Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
"Hi-ho, hi-ho" and all that shit!
Seriously though, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is an exceptional piece of work, in fact a landmark of film, the first ever Walt Disney feature film and one that reflects cinema of the time.
Certainly there's a frivolity here with the adorable dwarfs and their comic pratfalls but it's all beautifully done and the delight of the animals cleaning the dwarfs woodland cottage is timeless. Yet for every scene of lightheartedness and song there's an underlying aura of German expressionism and horror whilst still keeping the fun levels at a peak.
The wicked Queen and her poisoned apple invoke the horrors of the eras darkest creations and bring a new colourful level of terror to 30's cinema.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs remains my favourite Disney film all these years later probably because it scares and remains fun without ever becoming twee.
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