Well, of course it’s the dwarfs’ cottage. We all know it’s the dwarfs’ cottage! Everyone except Snow White, it seems. “It looks like a doll’s house!” she exclaims as she and her animal friends skip merrily up to the front door. All it takes is one look at the front for her to decide that she likes it. Remember, folks; when it comes to real estate, curb appeal is essential. It’s too dark to see inside, though, so the full extent of the damage doesn’t reveal itself until she opens the door.
"Oh!" she exclaims upon seeing something in the corner which makes the animals flee back outside. Must be a Hannah Montana wig. No, it’s just a chair. A little chair, to be exact, and there are six others. "Must be seven little children," Snow decides. "And from the looks of this table, seven untidy little children!"
That is what we call an understatement. There’s a pickax embedded in the table with a sock hanging from the handle, a shoe in the pot, a dusty fireplace, cobwebs in every corner (not to mention all around the broom), and the sink is piled high with dishes. One thing I couldn’t help but notice is that Snow comments on the pickax and somehow isn’t clued in that these may not be kids. So either she’s hopelessly naive, or medieval children in the wonderful world of Disney were allowed to have pickaxes. Or maybe both.
Snow quickly comes to the conclusion that the children are orphans who have never known cleanliness, and that they just might let her stay if she cleans the house for them. It’s going to be a big job, though, so she’ll need to use her new slave labor…I mean, her new forest buddies. That’s right it’s time to “Whistle While You Work!”
I’ve heard several people go after Snow for her singing style, but I think she sounds pretty good in this particular number. If only the animals could be taught about effectiveness. They try licking the plates clean, sweeping dust under the rug and so on. It takes a little while for them to catch on, but they quickly get the job done once they do. They even branch out into dry cleaning!
This is the first part of the movie that I’d describe as “whimsical.” The song is nice enough and the ways in which the animals’ movements match the music is clever, but those with a low cuteness tolerance would say it goes on for too long. I’m inclined to agree with them.
Never fear, for the screen soon fades to black. Now it’s time to get to the real meat of our flick! This movie’s called Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs, but it’s been about twenty minutes and we haven’t even seen one. Where on earth could they be?
Let’s see, these blokes who are in earth should do nicely.
When we first meet them, the dwarfs are hard at work in their mine. They liven up the place by singing about how rich they are due to the thousands of diamonds and rubies they’ve dug up. “Though we don’t know what we dig ‘em for, we dig-dig-dig-a-dig-dig!” Ah, so they have crow blood in their family tree. Nevertheless, all seven of them are happy to be digging. Well, six. Well, five. Doc checks the authenticity and Dopey just goofs off.
The clock soon strikes five, and it’s time for one of the moments we’ve all been waiting for. “Heigh ho!” Doc calls to his friends, who respond with one of their own. Then they hoist their axes over their shoulder, (try to) lock their findings in their vault and head on home to the tune of one of the most simplistic yet catchy numbers ever devised. Too bad it’s so short. Dopey brings up the rear as they cross a log bridge, and we fade out.
Later that night, Snow is taking a candle and leading her animals upstairs. There they find the dwarfs’ beds, carved with their names: Doc, Happy, Sneezy, Dopey, Grumpy, Bashful and Sleepy. “What funny names for children!” the little hypocrite declares. She finds Sleepy’s name especially ironic, as she’s feeling rather sleepy herself. She prostrates herself on three of the beds and is down for the count, while the animals commandeer the rest of them. It doesn’t last long, though, as the dwarfs are rather loud with their heigh ho-ing. The animals hear them first and do what any loyal friends would do; ditch Snow and run away comedically.
As the dwarfs approach their house, they immediately notice that it looks cozier than normal and are quite disturbed. “The lit’s light!” Doc exclaims. “Uh, the light’s lit!”
If you didn’t find that funny, then I have nothing to tell you other than brace yourself.
So the dwarfs enter the house and turn into the Seven Stooges. While marveling about how clean their place is, they can’t help but trip over each other, argue, wave flowers in Sneezy’s face and nearly bring on an explosion, tie his beard around his nose, etc.
I know this was made during a time when almost all previous animation was short cartoons where this kind of stuff made up most of the events, but I don’t care. This is the first part in the movie that I just don’t feel. The plot has pretty much come to a standstill, and the comedy isn’t strong enough to make up for it. Those three little bluebirds in the rafters seem to think it’s funny, though. First they tap on the wood to get the dwarfs even more scared, then they screech to send them scattering and hiding.
I need a break from this. Good thing we’re at the half-hour point. See you in Part 3!
