The Miracle of Snow White

Snow White 1937 Poster

I remember the first time my family went to Disneyland. I was four years old but I still remember meeting some of the characters. My sister was two years old when we visited the park, and she loved getting to meet the Beast. She snuggled up to him and stroked his long fur. Meeting Snow White, however, was a terrifying experience. She cried and struggled to pull her hand away from my mom’s as we got closer and closer to the ever-smiling princess. I, on the other hand, loved getting to meet her and for years I treasured her note to me in my autograph book. “Berlyn, someday your prince will come. --Snow White.”

Snow White was the first full length animated film of all time, and during its production many thought that the project would fail. In fact, most of the movie business referred to this project as “Disney’s Folly.” There were several reasons for this. For one thing, the project was unbelievably costly, and at its conclusion the bills amounted to about $1.5 million, an unheard of amount for a project like this. Disney even had to mortgage his house, and while his wife (Lillian) and brother/business partner (Roy) did everything in their power to dissuade him, Walt continued on. If that wasn’t enough, it was also believed that the film would hold little interest with the public. Who would want to sit through an hour and a half cartoon, anyway? Ain’t nobody got time for that!

Making the movie was difficult. The storyline drastically changed several times and the focus on the characters was constantly in motion. I’ve heard so many people complain about how little the prince takes part in the storyline. Did you know that there were supposed to be scenes about his capture by the queen and his eventual escape? The focus of the story shifted, however, and the prince’s role was reduced to give more room for the queen and Snow White.

Even amidst all the struggles and disappointment, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was finally released on December 21, 1937. Unsurprisingly to us now, the film was an enor-mouse success and proved to be the key to a whole new genre of cartoon classics.

The impact that Snow White has had on modern culture is oftentimes grossly underestimated. I hear people constantly complain about how “weak of a character Snow White is” and how she’s “saved by the prince instead of being able to save herself.” If people stopped to think about the time period of the film’s production, the circumstances of its creation, and the monumental experimentation this film engages in, might we cut the princess a little slack?

Image Credit: public domain via Wikipedia "Snow White 1937 Poster"

Nationalism, Compassion and a Star-Spangled Tattoo: Wings

Isn't he just the funniest "German" you've ever seen?

Wings is a story, a film, about World War One, in a time before it was known that there would be a "World War Two". During that perilous time of conflict nationalistic ideologies were on the rise as anti-"blank" sentiments heated up, mostly due to the "monstrosities" each side was perpetuating in their propaganda. The American characters, both main and side, use deragatory terms to refer to the German forces, and steal trophies from their destroyed vehicles. It is in the midst of this hatred that the film's comic relief figure, Herman the German (played by El Brendel), is introduced. While not the focus of the film, it is Herman's personality and actions which help to truly show the positive aspects of what it means to be an American. Being of German descent and having a German name, Herman is looked down upon at best and physically assaulted at worst multiple times for being a percieved "spy" when trying to enter the armed forces. It's only when he can reveal his right bicep, which has a tattoo of the stars and stripes on it, that the others are convinced of his patriotism. Throughout the film he is the target of slapstick humor, constantly being punched and shoved, and in one of the film's more serious moments, gets kicked out of the Air Force. Despite all of this, he always gets back up, ready to take more if needed, and after losing his chance to become a pilot becomes a mechanic instead so that he would still be involved in the aviation program. His determination and "never-give-up" attitude help show the reader the core behind the American spirit, along with his willingless to always help others. In the last scene he is featured in, one of the most dark in the film, he discovers the lost good luck charm, a small teddy bear, that one of the protagonists drops before he goes off to fly. Running as if for his life, he only just barely misses the pilot as he flies off, but makes it in time to hand the teddy bear off to the second protagonist of the film, an item that becomes extremely important later on. His compassion and patience with others is easily seen in his interactions with the rest of the cast, and with his inclusion the film moves from a dreary drama of the horrors of war to having a sun beam of hope as the audience feels the beauty behind the American Dream.

Wings is a film that starts bright and cheerful and ends in sorrow, albeit with a spot of hope, and in this review I wanted to do the opposite. To be truthful, there is no character in this film that I would ever more want to be than Herman the German. Where others might look towards the resourceful and playful Jack, or the rich but humble friend David, or for the ladies the deterministic and stereotype subverting Mary, I see Herman as the best source for inspiration in this film. I wish I could have even a smidge of his patience and good nature as I go about my time here on Earth, and I hope that one day I can help another like he helps everyone he meets.

Image Credit: "El Brendel" obtained via Wikimedia Commons