Journal #3: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

It may surprise some of you that the Walt Disney film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs made the list of the top 100 greatest films, but once I provide you with information on how the film was made. The story originated from folk tales collected and published by The Brothers Grimm in the early 19th century. It is a tale of a young princess who finds herself on a desperate run to escape her evil stepmother who is determined to capture and kill her. On her venture to escape the wicked queen, Snow White comes across the seven dwarfs; Dopey, Sleepy, Grumpy, Happy, Bashful, Doc and Sneezy. In attempt to protect Snow White, the seven dwarfs allow her to stay with them in their cottage in the woods. When the queen finds out where she is hiding, she arrives in disguise with a poisenous apple that she feeds to Snow White that will put her asleep until she is later awoken by the kiss from her prince charming.


I decided to focus mainly on the topic of music for this particular film. I choose this because the music is so catchy and uplifting for the most part, yet dramatic and gloomy when need be. The music for the film was composed by Frank Churchill. Frank is well known for his musical scores for animated films, such as his selection for the film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. He got his inspiration from musician Franz Schubert whom composed over 200 songs. Frank began as a pre-med student at the University of California before he dropped out to begin his career as a musician. In 1930 he joined the Walt Disney Studios and scored over 65 animated shorts. One of Frank's biggest successes was the song "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" from The Three Little Pigs.


In the film, there is frequent diegetic sound incorperated into certain scenes. An example of which being when the dwarfs are working in the mine and they hit their hammers onto the rocks it makes a ding sound. This showing that the sound has a source in the story because it is being made by and object that is being used in the film. Coordinating rythym is also incorperated into the fim matching the visual and sonic rythyms of the action taking place in each scene. Overall, the music gives a playful touch to the film as whole, and adds to the youthfulness of the story.

A List of the songs composed by Frank Churhill in the film include:

• "One Song" sung by Harry Stockwell



• "Someday My Prince Will come" sung by Adriana Caselotti



• "I'm Wishing" sung by Adriana Caselotti



• "With a Smile and a Song" sung by Adriana Caselotti



• "Whistle While You Work" sung by Adriana Caselotti



• "Heigh Ho" sung by the seven dwarfs



• "Bluddle-uddle- um-dum" sung by the seven dwarfs



• "(Isn't This) A Silly Song" sung by Larry Morey