1)
Relate what was discussed in
class or the text to the screening.
During
the thirties the film industry was still experiment with different new
technologies including color and sound.
In a short amount of time the film industry had changed a lot. From the time that The Gold Rush was released in 1924 to the time Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released in 1937 film had
undergone a complete change. There
was now color, sound and music.
Along
with other new technologies also came new ways to make movies like
animation. Many studios and
filmmakers were racing to be the first to advance their reputation in being the
pioneer in animation.
The
winner would turn out to be Walt Disney who debuted a now classic and iconic
character, Mickey Mouse, in the animated short Steamboat Willy. And throughout the decade of the thirties Mickey
would continue to make appearances but now with more color and sound. The
short, The Band Concert in 1935 was
the first animated short feature to be produced in color. This short would become one of Disney’s
most acclaimed animated features.
After many studios were producing animated shorts throughout the
thirties now came another competition.
Now
the race was on to see who can produce the first even full-length animated
feature. And in 1937 Walt Disney released the first ever full-length animated
feature with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The release was both a critically and commercial success.
And still today is a movie that audiences love to go see. With re-releases
still outselling new movies today.
2) Find a related article (on the film,
director, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, etc.) and summarize the content. You may use the library
or the Internet.
Snow
White and the Seven Dwarfs is still relevant in every child’s memory as it is a
childhood classic. In 2012 the
film celebrated its 75th anniversary and in the article “75th
anniversary of 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'” by Erin Johnston examines the
film in a history and cultural perspective. The article goes further to detail all the innovative and
major doors this film would open.
Johnston goes on to say that Snow White would “set the stage for Disney
innovation in a number of other ways” (Johnston, 2012). This would be the first instance in
which a film’s soundtrack would be released for purchase to the public
(Johnston, 2012). This was also
the first film to use a now common practice of using human actors performing
bodily movements and facial expressions as models to “recreate these portrayals
in animated production” (Johnston, 2012).
Snow
White’s historic premiere occurred on December 21, 1937. Tickets were sold for
$5 (in 1937 currency), which in today’s economy would be $79.94 (Johnston,
2012) so this was a big deal. And
even though a steep price “opening night was sold out” (Johnston, 2012) and
apparently had some very famous guests including Shirley Temple and Judy
Garland (Johnston, 2012).
Snow
White’s legacy can be seen even today, 75 years later. It has been considered
in charts of best movies of all time including AFI’s 100 years…100 Movies list
where it landed at the number 49 spot. And the Evil Queen takes the tenth worst
villain in the 100 Years…100 Heroes & Villains (Johnston, 2012).
3)
Apply the article to the film screened
in class. How did the article support or change the way you thought
about the film, director, content, etc.?
After
reading how innovation Snow White was really opened my eyes to the film. Growing up it was my least favorite of
the Disney childhood movies (The Little Mermaid, Lion King, Cinderella etc…)
and when I was doing my research on the movie after our lecture in class and
reading the text I didn’t realize how much of a big deal this movie was as the
first animated full-length movie. Not only that but it was the first animated
musical and the first movie to release a soundtrack for public purchase. When we were little we used to buy
soundtracks all the time, so it was interesting knowing where it all
started.
Also
this movie was really expensive to make.
It cost $1.4 million to create but the return was very favorable as it
made $8.5 million globally so it was money well spent. This movie was like one of the first
really big blockbusters for the film industry and Disney himself.
4)
Write a critical analysis of the film, including your
personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions,
text material and the article.
The
movie itself in my opinion kind of drags along and doesn’t get to the
plot. It wonders on through from
song to song without actually getting to a point. My favorite part of the movie deals with the dwarfs and when
they first return to their house and noticing something was wrong. That was a very enjoyable and likable
scene and the best in the movie.
From there it does not get interesting until the very end when the Evil
Queen begins her plotting. In my
opinion the sequence with the Evil Queen could have been extended but Disney
knew what he was doing.
Historically
the movie was a breaking ground film.
The first full-length animated film that was in color, had sound and
music. During the time this film was released many were trying to be the first to release a full-length animated film. The film industry was still going through a lot of change. It was still trying to figure things out with they new technology and new ways of making film that seemed to appear every year. Snow White was a movie that movie that
started it all. The film had music that captured our hearts and the music that would become a staple in animated films. Disney films are now known for not only their amazing and
fantasy story lines but also for their music. Almost every Disney animated movie has music and can be
easily recognized for its music.
Animated films have been in our childhood for generations and they will
continue to be, thank you to Walt Disney.
Snow
White and the Seven Dwarfs is a movie that although is over 75 years old it is
an all time classic that will keep children entertained for generations to
come. A movie that even if your
are young or old, one cannot be help but be captured by the music, storyline
and the dwarfs, especially Grumpy.
References:
CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM
1) (x ) I have not handed
in this assignment for any other class.
2) ( x) If I reused any
information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly
explain that in the paper.
3) ( x) If I used any passages word for
word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation
within the text.
4) ( x) I have not padded the bibliography. I have
used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.
5)
( x) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.
6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not
be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the
bibliography.
7) (x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the
paper lacks interpretation or originality.
8) (x ) I checked yes on
steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and
ideas used in my paper.
Name: _____________Juan Ortiz_________________________
Date: ____3/2/14______________
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