Schneewittchen und die sieben Zwerge

This German made, live action version of the classic story was made in 1955, and released in the U.S in 1965. The releasing company, Childhood Productions, added a new soundtrack to the film, not only dubbing it into English, but commissioning a brand new score, written by Anne and Milton Delugg. The results are wonderful. Care was taken in matching the dubbed voices to the actors (even if the synchronization is a little off). The songs, and especially the background music, are beautiful. Add the lovely Bavarian scenery, and you have a delightful film. Incidentally, the original narrator, Paul Tripp, was replaced on the version issued by Interglobal Home Video. They filmed a new introduction with actor Chuck McCann, who also took over the storytelling chores. Presumably, this was done for copyright reasons. The Paul Tripp narration is far superior. Childhood Productions imported several German made fairy tale films to the U.S. in the sixties. They did well by all of them, but this is, in my opinion, the best. Having now seen (at last) the original German Language edit, I can say again, they did a remarkable job. The original musical score is bad- no memorable orchestrations, no lovely background themes, no nothing. The cast,(undubbed) have very poor speaking voices. Childhood Productions took a routine film version of a classic story, and made it a memorable one.My favorite ''Snow White'' movie!.

I've read a number of reviews on this film, mostly bad, so I decided to rewatch it. It had been around 10 years since I bought a video copy of it at a local KMART store, and the film was quite sketchy in my memory. But what I did recall about it, was that I DIDN'T like it.

This 1955 version is one of the weaker adaptations of the Grimm's story, but does have it's strong points. My video is a copy of the 1965 English language version, that was shown at "Kiddie Matinees" by Childhood Productions in the 1960's and 70's. Hosted, rather badly, by Paul Tripp (the man CREEPS ME OUT!!!!) and dubbed with poor voice-overs and annoying songs, much is lost in the translation. I would really love to get my hands on a copy of the original German version and compare the two.

The film's strongest attribute is in it's title character. Elke Arendt does a fine job as Snow White. She is by no means perfect, but in this production, her talent stands out. She is pretty, despite her horrible black wig of long braids, and makes a nice storybook heroine. She has a sweet personality and kind presence in the film.

The weakest aspect of the film are the seven miscast CHILDREN as the dwarves. BADLY bearded and costumed these kids ruin the whole picture. You can never get beyond the fact that they are indeed kids in cheap Halloween costumes. Very poor choice on the film makers.

The sets are slightly above average. The little glen where the cottage of the dwarves rests is quite cozy and inviting. The cottage itself is really just a large dollhouse, but very sweet in appearance.

The script is a bit slow moving at times and tries, unsuccessfully, to broaden the Snow White story. For example, the Prince shows up with a necklace for Snow White, whom he hasn't seen in years. He says that it's for the "most beautiful woman in the kingdom". Since Snow White isn't allowed out of her room, the Huntsman (?!?) brings it up to her. He relays the message, but is overheard by the Queen, who insists that the gift must be for her then. She and Snow White exchange a few words and the Queen snatches that necklace right off from around Snow's neck, and heads to her magic mirror for her daily dose of "self- confidence".....I think you can figure out the rest. A valiant effort at adding meat to the story, but an unsuccessful one.

If you decide to try this movie out, I really do recommend finding the German version. But definitely give it a chance. The 1961 German version is FAR SUPERIOR to this one, but this one is worth a watch.

It is fair to see it in the context of the period and not ignoring the purpose. It is just a simple, silly in many scenes, adaptation of the classic fairy tall. Nothing awfull , only not always inspired. But the spirit of the storytelling is far to be wrong, the performances are reasonable, the Bavarian air is a virtue and the children in the roles of dwarfs- few drops of imagination solve many details. A decent film. And nothing less. Or more.

This movie scared me so horribly when I was younger, that I refused to ever watch it again. Well, my friend talked me into doing so last night (she has been bugging me for years). And I can see why it scared me; the dubbing is pathetic, the little children dwarfs are horrifying, that prince wears a great big yellow blob on his head that's supposed to look like blonde hair, all of the characters are painfully stupid...okay, to be fair, the sets ARE quite lovely. But my friend and I just burst out laughing so many times over how ridiculous everything was! Yes, it was made in 1955, and so I can forgive the guy dressed in the bear suit who wanders out behind a tree to scare Snow White, as well as the giant fake spider web behind the queen while she is mixing potions, and the snow that looks like shredded toilet paper. But some of the dialogue in the script! I have never read the original Brothers Grimm story, but please don't tell me that Snow White cried, "Oh, can I cook and clean for you?!" after the dwarves begged her to stay. And how stupid IS Snow White? Three times the dwarves come marching home, singing their annoying, creepy songs, to find her keeled over. And the third time, they think she is dead, so they stick her in a glass coffin, in which she remains in perfect condition, until what seems to be a WHOLE YEAR LATER (what took them so long? HMM!) the prince and the hunter come alone, the prince wants to take Snow Whites body home so he can oggle it, the coffin falls down, and she WAKES UP! WOW! Aside from all this, the material is painfully stretched, with scenes with that obnoxious music blaring on in the background as various characters pace, do chores, stare off in space, eat, sleep, and march, scenes comtaning no meaningful context whatsoever. I loved the part when the dwarves "carried" Snow White inside, shouting, "Watch her head!" "This way!" "Okay, easy now" while the camera focused on another dwarf gathering water, so we couldn't SEE them doing all that hard work (since, um, they weren't). Another scene that should have been cut entirely! Oh well, I'm being reaaaal snotty. I want to see the German version but also am afraid to, for...well, you know.

AND WHAT WAS UP WITH THAT HOST?! AHHHHH! Scary!

In the 1980's, video brought dozens of "classic" fairy tales to video for children to "enjoy". Many of these came from the 1960's and originated in foreign countries. The most common countries of origin were Mexico, Germany, and Russia. Of the three, Mexico's contributions are the most unbelievably bad and Russia's are the most gorgeously filmed. Germany's fairy tale films fall somewhere in-between.

"Snow White" is long out-of-print on the Interglobal Video label. American distributors added narration and an introduction by Paul Tripp and new music and songs as well. None of the new elements helped the film, they, if anything, killed the film. The film is rather well-filmed; the colors have faded with age, but look nice. The sets are great and the exteriors are gorgeous; this is Germany, of course. I remember hating this movie when I was younger, but now that I've seen it again, it holds a special camp value. I bought it at a used video place for $4.50 and was worth every penny (not more). A few bad things: the dwarves are played by little children, the songs are wretched, and most of the acting is pathetic. But it is beautifully nostalgaic and for anyone who grew up in the 1960's, they will certainly remember being dropped off by busy parents at a theater to see this! Hard to find, but worth a look for camp/nostalgaic value.