WALT DISNEY’S BEST

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22592, 23 December 1938, Page 5

WALT DISNEY’S BEST

Of all the entertainment that the films have provided none has given greater pleasure than the work of Walt Disney. His animated figures, at first in\ plain black and white, and silent. gained voices with the coming of the talkies, and blossomed out into colour. His creations have won *more enthusiasts than the most ambitious dramatic productions of the studios, and Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Pluto, and the others are popular stars the world over, better known than any flesh and blood stars.

Now comes Walt Disney's first full feature length film, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” which is the Christmas attraction at the State. A preview yesterday revealed that this is no mere extended "Silly Symphony.” "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” is most delightful entertainment in its own right as a feature film dealing with one of those folk tales which are perennially interesting. Before the film has been under way very long everybody forgets that its characters are not living actors, for the story has an imaginative grip and commanding interest of a quality that is rarely met with. It is, in fact, an advantage that its characters are creations of the artist’s pen, for by this means they ar.e made capable of originality that would otherwise be impossible. It is not easy to define the things by which “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” captures the imagination. It

“Snow Wliite and the Seven Dwarfs’’

is both tender and comic, with Jffl essentially dramatic story presented in a way that conveys just the right kind of fairy-tale atmosphere, bat it never lapses into sloppy softness. Its colour is always pleasant, and everv scene has an unusual beautv.

But the thing that makes it really outstanding and accounts for its enthusiastic reception wherever it has been shown, is the inimitable Walt Disney touch—that quality of fantasy, achieved by a really orginal imagination. which has made every one of his works a thing not to be missed. It might have been expected that a full length feature in his medium would prove boring merely because of its length, but "Snow White" is never tedious, it is fascinating to the last. Favourites among the characters of the film will vary with each person who sees it. Snow White herself is pleasantly conceived, but the dwarfs are likely to bo most popular. From Doc. their leader, to Grumpy, who is determined not jo have any womskn messing up their way of life, and Dopey, who can never do anything right, they are all thoroughly likeable, and each of them has his own clearly defined characteristic ways. The Witch Queen, who persecutes 'Snow White, is a brilliant achievement, and the scenes showing her brewing of the spell are admirably done. And always there are the friendly animals, which are among the very best of Walt Disney's achievement. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” is a film that should not be missed by anybody, whether they are eight years old or 80.'