Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Release Date: December 21, 1937

So much has been said and written about Walt Disney's first animated full-length movie, that I can't expect to add anything that most people don't already know. Instead, I will share some of my favorite trivia about this movie.

Walt Disney always looked to the future and sought to reach beyond what was thought to be possible. His first animated feature length film is a great example of that. To prepare his animators for the idea, Walt fed them dinner, and then acted out the story of Snow White for about three hours. After acting it out, he announced that making this movie would be their next project.

Word got out, and nearly everybody thought making this movie was a terrible idea. It became known as "Walt's Folly." But Walt was undeterred. At one point, when the studio had run out of money and needed a bank to lend them more, Walt had no choice but to show a bank executive the rough, unfinished cut they had of the movie. When it was over, the bank executive went back to his car and before he drove away he told Walt he would get the loan he needed, saying, "That movie is going to make a hatful of money."

He proved to be correct. The movie was wildly successful, and the profits from the movie enabled Walt to build the movie studio he wanted. Walt Disney received a special academy award for the movie, and Snow White, the original Disney princess, eventually received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Music and songs had already become synonymous with Disney cartoons, but Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs took it to a whole new level. This movie introduced timeless songs such as Whistle While You Work, Heigh-Ho, and Someday My Prince Will Come.

As for my personal opinion and experience with this movie? I absolutely love it! I watched it on VHS growing up, and I once had the opportunity to see it in the theater. I have always found the dwarfs to be funny and delightful. Dopey and Grumpy have always been my favorites, but I love every single dwarf. I love Snow White's character. I love her example of kindness and hard work. I love how she does what she can to change her situation instead of passively waiting for things to get better. The Queen set the standard of a good Disney villain, and even after all these years, there are few other villains who rival her.

This will always be a timeless classic to me, and a movie I recommend 100%!