directed
by David Hand
USA 19
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the time-honored story of a
beautiful princess whose blossoming beauty disturbs her stepmother the Queen.
Each day the Queen asks a mysterious magic mirror the quintessential question:
"mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all." As long as the
mirror answers the Queen's name, all is well. However, when one day the mirror
replies with Snow White's name, the evil Queen begins her quest to kill the
young girl, so she may once again be "the fairest of them all." |
Posters
Theatrical Release: December 31st, 1937
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Walt Disney (Two-Disc) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Walt Disney - (3-disc Diamond Edition) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
(Walt Disney (2-disc SD-DVD) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Walt Disney - 3-disc Diamond Edition - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT)
DVD Box Covers |
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Distribution |
Walt Disney 2-disc Edition Region 1 - NTSC |
Walt Disney - 3-disc Diamond Edition - Region 'A' Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:23:03 | 1:23:11.236 |
Video |
1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 35,441,311,251 bytesFeature: 19,722,369,024 bytesVideo Bitrate: 24.07 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
Bitrate: DVD | ||
Bitrate: Blu-ray | ||
Audio | Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix - English (Dolby Digital 5.1), DUBs: French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1 Mono), Restored Original Mono Track (Dolby Digital 1.0) |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 3733 kbps 7.1 /
48 kHz / 3733 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509
kbps / 24-bit) |
Subtitles | English (SDH), French, Spanish, None | English SDH, English, French, Spanish, none NOTE: Subtitles available for the commentary as well! |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Walt Disney
1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 35,441,311,251 bytesFeature: 19,722,369,024 bytesVideo Bitrate: 24.07 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details:
Extras on
Blu-ray
Disc
1
Backstage Disney (Diamond Edition) Deleted Scenes • Soup eating Sequence (4:07)
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Bed Building Sequence (6:28)
Music and More
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Someday My Prince Will Come by Tiffany Thornton (3:33 in HD) Family Play (Games and Activities) BD-LIVE • Magic Mirror • What Do You See • Jewel Jumble • Scene Stealer Audio Commentary with Walt Disney (recorded from archival interviews over the course of three decades) Learn How To Take Your Favorite Movies On the Go (tutorial on Digital Copies) Has Restored Original Soundtrack + Screen saver settings under "Set-up".Extras on Blu-ray Disc 2: Backstage Disney (Diamond Edition) • Hyperion Studios (Family Business, Where It All Began etc.)(11:54)
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The One That Started It All
(17:08 in HD). Extras on included DVD Disc 3: Music and More • The Princess and the Frog Sneak Peek (7:48) • Someday My Prince Will Come by Tiffany Thornton (3:33) Classic DVD Bonus Features • Audio Commentary with Walt Disney (recorded from archival interviews over the course of three decades)
10 Sneak Peeks
Blu-ray
Release Date: October 6th, 2009 / The 2-disc DVD comes out
November 24th, 2009
Chapters |
Comments |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were ripped directly from the Blu-ray disc. Okay let's try to make some sense of all the versions that are coming out for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on Blu-ray. What we are reviewing will, presumably, be the most popular Blu-ray edition - the 3-disc Diamond Edition. It has 2 Blu-ray discs and one lone DVD. For those with deep pockets we have the Limited Edition Collector's Set [Blu-ray] HERE. It will include the same double Blu-rays + DVD set housed in a red box case with a hardcover book (The Making of a Masterpiece), stills, and lapel pins of the seven dwarfs. The Plush Gift Set HERE has the same discs and includes a small 'plush' of all seven dwarfs. The Collector's Book Set HERE is expected to include the Blu-ray + DVD version of the movie packaged with the same book offered in the Limited Edition. In the 'DVD packaging' edition HERE for about $1 more than the Diamond I'll assume you get the DVD in it's own packaging. Most assuredly all Blu-ray and DVD transfers included in the above will be the same. We are making an even broader assumption that the 2-disc DVD only package available November 24th, 2009 will be the same as the single DVD incorporated into the Blu-ray editions. It is this DVD we are using for comparison purposes. Whew! Firstly, someone must have heard my complaint about the excessive trailers prior to the Sleeping Beauty Blu-ray feature presentation - I think I counted nine (film and Blu-ray adverts). BUT here we are greeted only with a language option (English, French or Spanish) and then we see some Dumbo in Hi-def (Spring 2010), a The Frog and Princess advert and one for the next Tinkerbell flick (5.5 minutes in total) then... away we go! Bravo! NOTE: I focused far more on the Blu-ray in this comparison as technically I don't own the full 2-disc DVD only package yet. Right of the bat we get another option. DisneyView. As with the previously released Pinocchio we get the option of original 1.33 viewing OR having Disney artist Toby Bluth fill the black vertical bars at the sides of HD (1.78) TV frames with custom imagery. I like it - there are curtains for the beginning, trees for the sequences in the forest and similar side borders that don't change so frequently as to be intrusive. BUT they change frequently enough though so as not on incur burn-in on plasmas. This will be an option that is easy to embrace or reject fairly quickly. It's great to have the option. On the image: Being animation we typically don't notice humungous improvements in detail, although some exists. It is never at the same level as with advanced resolution in live action. What is most prominent in the Blu-ray over the SD-DVD image are the way colors are rendered and their comparative temperature, brightness (vibrancy) and/or smoothness in motion. They certainly seem more pure in 1080P without a hint of bleeding. This reinforces the tightness of the image and gives it the perception of superior detail - especially for larger screen viewers. The 'reds' of Snow White's lips or hair ribbon are one notable example. I suggest clicking on a few of the expandable Blu-ray captures to see the greater depth of the hi-def image quality. Colors aren't overly brilliant as we see so often nowadays - but certainly stand out, and they are strong and consistent - coming close to reporting real depth of field. Correspondingly the SD-DVD is a much flatter appearance. A good example of the differences comes right away with the opening credits (which, by the way, are pictureboxed on both transfers). Background walls are green-ish on the DVD and brown/grey on the Blu-ray. Browns themselves are more tan on the SD and earthy/rich through HD. Darker colors look more black on the older format and tend to look more deep purple on the Blu-ray, Whites (the Prince's teeth or the Huntsman's eyes) and gold's are much stronger on the Blu-ray. Lastly you get a smidgeon more information on all 4 edges on the 1080P rendering. Most of the benefit from increased resolution will be noticeable the larger your viewing area. Technically the feature disc is dual-layered taking up about 35.4 Gig of the 50 Gig space but the hour-23-minute feature itself covers only 19.7 Gig. The rest of the disc space is filled with the, mostly HD supplements. The restoration itself looks immaculate - there is not a speckle, smudge or inappropriate mark in the entire presentation. The Blu-ray DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 at a whopping 3733 kbps is not overly demonstrative so as to separate it from its more basic roots. However, the flatness is only notable when the lossless DTS kicks in with some deeper bass or subtle separations. This would be in the singing scenes or the ominous evil queen/ witch's activities. The are optional DUBs but both 3rd disc DVD and first disc Blu-ray give the option to choose the Restored Original Mono Track (Dolby Digital 1.0). Purists may opt for this but I like the occasional dynamic boost the of 7.1 mix. It's a very pronounced difference. All three discs offer optional English, French or Spanish subtitles and my Momitsu has identified the two Blu-rays as being a region 'A'-locked (The included dual-layered DVD is region 1 - NTSC).Technically the feature disc is dual-layered taking up about 35.4 Gig of the 50 Gig space but the hour-23-minute feature itself covers only 19.7 Gig. The rest of the disc space is filled with the extensive supplements.
The extras, listed in full above, are almost as overwhelming as they appear. I'll touch on a few because I didn't indulge in all the games etc. though have been informed of their content. The commentary meticulously pieced from archival interview audio of Walt Disney - over the course of some 30-years - is much cleaner and clearer than I would have anticipated. For the most part his voice is audible and it's quite amazing they were able to get some much relating to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I'd say its more nostalgic than informative but still worth a spin. We get two uncolored, quite rough deleted scenes. Hyperion Studios - is a virtual walk in 1937 through the Hyperion Studios (on Blu-ray 2). This “Backstage Disney” feature contains archival photos, never-before-heard animator recordings, archival transcripts and rare footage of Walt Disney. There are 4 'Family Games'- Magic Mirror takes us through the disc features. Although I didn't test - it supposedly will recognize viewing patterns, know where the audience has left off and might even suggest where to navigate next. Scene Stealer allows viewers to upload a personal photo and experience life as one of the Seven Dwarfs–on-screen in the actual film (chuckle). I didn't indulge but may do for a friend as a joke. What Do You See? is an interactive game, where you unscramble images. Disney Through the Decades is an interesting 35-minute look at highlights, trailers etc, from each decade of the company's entire impressive history. The Blu-ray also has an untested 'Disney' BD-LIVE.Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is about as 'family classic' as you can get. It looks and sounds better than ever before on Blu-ray. I don't think a package this extensive needs any encouragement from me. Rest assured it's a thorough as anything we've seen this year and may get some substantial talk at the DVD and Blu-ray of the Year voting. -Gary Tooze |
SD
Menus / Blu-ray Extras
Screen Captures
(Walt Disney (2-disc SD-DVD) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Walt Disney - 3-disc Diamond Edition - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
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(Walt Disney (2-disc SD-DVD) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Walt Disney - 3-disc Diamond Edition - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)
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(Walt Disney (2-disc SD-DVD) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Walt Disney - 3-disc Diamond Edition - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)
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(Walt Disney (2-disc SD-DVD) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Walt Disney - 3-disc Diamond Edition - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)
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(Walt Disney (2-disc SD-DVD) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Walt Disney - 3-disc Diamond Edition - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)
(Walt Disney (2-disc SD-DVD) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Walt Disney - 3-disc Diamond Edition - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)
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(Walt Disney (2-disc SD-DVD) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Walt Disney - 3-disc Diamond Edition - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)
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