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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 5; suggested age 5.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Animated classic is enchanting but also scary.

Themes in this movie include:   family relationships, friendship, gender issues, growing up, revenge
updated 09.08.09

Why We Rated This on for Ages 5 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an overtly educational film, except for the message that one should never harm the innocent, even when ordered to, like the huntsman.
  • Messages:

    Not a message-filled movie, but the huntsman makes an ethical choice to disregard the evil Queen's immoral command that he kill Snow White. He shows mercy instead. Snow White never complains about her lot and finds the good in even dire circumstances. The dwarfs band together to defend Snow White.
  • Role models:

    Although Snow White is a passive female heroine -- the classic damsel in distress who dreams of being rescued by her prince -- she is also a paragon of generosity and selflessness. Snow White doesn't shun the dwarfs once she realizes the little house belongs to them instead of orphans. She is sweet, loving, nurturing, and trusting, albeit naive and gullible. The dwarfs are also brave, as they follow the Old Hag after they realize she has hurt Snow White. Obviously, the Wicked Queen is an example of bloodthirsty greed and hubris.

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    There are a few possibly disturbing scenes, especially any scene including the Wicked Queen. The Queen threatens and orders the huntsman to kill Snow White and return with her heart in a box. The huntsman raises a knife, and Snow White shrieks in terror. As Snow White flees, the enchanted forest becomes increasingly scary. Menacing vultures follow the Queen after she transforms into a creepy old hag. After Snow White faints into her "sleeping death," the dwarves arm themselves with their mining tools and follow the Queen, who eventually falls to her death.
  • Sexy stuff:

    The prince kisses Snow White, and the songs are mostly of a romantic nature.
  • Language:

    As has been noted by various film scholars and sociologists, the usually overlooked first word of the movie is "Slave!" as the Wicked Queen summons her slave in the "Magic Mirror."
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was written by Nell Minow

Parents need to know that Disney's first animated film does contain a few scenes that might frighten young preschoolers. The scenes with the wicked queen are especially creepy, as are the parts when Snow White runs through the frighteningly enchanted forest, bites the poisoned apple, and when the Queen turns into the old hag. While the violence is far from bloody, the queen does order the huntsman to kill Snow White and bring back her heart. As is to be expected in a film made in 1937, Snow White is a passive damsel in distress who needs to be rescued by her true love, the prince.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about how characters like Snow White might be different if they were created today, and what elements of the story make it a classic fairy tale.  
  • How is the violence in Snow White different than the violence in other Disney movies?
  • Snow White is a traditional damsel in distress. How have depictions of princesses and heroines changed since 1937?
  • Why is the Queen jealous of Snow White? Why is being beautiful so important to her?
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More on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

What’s the Story?

SNOW WHITE, the first feature-length animated film in movie history, is the original Disney Princess. In a far off kingdom, a wicked Queen (voiced by Lucille LaVerne) is so evil she forces her lovely step-daughter Snow White (Adriana Caselotti) to work as a servant. Obsessively vain, the Queen is only happy when her slave in a magic mirror tells her she's "the fairest one of all." On the fateful day the magic mirror informs her that Snow White is the fairest, the jealous Queen orders a huntsman to kill Snow White and return with her heart. Instead, the huntsman instructs Snow White to flee, and he takes the Queen a pig's heart. Eventually forest animals direct Snow White to a small cottage -- the home of seven dwarfs who become her little friends and protectors. The Queen's mirror, however, knows Snow White is still alive and the fairest, so the Queen will stop at nothing to get rid of her beautiful rival.

Is It Any Good?

Although Snow White may not be as brave as Mulan, as intelligent as Belle, or as talented as Ariel, she is, like Cinderella after her, the sweetest among the Disney Princesses. Girls nowadays like their princesses and movie idols with a little edge, but considering Snow White was made in 1937, it's still a timeless tale, chock-full of the key ingredients to Disney's recipe for success: romance, mystery, mild peril, and music (more than 70 years later, people can still sing along to "Some Day My Prince Will Come") .

Snow White has it all, and it's a testament to the original Walt Disney animators that the traditional, hand-drawn animation can still evoke so much terror (the bulging eyes that creep out of the enchanted forest, or the menacing look of the two vultures), pathos (the sight of Snow White's outstretched hand after eating the apple) and tenderness (the dwarfs mourning Snow White's apparent death). Seven decades have passed, and this original wicked Queen is still the scariest of the Disney villains, and Snow White quite possibly the fairest of them all.

Movie Details

Studio: Disney, Director: David Hand
Run time: 84 minutes
Theatrical release: 2/4/1938, DVD release: 10/6/2009
MPAA Rating: G

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

    Involving story and characters. Vibrant art. Memorable songs. Set the animation standard for decades to come.

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 8
    Lives in Oklahoma
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    this was the first disney movie ever made! thats why i like this movie.

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 4.0

    Outdated in spots, for sure, but this set the standard for animation, and for that it must be respected and embraced.

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title off for age 4 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    NOT FOR LITTLE ONES

    Even though your little girl or possibly boy may want to see this mvoie if they are 4 or under DON"T let them. This movie is much to scary and creepy for someone there age so just wait till there 5 it will be age apropreat then.

  5. I rate this title off for age 4 and give it 4.0

    great just not totilers

    scary and to much romance but it is probably ok for five year olds to watch.

  6. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

    Great flick!

    A Disney classic at its best, SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS is still enchanting after all these years. Albeit mildly scary, this movie stills warms my heart and everyone who watches it.

  7. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

    fantasy

    a great family time winner

  8. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 4.0

    A classic, but a bit scary for sensitive kids

    I remember being frightened by the Evil Queen in "Snow White" as a girl. But when my then three-year-old begged to watch it, I agreed to let her watch this classic Disney movie. Like me, she was frightened by the scene where the huntsman is supposed to kill Snow White, and had a nightmare about the Evil Queen. She even had to put the video in the freezer before she could sleep that night! However, when my second daughter,who is MUCH less sensitive, saw it, she loved it and was enchanted by the story. She was only 2, and soon after we went to Disneyland. When she saw the Evil Queen standing by the castle, she ran to her sister, then 4, and told her, "Cover your eyes! Evil Queen too scary for you!" and then hugged the character and told her she loved her. The moral? You know your child. Make decisions accordingly. My oldest was afraid of King Triton, Maleficent, Jafar, Santa, Ronald McDonald. My youngest is afraid of nothing.

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

    daddy long legs 11 years old!!

    tis is one of my favorite movies a must see for any age!!

  10. Parent Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title off for age 0 and give it 0.0

  11. Parent Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

  12. Parent Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 4.0

  13. Parent Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title off for age 0 and give it 2.0

  14. Parent Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

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