Caroline, Snow White & the Seven Dwarves (Disney)

When doing a remake, I typically recommend staying close to the original. In the case of Snow White & the Seven Dwarves, however, Disney didn't stray far enough. Although there is less attempted homicide than in the Grimms' version, the movie is similar to the literary fairy tale in that it revolves around misogyny, motifs and ideas too dark for children, and conflicting messages about Stranger Danger - it's okay to live with seven strange men but don't take anything from old ladies you don't know! In general, I think the movie does the literary version justice; the changes Disney made to the plot, in my opinion, don't alter the story's overarching themes or messages.

Perhaps the biggest change Disney made to the literary tale of Snow White that we discussed in class is his introduction of the prince at the beginning of the movie. While Disney's intent may have been inserting himself into his work, I actually appreciate the change. Introducing Snow White to the prince at the beginning provides at least some rationale for him kissing her at the end. It would have been nice if Snow White had shown interest in the prince and returned his flirting because that could have at least implied some consent to be kissed (but only kinda not really) later. But, if the prince is going to kiss a dead Snow White, I would like to think that he knew who she was and liked her when she was alive.

Other changes Disney made to the plot like the Queen only attempting to kill Snow White once or making Snow White older don't undermine the Grimm Brothers and their original intent behind the fairy tale. Snow White is still saved by a man in every near-death experience. She is also perfectly domesticated and subservient to men - possibly even more so than in the literary version. Although Snow White doesn't every lose her sense of innocence and purity in the movie by ordering the Queen to dance to death in hot iron shoes, women are still portrayed as vain and jealous. The dwarves are still entirely harmless and infatuated with Snow White in a platonic kind of way. 

I wouldn’t like to call this blog a defense of Disney and his retelling of Snow White – I find it problematic for all the same (many) reasons I find the literary version problematic – but I’m willing to give him some credit in this instance. While watching it, I can see with the shimmering of the minerals in the mine and ripples of water in the well that the movie was indeed all about the technology for him. I really don’t think Disney set out purposefully retell Snow White with his values and beliefs while erasing the Grimms’touch. Like all creators, I do think he let his biases and obsessions influence him to some degree when crafting the plot. But, at the end of the day Snow White represents the domesticated object that both the Grimms and Disney envision women to be in both versions of the story.