The MoFo Top 100 Musicals Countdown

I've seen both. I respect Snow White but don't actually like it. I liked Phantom of the Paradise but not enough to vote for it.

Okay, cool, here are two more of mine. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was my #16. The first and still among the best of Disney's animated features. Phantom of the Paradise is pretty nuts which is like red meat for me--flawed but plenty of fun, fun enough to make my list at #21.

Phantom of the Paradise is the highest placed film I haven't seen yet. I keep meaning to get round to it.

Not a big fan of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as far as story goes, but it is indeed gorgeously animated and some of the songs are catchy. I have a review written that I might post in here later, but the gist of it is that my adult self wanted a bit more meat in the story. That said, I know I need to reconcile that with the fact that this is, first, a 90+ year old film and, second, primarily aimed to children. So I'll post my review but I think it might be up for reevaluation.

I haven't seen Phantom of the Paradise.


SEEN: 19/64
MY BALLOT: 7/25

Jealousy and envy are two emotions that many of us feel, but usually refuse to admit it. It can drive us from denial to fear and anger in no time. In the worst cases, jealousy can even drive people to murder. That is the backdrop behind Disney's first animated feature film, but obviously, catered for children with a simple, black-and-white approach.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs follows the titular princess (Adriana Caselotti), who happens to be mistreated by her stepmother, the Queen (Lucille La Verne), because of her beauty. When her Magic Mirror (Moroni Olsen) reveals to the Queen that she finally isn't the "fairest" in the land, the Queen decides to take things to the last consequences by ordering a huntsman to kill her. Luckily for Snow White, the Huntsman does have a conscience and decides to let her go, forcing her to seek shelter deep in the forest with seven dwarfs.

Anyway, we all know the story, but regardless, I don't remember seeing this whole in my life. Putting it in the context of the times, one can see why the film was groundbreaking, in terms of animation and blowing up a simple story into a full feature film for kids, which was a genius strategy from Disney that we all know paid off. But taking all that aside, the film was quite underwhelming, particularly for an adult. The story is thin, and stretched out to the point of tediousness, and there is literally no depth to the characters.

On the plus side, the voice performances are quite good. Caselotti is competent and serviceable, but La Verne is pretty good. Most of the actors voicing the dwarfs are also pretty good and manage to somewhat keep things afloat during the long stretch of the middle act. Also, the songs are fun and enjoyable. Finally, the animation is top-notch, with the peak moments being in the first act when Snow White flees into the forest, and the last act when the dwarfs chase the Queen up the mountain.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs happens to be an interesting and worthy watch for any cinephile, but as far as entertainment goes, there are many that are more fair than thee.

Grade:

I've actually watched both of these even though it's been years and years. Probably decades for Snow White. Neither were on my ballot though.

I haven't watched Snow White since I was a little kid. I'll always remember it as the musical that plays in Gremlins.

As far the other movie, I haven't see it. Although I will say, from this point on I'm going to be wondering... OK, this is a film that ranks higher than An American in Paris?

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I voted for both of these. Snow White reinvented the animation department, so even though I don't eatch it often, I hold a special place for it. Phantom of the Paradise just barely made my ballot. I watched it right before I submitted it. The story's good, but the style's amazing.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was #17 on the MoFo Top 100 of the 1930s and #31 on the MoFo Top 100 Animated Films.

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The Altman was my #8 and Snow White was my #2

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HEI guys.

Reading the reviews, Snow White seems to have had an even bigger impact at the time than Wizard of Oz, Gone With the Wind and Adventures of Robin Hood. It seems to have been in that bracket anyway.

I like Snow White. It's the first movie I ever saw in theaters

It's the first movie I ever saw, period. It's opening titles are among my earliest visual memories.