Schneewittchen und die sieben Zwerge

I noticed this was part of a cheaply made film, "The 50 Worst Films of All Time." I was amazed they would include this one. It is artistically above average and the story, though quite frightening, was interesting. Obviously, what passed for special effects was lacking and the dwarves were quite weird. Still, I made it to the end and felt a personal connection to it. This is a foreign production and had a redo by some American musicians. It works as an alternative tale of the famous fairy tale.

Nice German version of the classic tale Snow White and the seven dwarfs. Released in German and later in English, with dubbed score and songs. The movie is pretty much like the original Disney fairytale although both characters and music lack of Disney's energy and grace. Prince charming is too bland and Snow white too simple but the film enriches with beautiful sets and scenery. And the queen is bad, but not repulsive. They could have taken more profit of the mirror and the first meeting between Snow white and the prince is rather decaffeinated. Songs are not enhancing as Disney's version are, but dwarfs's house and setting are nicely done. Although I missed some things like precious stones shown at dwarfs' mine and the final kiss (snowwhite awakes in a more prosaic way), the fact that no heart is given to the queen by hunter and there is no witch avoids the ugliest parts of the story. Part of a series of German filmed Fairytales made in the fifties and early sixties that also include The Sleeping Beauty and Snow white and Rose red.

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.

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.

There is so much corny stuff in this movie i couldn't help but laugh through out the film. A lot of it didn't make sense like the belt made her pass out and then the dwarfs return and loosen it and she's fine, and then the comb what was that about she sticks it in her hair and she falls over and the dwarfs take it out put her to bed and then she's fine and then the poisoned apple didn't kill her? the apple was stuck in her throat?and then when the coffin fell she spit it out and was fine that didn't make sense to me. the prince was in love with her and she was in love with him when did that happen? they didn't even know each other they only saw each other from a distance. and the dwarfs only sang one song that annoyed me so bad. snow white didn't speak very much, a lot of the scenes she barely spoke. another thing isn't there more to the story than just the queen killing her? that was the whole movie it needed more than that. but spite all of that i enjoyed laughing at it and seeing west Germany its beautiful there.

another thing isn't there more to the story than just the queen killing her? that was the whole moving it needed more than that.