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS will make it's long awaited Disney DVD debut on October 9, 2001 and will return to video in November 2001 for a very limited time, it was announced by Peter Schneider, Chairman of the Walt Disney Studios. Over 60 years ago, Walt and Roy Disney changed the face of entertainment forever with the first feature length animated film, SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS. Now, at last, families and movie lovers everywhere can enjoy this greatest of animated masterpieces through the magic of Disney DVD. The SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS DVD will be the ultimate way to experience this landmark film. This amazing treasure trove will represent the industry's first truly immersive DVD experience and includes bonus features, behind-the-scenes programs, production features, audio commentaries and much more, providing the most complete package ever assembled for this animated classic. Truly, the DVD release of SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS marks a new, historic milestone in entertainment history. Walt Disney Home Video is proud to present this beloved film's Disney DVD debut on October 9, 2001, and its return to video in November 2001. Commenting on the announcement, Schneider stated, "The Walt Disney Company has been waiting for today's technology to rise and meet the initial creative brilliance of the One That Started It All. Through the magic of today's modern digital advancements, the artists at Disney have created the first immersive DVD experience that will certainly change the way families have watched films." "The best way to celebrate a film-making breakthrough is to reveal it in its most magical form ever," Schneider concluded.

  Snow White, the wicked Queen, Bashful, Sneezy, Doc, Happy, Grumpy, Sleepy and of course Dopey are icons for generations of families. The film's music is also beloved to audiences worldwide. Such songs as "Some Day My Prince Will Come," "Heigh Ho" and "Whistle While You Work" are classics. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS is the first and only animated film to be included in the prestigious U.S. National Film Registry, and the film delivered an Academy Award® for Walt Disney, (1938, Honorary, SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS) who was also presented with seven miniature Oscars® for each of the famous dwarfs.

  Disney's telling of SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS is the definitive version of this enchanting tale. In a faraway land a young princess lives, whose blossoming beauty disturbs her stepmother, the Queen. Each day the Queen asks her mysterious magic mirror to tell her "who is the fairest of them all." When the mirror replies with Snow White's name, the evil Queen sets out to slay Snow White, but the young girl flees into the forest. There, she meets the Seven Dwarfs, who hide her as best they can. When the Queen tricks Snow White into eating a poison apple all seems lost, until a handsome Prince arrives to awaken Snow White and to live with her "happily ever after." Disney's animated version of the classic fairy tale is the definitive version for generations of families. At long last, the legendary film that started it all for Disney, SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, makes history again with its long-awaited debut on Disney DVD and return to home video.

  Walt Disney Home Video is distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc., a recognized leader in the home entertainment industry for over 15 years and a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company. Buena Vista Home Entertainment is the marketing, sales and distribution company for all Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Buena Vista videocassette and DVD product.
  
  

• Finally, a mind-boggling Disney DVD release.
  By A29RZ88ME47XEK on 2001-09-06
  Finally, finally, FINALLY, Disney is releasing one of their films with a format, media and extras that do it justice. I'm an adult (most of the time), with no kids, but I still can't buy and receive this DVD soon enough; I think it has to be the best value of the year. I don't personally really care for Disney's more recent efforts, but there's no denying the magic of its early works, and Snow White is the perfect title to kick off this incredible-sounding Platinum Collection.

  One thing that I have never been a fan of, though, has been Disney's marketing and sales schemes (VHS and DVD alike), and these Platinum titles, while finally doing justice to both the movies and the fans, will likely just add to the overall confusion for most buyers. The Limited Edition and Gold Collection DVD's already released are somewhat substandard; they are generally devoid of any extra DVD features and often are shortchanged technically (lack of widescreen or surround audio when available, etc.). They certainly don't hold a candle to the upcoming Platinums, which features tons of extras, innovative and wonderful-sounding DVD navigation schemes, incredible color and sound enhancement, and pretty much everything a fan could hope for in a Disney DVD. However, this being Disney, not everything could be good news of course, and with the Platinum Editions, the bad news comes with the ridiculous marketing plan for them; 1 per year for the next 10 years (Snow White being the first of 10). Until Disney to come to its senses and shortens that moronic release timeframe, however, we at least can have a taste of the incredible potential in this line with this first release.

  Whether you were lucky enough to have a childhood touched by the magic of the early Disney classics, or if, like me, you weren't that lucky but have the alternate fortune of experiencing these titles for the first time with these mind-boggling Platinum Editions, this should be the easiest, most no-brainer DVD purchase you make all year. And for those able to pre-order and get another DVD for free (Limited/Gold Edition, but still), the deal becomes almost criminal to pass up.

  Thank you, Disney, for what you're giving fans with this wonderful new line of Platinum titles. (Now if you'll PLEASE just release them more often than over 10 years! :O )
  
  

• My Wish Came True!
  By A19K5DILM15WU3 on 2001-08-02
  This DVD is going to rock! Critics are raving about it! And the free DVD deal is wonderful! Disney's first full length animated masterpice and Acadamy Award Winner finally comes to DVD with digitally remastered picture and 5.1 surround! The Special Features are great. Disney obviously spared no expense on this DVD. This is the start of Disney's "Platinum Collection" wich will release one Disney film on DVD each year! The 10 most loved animated classics including "Beauty and the Beast", "101 Dalmations", "The Jungle Book", "The Lion King", "The Little Mermaid", "Lady And the Tramp", "Aladdin", "Cinderella", and more! "Snow White" is the classic fairy tale about a young princess who is forced out of her home and lives among 7 dwarves in a cottage in the woods. When her evil step-mother, the queen, poisons her with an apple, she can only be awakened by loves first kiss! The music is great! The animation is remarkable even by today's standards! You better get your copy fast because it's only available for 60 days!
  
  
• Typically Disney, UNAVAILABLE AS WELL
  By AY0TU5C8FT03S on 2005-12-27
  Just like 101 Dalmations, Pinocchio etc etc.
  
  Well done Disney! I wonder what Walt would have thought of all this MIS MANAGEMENT.
  
  They have a goldmine there and what do they do???
  UNBELIEVABLE
  
  Complain that people are copying/ downloading films....
  
  
  Eeehhm, maybe it's the ONLY way to GET THEM???!!!
  
  
• Snow White and the Ten-Star DVD
  By A3TZB9SXJCFMFJ on 2001-10-04
  Think you've seen this film before? Well, so did I ... once in a movie theatre in the 1960's, then again on VHS and LaserDisc in the 1990's. But after viewing this Platinum Edition on DVD, I now realize that in truth, I have only seen pale imitations of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" in the past! That's how incredible this newly restored animated classic looks on DVD. Never before has the picture looked so crisp, clean, and gorgeous in vivid three-strip Technicolor; never before has the soundtrack offered such an amazing range of clarity. All the critical superlatives that have become cliches through overuse genuinely apply here: the video and sound transfers are dazzling! amazing! breathtaking! exquisite! If you, like I, have in the past respected the film mainly for its historical importance as Walt Disney's first full-length animated feature, prepare to reappreciate it as a phenomenal visual experience.

  As if the feature were not more than enough, the Disney Company has gone all-out in packaging the DVD with a plethora of bonus features that will appeal to a broad range of viewers. There are a "sing-along" for the tykes; a video game for the kids; deleted concepts and original storyboard drawing for the film buffs; and much, much, much more. Literally, I have spent over two hours exploring all the extra features, and still haven't experienced them all! The two discs are delightfully overwhelming, and represent an incredible value for your money. This is one DVD package that is instantly a classic in - and of - itself, and a must-have for your home video collection!
  
  

• A DVD Classic that's nothing to Sneeze at.
  By A2NX99GVAX4TRP on 2001-10-17
  Snow White was the first American full-length animated feature. Many consider it Walt Disney's masterpiece. As it was being made from at least 1934 through 1937 many industry movers and shakers thought Wal t Disney had lost his mind, spending so much time, energy and effort on producing something as utterly ridiculous as a feature length cartoon feature. Disney was crazy as a fox. He established the foundation of the Disney formula and established his studio as the one to reckon with when it came to animated features.

  Keeping things simple and glossing over the most gruesome aspects of the Brothers Grimm classic fairy tale, Walt Disney and company created a squeaky clean protagonist, a hiss-able antagonist and several love-able and humorous characters with names that are still the subject of formal and informal trivia contests around the world. The film offers several memorable and now classic sequences such as when Snow White flees into the forest or the Queen transformation scenes. There are also those memorable songs: "Heigh Ho", "Whistle While You Work" and the operetta styled "Some Day My Prince Will Come".

  Technically Snow White represented a huge achievement for Walt Disney in several ways. The detailed character animation complete with very good lip synching, and beautifully drawn background settings including shadows and water reflections were the finest American audiences had ever seen on the screen.

  Regardless of whether this is your all-time favorite Disney feature or not--the DVD is nothing short of a stunning package that should be considered by anyone and everyone who has any interest in this film whatsoever.

  The quality of the image and sound is superb. There's some artifacting present in the very beginning of the film (during it's story-book opening) but then finding any flaws in the presentation becomes quite a challenge. A few sequences are a bit too dark perhaps. The best quality prints were obtained, assembled and then given a full spare no expense clean up before being almost flawlessly digitally transferred to disc. The sound was reproduced and then digitally enhanced and re-mixed. It is remarkable what has been done with what was one a mono audio track and now takes full advantage of the capabilities of a multi-speaker home theater system. Much of the original audio track was recorded in 1935 ! And sure you can hear some crackles and hisses and pops, but the clarity and fullness that has been achieved will knock your socks off.

  The supplemental material presented on this 2 DVD set is everything you could have ever hoped for. From a lengthy newly created making of documentary hosted by Angela Landsbury to some truly stunning archival footage that includes deleted scenes, incomplete and abandoned sequences and more. Publicity material, footage from the premiere, and even a silly DVD game is included in the package.

  You also get, now get this, what amounts to audio commentary from Walt Disney himself integrated into the feature length commentary of the film.

  Is it really worth buying this DVD? If you have any interest in the film at all, this is a DVD that you must have in your collection. Disney is hyping this one pretty heavily and declaring it the finest DVD ever produced. They are probably absolutely correct. This DVD package has so much packed it into, you might say that even the bells and whistles have bells and whistles. Not all the supplemental material is priceless or essential to be sure, but a lot of it is and the additional stuff isn't here at the expense of including something else. They have opened up the archives, dug deep into the vaults and created a package to satisfy the most insatiable Snow White buff amongst us. You better believe there's a little to much of the sugar-coated Disney Studios as the KING OF THE ANIMATION WORLD type stuff--but you've been living in a cave for the last 20 years if you didn't expect it.
  
  Bottom line: Technically this DVD is a beauty and there are hours of supplemental material to please film, animation, and Disney buffs. Some of the supplemental material will also drive animation afficianados crazy--but you already knew it would.

  Christopher Jarmick,is the author of The Glass Cocoon with Serena F. Holder a critically acclaimed, steamy suspense thriller.
  
  

• About Time!
  By on 2001-08-21
  Having read (much to my amusement, and amazement) the previous reviews of this upcoming release, I will not outline, as have some, the entire movie, which everybody knows anyway. That said,I will note that virtually no one mentioned my own favorite segment, the "party" sequence at the dwarf's cottage. Not only is it a brilliant piece of filmmaking, it is just plain fun, something I play over and over again.

  The movie as a whole is, quite simply, a masterpiece, regardless of the opinions of a few feminists out there. It is a 60 year old movie after all.

  My main reason for writing is to comment on a few of the additional features. I really see no need of Barbra Streisand on this release. Secondly, why do we need Angela Lansbury taking us on a "VIP tour" of the bonus features. I am quite capable of picking the features I want to see. And one of those does not appear to be included, namely, "The Old Mill", the beautiful short made to test the efficacy of the newly developed (at the time) Multiplane Camera. There is a "camera and filter test" segment listed in the extras and perhaps it is to be found in that, but it is not specifically listed, as is "The Goddess of Spring".

  I will reserve further comment until I actually see the DVD release (I am intrigued by the comments on the quality of a DVD that is weeks if not months from being released), but I do feel obliged to remark on the review by "Why Bother" in Houston, TX. who seemed mightily put out by what he/she considered to be the "full screen, chopped up version" of this film and wondered: "Why not give us the whole movie, in widescreen format, so it can be enjoyed as it was meant to be?" For one quite excellent reason: It is not and never was a widescreen movie. The 1.33:1 ratio that you see on your TV screen is, in fact, the original format of the movie and we ARE seeing it "as it was meant to be". There have been some misguided attempts to "stretch" these older Disney classics to fit the wider screens in todays theaters but they fail miserably resulting in either thepicture being squashed or the top and bottom being cut off. So, fret not about the picture being full screen: that IS how it was made.
  
  

• AFI voted it a top 100 film & Disney's Legacy is in this DVD
  By AW003H7Z3OCHA on 2001-10-10
  The American Film Institute voted 2 of Walt Disney Films into the top 100 films in the last 100 years. They are Snow White (1937) and Fantasia (1940). Snow White even received Special Oscars from the Academy because of it groundbreaking achievements. This was the first full length color (from the magnificent TECHNOCOLOR pallet) animated feature told as a dramatic fairy tale. It was the first time people actually became emotionally attached to a "Toon". Our emotions were tested and we believed! Disney from this day forward would change all our lives and our childrens and childrens childrens for all generations to come.
  This 2 DVD "Platinum Edition" (the first in a new elite series, the next one will be "BEAUTY and the BEAST" another one of my favorites) set of "SNOW WHITE and the SEVEN DWARFS" is meticulously presented to us. And provides us with a perfectly digitally remastered print of this classic film (you'll be watching this one over and over. It's such a great story!!!). It is so detailed and colorful. The story was flawlessly edited and presented in a fast pace, musically toe tapping emotional roller coaster ride format.
  This DVD set will be educational and entertaining. Disney Enterprises has now given us the magic and legacy of Walt Disney. Hearing his voice on the Commentary Track and seeing him throughout his years spearheading this monumental mission of changing the world and making animated pictures respectable is just a peek at this DVD package. There is also a dandy "Dopey's Wild Mine Ride" game to play. (So pay attention when watching Snow White".)
  All in all this is one of the best assembled DVD sets ever and Disney gets 2 thumbs up for giving us not only the Greatest animated film ever (over 2 million hand drawn pictures & 3 years to make) but all the archived details of Walt Disney work too.
  So get ready to "Whistle while you work" through hours and hours of fun in watching & listening to this milestone DVD set. A must, a collectible.
  Thank you Disney Enterprises for sharing Walt Disney's Legacy with us.
  
  
• WOW
  By A20EEWWSFMZ1PN on 2001-10-01
  Before we go into any details, I suggest you put on your protective goggles, strap in and go for the main feature. Prepare to be dazzled with sharp images and excellent sound that stay true to the original film.

  As with all Disney products there is a lot of schmaltz explaining to themselves of how great they are. In this case, I will have to agree with them. The platinum edition of " Snow White and the seven Dwarfs" makes it well worth trading in your old version or just retiring it. The two-disk edition has more information than can be absorbed in one sitting.

  Amazon did a good job of defining all the DVD goodies. However I must mention a few. This takes advantage of your remote control for navigation. To help you decide you have the magic mirror as a guide through both disks and all the feature sections. The magic mirror reminds me of the morose robot in Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."

  The only negative comment I have is on the second disk as you navigate the menus do not highlight like they should and leave you guessing as to what you have selected until you press the OK button.

  If I had looked at the features first I would have found a game. "Dopey's Wild Mine Ride", that required me to go back to the feature, as I could not remember all the details it asked about. Some of the feature information is redundant. Some will require reading. One of the posters that were displayed looked like an advertisement for "Campbell's Cream of Dwarfs Soup."

  There is a Barbra Streisand version of "Some Day My Prince Will Come" which was distracting (no offence Barbra) and would have been much better left sounding like Janet McDonald.

  The printed Grimm's version of Snow White story was an eye opener.

  You know when things are not as good, exciting, or scary as you remember. Well surprise this movie is as good, as exciting as scary and many time down right hilarious.
  
  

• Uncle Walt's Timeless Gift.
  By ARA48345JZPZR on 2001-10-09
  Nearly 2/3's of a century later, Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs still has the power to enchant and amuse and beguile. The restoration is fabulous, with clean, crisp & clear picture and beautiful digitized sound. It looks and sounds as it must have been intended, if not better, and this first full-length animated story still delivers. Your children and grandchildren should love it.

  There are two Discs just chock-a-block with goodies. There are documentaries, background stories, features on animation, games for the kids, galleries of original drawings, deleted sequences and so on. As much or more than you ever wanted to know about the making of this landmark film. There is so much to see that more than one viewing is essential.

  I found the influences of European artists Disney brought in to create the overall look of the film, evoking German fairy tales, interesting. Of course there is the inevitable Disney Co. commercial inherent in some of the presentation (they are a Marketing juggernaut in case you didn't notice), but that is to be expected and is minor. The different Special Features are beautifully presented with new animation and different human guides.

  If you are interested in what went into making a landmark of animation, you will certainly find something of interest here. If not, you still have the marvelously presented feature itself.

  After viewing most of all of the 2 discs, what struck me most was a renewed respect for Walt Disney's courage and vision. He continually bet the farm (with brother Roy backing him) on his own gut instincts & intuition. That, and his absolute demand for craft and creativity and excellence. I grew up with Uncle Walt, on TV and successful, and it is good to remember that he had no safety net or guarantees when he layed it all on the line for what he wanted to do. He was a true American genius, a crazy combination of savvy entrepeneur, craftsman, artist, visionary, gambler, and Marketing whiz. He was one in a million.
  
  

• Marvellous Restoration
  By A319SKSB556033 on 2001-10-11
  I can't believe the clarity of this DVD. You could swear that this movie was made yesterday by the eye popping color. I've seen some great restorations but this is by far the best, even moreso considering that this film is now 64 years old. Disney have outdone themselves.

  The movie itself is entertaining although it does seem a bit European at times. It does not take place in any particular country but some of the dwarves sound like they are from Kentucky. The abundance of cute animals and a surprisingly cruel villain keep this story watchable. I mean we have heard it a million times before but the dwarves have more character than Snow White who does nothing but look pretty. And who doesn't want the Evil Queen to get what's coming to her.

  The supplements on the DVD are MASSIVE and too many to even mention. Let me just say that if you are a fan of the film you certainly WON'T be dissapointed. This baby is loaded and bursting at the seams.

  The DVD is in 1.33:1 full frame and is in Dolby 5.1.

  Thanx Amazon. :)
  
  

• Test Of Time
  By AWFDFLR1DA23A on 2001-10-17
  Yet another Disney classic is pleasing audiences years after its initial release, and Snow White has to be one of the best. This 2 disc set is full of extras that are not just made for children but for the whole family to watch, which is the way all disney films are made. This is a must have for any disney fan as its one to add to the collection, and you will get your money out of it as it will be watched over and over again
  
  
• They Don't Call Her The Fairest Of Them All For Nothing!
  By A1AJR4BFQ5AW68 on 2001-10-15
  It's quite amazing after 60 plus years,"Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs" still seems as fresh,charming,entertaining,and ageless as when it first came on to the big screen.I've watched it countless times on VHS when I was a kid and yet I have never gotten tired of it.On DVD,however,it is a true splender to behold,looking like it could have been released today.The 2-disc set is packed with great features,such as an excellent 40-minute making-of featurette,a newly recorded version of "Someday My Prince Will Come" sung by Barbra Streisand,a thorough "Disney Through The Decades" history recap including clips of "Dumbo","Sleeping Beauty","Mary Poppins","The Lion King","Toy Story" etc.,and A LOT more stuff.As a gift for the upcoming holidays,it's a no-brainer.But get it fast before it is put on mortatorium in January 2002!
  
  
• Sets the Standard for Animation and DVD
  By A1D663YD036KNH on 2001-10-18
  With the release of "Snow White" Disney has effectively raised the bar from which all DVDs should be judged. Personally, I spent four evenings sifting through all the extra features included in this hefty two-disc set. In a nutshell, "Snow White", is loaded. Of course the film itself, Hollywood's first full-length animated feature, was truly groundbreaking when released in 1937. Created in a cloud of doubt, very few believed that Walt Disney could entertain an audience with an 84-minute "cartoon".(See "The Making of Snow White" on Disc One) However, all naysayers grossly underestimated Mr. Disney's astute ability to weave a great story, memorable characters and classic songs into a visually stunning package. Disney practically begged for financial assistance to keep the project afloat and when it finally premiered in December 1937, "Snow White" defied all doubters to become the highest grossing film of its time. "Snow White" set the standard for all animation which followed and, remarkably, through the process of digital restoration, the film looks as though it could have been released just yesterday. The colors are intensely vivid and the clarity is unsurpassed. According to technicians who participated in the restoration, (see "Restoration" on Disc Two), the visual quality of "Snow White" on DVD is equal to that of the original animation cells. In other words, we are finally seeing this classic in its purest form.

  Merely owning a pristine copy of this all-time classic would be good enough for most. However "Snow White", like the "Matrix", The James Bond films and a handful of other loaded DVDs, raises the standards of home video. In a perfect world, all DVDs would feature the endless array of bonus features contained within "Snow White". For those who are interested, below is a list of just a FEW of the extras:

  1)A compelling full-length audio commentary provided by Walt Disney himself (compiled from various interviews). For film buffs, Mr. Disney's insightful commentary may well be the most invaluable feature of the entire DVD.

  2)A 39-minute "Making of.." documentary.

  3) 40+ minutes of "Disney through the Decades" and short features such as "How Disney Cartoons are Made", "A Trip Through Disney Studios" and "The Restoration".

  4)Six deleted scenes.

  5)Trailers for each of "Snow White's" eight re-releases

  6)Various stills and storyboard sketches.

  If all this is too exhausting, and believe me there's a lot more, host Angela Lansbury will take you on a 20-minute "Guided Tour" which neatly highlights the best of the bonus features. Overall, a classic DVD treatment for a classic movie. "Snow White" has withstood the test of time and will, undoubtedly, continue to entertain audiences for generations on end. This is truly a "must own" DVD.
  
  

• Simply one of the best DVD's ever
  By A2OW01WJTEBPG3 on 2001-10-24
  Snow White and the Seven Dwarves is a classic movie, no doubt about it, but this will soon be known as a classic DVD in its own right.

  From one of the best re-mastering jobs ever known, the masters at Disney have made this 1937 movie look like it was just made. Besides crystal clear and bright colors, it also features the addition of 5.1 digital audio, something obviously not even available when the film was first created. After all the hard work in restoring it, the movie shines and allows the great story to have its full emotional impact.

  The features, in addition, are done with a phenomenal menu system that's easy enough for anyone to approach. The menus themselves are narrated by a newly computer animated magic mirror that just adds a magic touch. The features are smartly organized and even feature guided tours through them by some celebrity hosts.

  Overall, this is one of the best DVD's ever and a classic gem for any collection. Don't hesitate to get this one.
  
  

• Amazing DVD
  By AV3LOJOIYOCKX on 2001-11-29
  I've had this only for a few days, and am still exploring it. It is truly an amazing piece that Disney has put out. The clarity, color and sound of the restored movie is outstanding. The extras on these discs though, is the main reason I bought the DVD. This is what DVD's are all about. Disney Pioneered the animation field with this movie, and are trying to do the same with this DVD. There are literally over 25 hours of entertainment on this set, and many, many interesting behind the scenes segments, and "How'd they do that?" features on the making of the movie, and the history of the Snow White story. This is a limited edition, so I would say grab it up while you can. I am eagerly looking forward to the Disney DVD release of the Mickey Mouse cartoons. I will be buying that, and along with this Snow White DVD, these are my first purchases made with my future children in mind. (I have none now, and none on the way, but these timeless family items will keep for many years, and Disney also offers a replacement plan for DVD's that get damaged.)
  
  
• Extra Extra (read all about it)
  By A33HMSDUN0WR7J on 2002-01-13
  Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was the first animated feature film ever. It was made in a time when animater's didn't have any reference point to follow, and before Walt Disney Studios became a money printing factory. If your sick of Disney commercialism please remember this film came out in the thirties when animation was still quite good, and may I say they did a beutiful job.
  But you allready know about the movie. You want to hear about the DVD extras. I've been watching this thing for three days and I still haven't seen everything. And listen to this. The audio commentery is by Walt Disney. You read that correctly. Pieces of interveiws and comments he made about the film between it's release and his death have been placed in the apropriate spots and edited together to make a commentery track from beyond the grave, one I never would have thought possible. There is a documentary, hosted by Angela "Lovet's Meat Pies" Landsbury (who also star's in a special feature that teaches us how to use the special features), about the making and history (and prehistory) of the film. The DVD also contain's a classic Disney "Silly Symphony" short, The Goddess Of Spring, and tons of pencil tests, story boards, concept art, deleted songs and ....
  Oh yeah, it also has Striesand, If you can tolerate it.
  
  
• A true Disney Masterpiece
  By A2I6MHMAZZDCRX on 2001-04-13
  The Disney Company has over used the term Masterpiece when referring to its own movies. But this one truly deserves that title. While its animation betray its age, the story and characters are still fun, and its place in history also makes it a must.

  The story is simple and familiar. Snow White's wicket stepmother wants her killed because Snow White is "the fairest of them all." She is saved from this fate, and hides out with seven dwarfs. But will the queen find her and try to kill her?

  Walt's genius here was in creating the characters. The dwarfs have very distinctive personalities, and some of the best scenes in the movie revolve around them. (The scene where they first come home is a classic.) The animals add some humor as well, especially when cleaning the cottage.

  The plot moves along well, and when I first saw it in college, I was drawn into the story even though I knew the ending. I actually felt tears when the dwarfs were morning Snow White.

  By today's standards, the animation is flawed, especially for the prince. However, there are some truly beautiful scenes as well, particularly the sun set when the dwarfs are coming home. Fans of Disney in the 30's will recognize the feel of some of the silly symphony cartoons. The important thing to remember when watching this movie is its place in history. This is the first animated movie ever, produced when everyone thought no one would ever see it. The fact that we're still watching it is a testimony to Walt as a filmmaker and pioneer.

  This is truly a classic movie. If you've never seen it, watch it today.
  
  

• not a "Dopey" DVD...
  By AJKAZ50Y34PW0 on 2001-11-16
  Okay, before I begin, I should tell you that this isn't a review of the movie "Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs". I'm gonna be talking about the bonus stuff included on the DVD!

  "Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs" is the most advanced DVD I have ever seen. Even though that alone might not say much, (Our family curently owns only 5 DVDs) I can tell it's great judging by what the other people are saying. The movie itself has been fully restored, and it looks better than it ever did before!

  Disc One of the DVD contains the film, as well as audio commentary by Walt Disney himself (I know he would be proud of just how great this DVD is). The forty minute "Making Of Snow White" is also great. And the new version of "Some Day My Prince Will Come" is so good, it might put Snow White herself to shame.

  My favorite part of the DVD just might be the great trivia game, "Dopey's Wild Mine Ride". Players have to help Dopey gather the other dwarfs from the mine to help him save Snow White. It's a thriling experience!

  Disc Two of the DVD is also great. The deleted scenes just might be the best part, and there are surprisingly alot of them. Some are fully animated! Another treat is the "Disney Through The Decades" film: It not only let's us see what's been hapenning with Disney through the years, but it also let's us see "Snow White's" original trailers. The first one doesn't even show any actual scenes from the film.

  There's much, much more on this DVD, but I don't want to spoil it all for you. But I will tell you that after watching some of this DVD, I have a new respect for "Snow White" that I never thought I'd have!
  
  

• Sleeping Beauty (Two-Disc Platinum Edition)
• Beauty and the Beast
• Pinocchio (Disney Gold Classic Collection)
• Cinderella (Two-Disc Special Edition)
• The Lion King (Disney Special Platinum Edition)