Guide Note

Released in 1937, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was Disney's first feature length animated film, and it is the only traditionally animated film on the American Film Institute's 100 Greatest American Movies list, ranking at #34.

Fast Facts

1. Based on the Brothers Grimm story Snow White
2. Budget: $1.5 million
3. Grossed approximately $184.9 million since its release
4. Although he never says a word, the dwarf Dopey's vocal effects were provided by the legendary Mel Blanc
5. The Queen is #10 on AFI's Top Villains list
6. First animated full length feature film
7. Songs: "Someday My Prince Will Come," "Heigh Ho," "Whistle While You Work"
8. More than 750 artists worked on the film
9. Rotten Tomatoes freshness rating: 100%
10. First film to be heavily merchandised at the same time
11. First film to have a soundtrack album released

The story involves a princess named Snow White, who is so beautiful her evil stepmother the Queen is enraged by jealousy. The Queen demands Snow White's death so she can remain "the fairest of the all." The huntsman who has been sent to kill the beautiful young princess can't bring himself to do it, and Snow White escapes into the woods. She comes across a cottage that is very dirty, and cleans it in the hopes that whoever lives there will let her stay. The cottage belongs to the seven dwarfs, who work in a mine. They let her stay, and warn her about the evil Queen. When the Queen discovers Snow White is not dead she transforms herself into an old hag and makes a poisoned apple that if bitten will cause Snow White to go into a state of "Sleeping Death." She goes to the cottage, onvinces the innocent Snow White to bite from the apple, then is chased to the edge of a cliff by the dwarfs, who have seen her treachery. The Queen's death does not save Snow White, who is enclosed in a glass coffin for a year until a prince, having heard of Snow White's plight, arrives and kisses her. The kiss of true love wakens her from her Sleeping Death.