Відео

I was so cringe back then haha

That's a fair critique. We've done episodes since this one and I do think we've gotten a little better in our analysis. I think it's impossible for me to comprehend just how transformative the film was in its own time because anyone my age has lived in its shadow generations thereafter. And there are, of course, major societal changes and storytelling preferences that change how this film may resonate for movie-watchers of today. In terms of the Disney "Golden Era," I am a much bigger fan of Pinocchio and even more so of Fantasia. Perhaps as a bigger and darker adventure story, Pinocchio is inherently more ambitious and extravagant, thus making it feel more modern, while Fantasia is so beautifully iconoclast that it has few peers even today. I realize it's not fair to judge Snow White even against THOSE films that came right afterwards, as the Disney crew had more experience under their belt, but I can't help but find them more refined as cinematic experiences. I would definitely be curious to hear your explanation of the Queen as a complex character, if you're willing to share it!

⁠@@PogieJoe I definitely agree that the films that followed improved on a technical level. Tho even the far less ambitious Dumbo has a very emotional story with wonderful themes. Snow White as film has one foot in the silent era. You could straight up shut the sound off and know exactly what’s going on. This makes sense since the film is very much an allegory for the Great Depression. Snow White as a character is more of a symbol. What audiences old and young should aspire to be. The Prince is her reward for surviving a murder attempt and befriending the Dwarfs. It’s hard for modern audiences to understand how adults in the 30s responded to the film but when you look at it from that perspective it helps. The Queen I could write about forever. Visually the character was made to symbolize the ultimate evil. Position of power, torture chamber/dungeon and black magic. All of this was borrowed from the horror films of the time, though the animation blew all of that out of the water. Walt was adamant about keeping her as evil as Snow White was good. The film is very religious in many ways. Big things happen and even the ending has Snow White seemingly going to Heaven. It’s definitely more profound than the original text. The Queen in her first form pretty much never changes her facial expression unless you count the scene where she is watching the Prince sing to Snow White. I think that’s amazing because you can tell every single thing she’s thinking without any dialogue. It was reported that Babbitt did enough drawings of her lips and eyes alone to wallpaper a house. The subtle animation speaks volumes when you contrast her with the Witch. Okay, here’s why I find the character interesting. On paper she’s as basic as basic gets. Walt liked how simple the plot of Snow White was because he could then infuse the story with visual subtext that I’m assuming viewers back then picked up on. Jealousy and vanity aren’t bad tho because of their simplicity. It’s a good starting point. The thing that makes The Queen so compelling is what’s done with her character to justify all that. The character from scene one is basically on a path of self destruction. If Snow is who Walt wants us to look up to then the Queen is who he hopes we won’t become. I’ve read the fairytale and the changes made I think were for the better. Instead of eating the heart she thinks is Snow White’s she decides to keep it in a box or possess what she can’t have. Instead of dressing up multiple times to kill Snow White she makes the ultimate sacrifice and strips all her beauty away. For the Queen the only thing that matters is looks. He mocks and underestimates Snow White’s strength coming from inner beauty. Both characters are looked upon by the world as beautiful but it’s how they use that beauty that separates them. Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1931) was a huge influence on the Queen’s character. The inner rot is now manifested outward. But now there is no need to hide behind the mask of beauty. We see her finally becoming uninhibited and more alive. It’s ironic how being so ugly in a way makes her more attractive. It’s also iconic how she thinks because she is now so ugly and old that Snow White will be fooled because no one that ugly could be all bad and yet Snow White trusts her out of kindness. Beauty is power to the Queen. Not kindness which is what Snow White gives and is rewarded for. The Queen scares everyone around her and is double crossed by the huntsman. So many themes haha. The Queen has a warped view. She thinks the Dwarfs will bury Snow alive and yet they don’t. They don’t disregard her after death like the Queen thinks. There’s a lot of visual death imagery that surrounds the Witch, including those vultures that end up eating her corpse. Again, opposite of the animals with Snow White. During the transformation it’s shown that the Queen can summon storms and after so much evil is done, metaphorically she does her self in. The Queen had parents complaining that she was too scary for their kids. Walt didn’t really dial back the scary factor in Pinocchio and Fantasia. What he did do was make the villains of those movies and all the films to follow less real. For as big as the Queen is we are all capable of going down the wrong path for silly reasons. Blinded and self destructive. When the Dwarfs chase her up the cliff there is that moment where she is away from her castle, guards and spell books. You kinda feel bad for her. Of course she goes out laughing but was it all worth it? That was ridiculously long. Sorry about that.

@@BadGuyRants Thanks for giving such a thoughtful reply. I appreciate your approach to understanding the film more through the lens of metaphor, folklore, and subtext. I really do feel as though it has helped me cherish Snow White more!

Why thank you!

Woah!!

He truly is and it was a great honor to interview him!

Thank you!

Incredibly awesome!

Indeed!

Haha My company works with him sometimes, so it was kind of him to take a moment to participate!

Aw that's great!

Thank you!

How nice! My dad still performs music at that retirement home and has had good experiences with them

@@PogieJoe Small world. Thank you for sharing. I'm glad to hear that. ❤😊

How kind! Thank you for the warm regards

I've seen images of that toy! That's a wonderful memory.

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you, Chris!

I believe it's a Sony Handycam CCD-TRV308 or something in that line. It's the one I used growing up!

Wow thank you so much for sticking around so long! I started growing my hair long at the beginning of pandemic and I haven't regretted it one bit haha

I'm honored to give you an experience such as that!

@@PogieJoe thank you again, kind regards, Sybren

That's a great song!

Me too!

Yes it's a #1 song

I appreciate that!

John is so wise. I think people can usually pick up when art is made in a very calculated way vs. from the heart!

@@PogieJoe Fantasia was DEFINITELY a movie made from the heart. Walt Disney wanted to push animation to its limits and it's unfortunate that the movie failed. I can only imagine what would have happened, had it been a success.

@@speedracer2008 Imaging a different universe where a successful Fantasia inspired ever-evolving ballet-like films and experimental animation to flourish is very satisfying to me.

Haha What a time!

I just heard it sampled the other day in a new pop song. It lives on and on!

@@PogieJoe it’s an era distilled into a song. Brilliant.

THANKS

Glad you found your way here!

@@PogieJoe Thank you i am happy to be here

It's the most fun part to sing!

Thankfully, it was a 20-year coupon and not 20-year fries.

Thank you kindly, fellow Joe!

haha I should have used that sound underneath

For sure! instagram.com/wooli.amigurumis?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

@@PogieJoe thanks! 🙏

I have quite a creative family.