Product Description

SNOW QUEEN-THE CLASSIC RUSSIAN TALE (DVD MOVIE)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37209 in DVD
• Brand: WESTLAKE ENTERTAINMENT INC
• Released on: 2004-10-01
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, Original recording remastered, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 74 minutes

Customer Reviews

I still have my beloved record album of this movie and both film and recording hold up after all these years
I recall being a child and listening to the record version, based on the movie. Actually, the record may have been the original movie, full length, put on a record. If it was edited and shortened, they certainly left in the best parts.

IMPORTANT INFO FOR POTENTIAL BUYERS: Several versions of this exist on VHS and/or DVD. The one you want is the one with Sandra Dee, Tommy Kirk and (as much as you may hate this part) the voice of Art Linkletter just before the movie starts. Why? Because that is the definitive version, the one you may recall from childhood if you are a Baby Boomer and the one that endures the test of time.

Not a typical Disney type of film, the movie and soundtrack contains all the basic plot outlines of The Snow Queen (two young children, a boy and girl fall in love until the evil Snow Queen hardens the heart of one) but it isn't overly prettified for children. I was absolutely entranced by both the film and music as a child and the clearly Russian flavor of the music, very romantic. Some of the animals have European accents. Patty McCormack (yes, the same child star who appeared in The Bad Seed) does a tour de force performance as Angel, the child torn between evil and good. Sandra Dee makes a fine Gerta.

When she sings the very lovely "Do What Your Heart is Feeling" I am still swept with nostalgia. It is a bittersweet song with lyrics that go, "Do what your heart is feeling...what is the point concealing...but do it while you're young...go after the one you love, he needs you..but do it, don't wait". Seeing these lyrics, stripped of musical background and put on the page, I realize how impossible it is to describe the plaintive quality of Sandra Dee's voice as she sings these words, the yearning and pain. I can only urge you to see the movie and catch the performances of her, Tommy Kirk, Patty McCormack and many others. The Snow Queen comes across as formidable as well, truly cold and heartless, never yielding. This isn't for very young children (or use your judgment about that).

This is a classic film but I am admittedly biased. I see it through waves of nostalgia and memories of kiddie matinees at the movie theatre, feet stuck to the floor (usually due to some candy tossed around by various children), entranced by the story of The Snow Queen.

Flawed US release of a Russian Animation Masterpiece
This is the Universal-International release of Soyuzmultfilm's classic with Art Linklater's awkward intro tagged onto the beginning. While the dark splicey PD print leaves much to be desired, this is what I saw in a kiddie matinee showing in the 60s. The production holds up wonderfully, and I find Frank Skinner's lush orchestral score preferable to the electronic keyboard variet used on the print used in PBS' version (also available on dvd) A decent no frills edition.

Overlooked Animated Classic.
I have only recently discovered this animated classic and this DVD provided me with my first viewing. Westlake Entertainment has put together a good DVD release of `The Snow Queen', with an animated menu and scene selection as well as a quality cover.

The quality of the transfer is not great. However, this is to be expected considering the treatment that the public domain print would have received over the decades. The majority of the film is very dark and grainy and the soundtrack jumps occasionally. This serves to severely date the picture, making it appear much older than it is. However, this should not detract from the beauty of this animated feature. It is still very enjoyable to watch and can be appreciated by both adults and children.

The live action introduction with Art Linkletter could be considered by today's standards to be overly corny, but I believe it serves as an interesting example that gives viewers a look at how children's entertainment was presented almost 50 years ago.

This is a remarkable movie, with exceptional animation, great vocal performances and a wonderful soundtrack. I could only imagine how beautiful it would look with proper restoration.