The One That Started it All
Once upon a time, in Kansas City, MO, a 15-year-old boy named Walter “Walt” Elias Disney went to see the silent film Snow White (1916) for free at the Kansas City Convention Centre. 18 years later, in 1934, when Walt finally achieved his dream of having an animation studio, he announced to all of his staff that they were to begin work on their own version of the Snow White fairy tale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), and that it was to be a feature-length (90 minute) film instead of a 6-8 minute short like the cartoons the studio had been producing.
Disney’s staff was impressed but intimidated at the idea of making a 90 minute film, as was his brother Roy and wife Lillian, both of whom even tried to discourage Walt from making the film. In addition, the other filmmakers in Hollywood mockingly nicknamed the project “Disney’s Folly.” But Walt was determined to produce the film no matter the cost and no matter what anyone else thought. Throughout production of the film Walt suffered financial and artistic/creative difficulties-Disney thought that the film would cost $150,000 and $250,000, but it wound up costing $1,488,423. That cost led to the studio being on the verge of bankruptcy, as they had to hire more and more animators, inbetweeners, and voice actors, many of whom were also the voices of other classic Disney characters.
Pinto Colvig who voiced Grumpy, Sleepy, and provided the hiccup noises for Dopey in the film was also the voice of Goofy at the studio from 1932-1939 and then again from 1944-1965. He also voiced Pluto from 1931-1961 and Practical Pig in The Three Little Pigs (1933). Otis Harlan voiced Happy, and also voiced Mr. Mole in Bambi (1942). Billy Gilbert voiced Sneezy as well as Willie the Giant in Fun & Fancy Free (1947). (Gilbert was given the part of Sneezy by walking into Walt Disney’s office and sneezing five times and after each sneeze Walt said “You’ve got the job.)
Despite being on the verge of bankruptcy, Walt and his animators managed to receive a loan from the Bank of America to finish the film in time for it’s premiere at the Carthay Circle Theater in Los Angeles, California on December 21st, 1937, (its 80th anniversary is this December). To the surprise of everyone who worked on the film, as well as those who doubted it would even work, the film became an enormous success. It was well-received by audiences and critics alike, and even grossed $416 million dollars at the box-office! Its finances paved the way for Disney to produce Pinocchio three years later in 1940 and the groundbreaking technology of the film also served as the inspiration for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to produce The Wizard of Oz (1939). It temporarily was the highest-grossing motion picture in America at the time, being replaced in that rank by Gone With the Wind (1939) in 1940. Mickey Mouse was the foundation for Disney Animation-but “Snow White,” started its “film dynasty.”
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