Snow White vs Cinderella

[Jay]

Which film do you prefer?

[ProfessorRatigan]

Sigh. I had typed a big, long wall of text explaining my choice, but the damn site logged me out automatically because I took too long to post it. So I'm just going to be lazy.

Snow White.

[Disney_freak]

I personally think that Cinderella is the better of the two, the music is much better in Cinderella, and the animation is astounding. I will say however that Snow White's story may have a bit more construction out of the two.

[dollover]

Cinderella, because the title character had a more realistic personality, a sense of humor, a better voice, and just seemed more warm and human in general. I loved Snow White too though, the colors in that movie were glorious and rich. The villains were equally wicked and menacing to me.

[Magic.Mirror]

this is the Hardest thing ever !!

i cant choose really
both of them are my top Disney Movie of all and for me they r at the same Level

[Saturius2000]

Snow White. Both had paper thin stories but I don't think I've ever seen a story as thinly stretched as Cinderella. All that padding with the mice was just ridiculous. The dwarf antics and padding was more tolerable and I tend to forgive it more since it was Disney's first big animated film, and thus was assuredly a learning process. But by Cinderella there was no excuse to have such an anemic story. Plus, I find Snow White just generally more charming. I only like two parts in Cinderella. The Fairy Godmother scene, and the scene where she dances with the Prince. The dance scene was just very ethereal and romantic, and the art style looked gorgeous there. But I don't like any other parts of the movie. The rest is dull and boring. Snow White doesn't have any where near as many dead spots for me.

[Disney's Divinity]

Cinderella.

Character-wise, I prefer Cinderella to Snow White (although I do like SW, for being the embodiment of naiveté), and Lady Tremaine to the Queen (who I honestly don’t like at all). While neither character is very developed, Cinderella seems to be more than just an idea, whereas SW is hard to take seriously at all. Tremaine and the Queen are fairly different from one another (realistic v. magical), and I do think both villains are the highlights of each film, but the Queen is unsatisfying for me, personally; I do like her Hag disguise, although it’s a bit too comical/overdone. Whereas everything the Queen thinks comes out of her mouth, Tremaine is more entertaining to watch her gears working. Ilene Woods and Eleanor Audley also give superior performances. The Dwarfs are more defined and less superfluous than the mice in Cinderella, but I personally have never liked the dwarfs. I just find the each-character-is-defined-by-one-action idea annoying. I have never had much love for the Snow White tale anyway, but are the dwarfs like that in the original tale? To be completely honest, the Huntsman is the only worthwhile character in SW for me, and he’s only in one scene. I enjoy the Duke, the King, and Lucifer in Cinderella. The only character I don’t like, really, is the Fairy Godmother, who I find vaguely annoying and condescending.

Cinderella’s designs/backgrounds are more interesting to me; I find Cinderella to be very beautiful, while SW is not so at all (except in demeanor, which could’ve been the meaning behind “Fairest of them all”), and Lady Tremaine is very regal in a way I don’t find the Queen to be. Tbh, I don’t like the Queen’s design. The crown is nice, as is the coloring, but the whole thing is too cumbersome and overdramatic (which only serves to make her facial expressions/dialogue even more over-the-top than they already are--might go with the time this film was made, I guess, when villains were often like this), so that she is not attractive to me like she should be. And I know it’s one of the very first animated features, but the Queen looks different to me in every scene she’s in, unlike SW or the dwarfs. I do love the Magic Mirror, however.

I prefer the music in Snow White to that of Cinderella. “One Song” is one of my favorite Disney love songs, and all the other songs are catchy or memorable in some way or another. Cinderella has “Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo,” but even that is more carried by the most exciting scene in the film, although I prefer Ilene Woods’ voice by a large margin.

[DisneyFan09]

Snow White. Both had paper thin stories but I don't think I've ever seen a story as thinly stretched as Cinderella. All that padding with the mice was just ridiculous. The dwarf antics and padding was more tolerable and I tend to forgive it more since it was Disney's first big animated film, and thus was assuredly a learning process. But by Cinderella there was no excuse to have such an anemic story. Plus, I find Snow White just generally more charming. I only like two parts in Cinderella. The Fairy Godmother scene, and the scene where she dances with the Prince. The dance scene was just very ethereal and romantic, and the art style looked gorgeous there. But I don't like any other parts of the movie. The rest is dull and boring. Snow White doesn't have any where near as many dead spots for me.

I couldn't said it better myself! Well said!

While I don't hate "Cinderella", I think it's the weakest of Walt's Princess movies. As you said, the story is thinly stretched, but the filler is so obvious that it's cringeworthy. While the dwarfs were at least likeable, Gus (who has the most screentime of the mice) is so stupid that you can't help feeling sorry for him. Besides, the film is showering the moral down the throat to its audience by using stereotypes.

I do like some parts of "Cinderella" and those are the "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" and "Sing Sweet Nightengale". Cinderella is a fine heroine, but the rest of the movie doesn't do much for me.

I think "Snow White" is a better executed film in many ways. The music is better, the characters are more likeable and the pacing is better. While both movies are products of their times, I think "Snow White" is more solid.

[DancingCrab]

Snow White is the easy choice for me. Cinderella is my least favorite "Princess" film in the Disney canon.

[Wonderlicious]

The Dwarfs are more defined and less superfluous than the mice in Cinderella, but I personally have never liked the dwarfs. I just find the each-character-is-defined-by-one-action idea annoying. I have never had much love for the Snow White tale anyway, but are the dwarfs like that in the original tale?

The dwarfs being brought to the forefront of the story is essentially a complete invention of Disney. Indeed, I believe it was the first version of the fairy tale to emphasise the role of the dwarfs in as much as to let them share the title with the heroine. Though their role is relatively important within the Grimm original, they have hardly any development, and are essentially the same character multiplied by seven.

[Disney Duster]

Cinderella is the film I prefer, but I have to admit Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is probably the better film. It's hard for me to choose, because they are both thinly stretched and padded, but the padding of the mice does feel too obvious as has been said. Cinderella has a better personality than Snow White, and is prettier to boot, but there's something about Snow White dying and how kind she was before that that resonates. The backgrounds are usually more interesting than those in Cinderella. The story of Snow White developing a relationship with the dwarfs and being so kind, then dying, then getting saved, feels like a greater one than Cinderella getting helped by mice to marry the prince.

But of course, Cinderella is more magical and enchanting to me. Cinderella graces the audience with charm and warmth, the mice entertain, Lady Tremaine intrigues, the Fairy Godmother seduces, and the King and stepsisters and Lucifer make laughs. The art shines and swirls and is filled with shaded clouds and plush rooms and tall gleaming spires. There's something about the castle floating in the clouds that kind Cinderella reaches in flowing, sparkling assistance.

ProfessorRatigan, I'm curious to know any that you can remember that you were going to say. And what did you mean DisneyFan09 by saying "the film is showering the moral down the throat to its audience by using stereotypes"?

[ProfessorRatigan]

It was basically just my in depth thoughts on each film...

Snow White is one that I feel is perfectly paced, while Cinderella has some pacing issues. Both aren't the best animated of the bunch, (Snow White has a stiffness to a lot of it, whereas Cinderella just has some pretty boring designs), musically, I prefer Snow White immensely. The only songs in Cinderella I can even remember are Bippity-Boppity-Boo and the Work Song. Character-wise, I think the Dwarfs are MUCH more endearing than the mice, and work much better because we emotionally identify with them. (Grumpy especially.) The Queen and Lady Tremaine are both two of Disney's best villains, but I prefer the Queen more. She's more a theatrical villain, whereas Lady Tremaine is subtle and icy. Both work VERY well in their films, so, it really just comes down to preference. I will say, though, that the Queen is more menacing. The Stepsisters and Lucifer are a lot of fun. The mice are somewhat cloying, the Princes in both films are cardboard, but at least Snow White's prince actually SHOWED UP for her. And Snow White and Cinderella themselves are your typical, boring sweet princess types. However, Snow White had the benefit of being first, therefore, it's more easy to forgive Walt on Snow White than it is Cinderella because by the time Cinderella entered production, (what was that, 1947 or so?) he should have been better at creating a more interesting, dynamic leading character. Both are bland and kind of milquetoast.

I don't get emotionally involved in Cinderella nearly as much as I do in Snow White. Snow White never fails to make me cry (the funeral scene), to give me chills (the Queen's transformation), to make me laugh ("What are wicked wiles?" "-I dunno, BUT I'm A'GIN' 'UM!" ), to leave me on the edge of my seat (the Apple scene). In Cinderella...I like the dress tearing scene, the entire sequence of the mice trying to get the key up the stairs and pretty much anything to do with Lucifer.

So Snow White wins.

I will say, though, that Cinderella is a VERY good film. For some reason, I always forget just how good it is until I watch it again and am reminded.

[Disney's Divinity]

(the Apple scene)

That's my favorite scene in Snow White; love watching the Queen/Hag's face.

The dwarfs being brought to the forefront of the story is essentially a complete invention of Disney. Indeed, I believe it was the first version of the fairy tale to emphasise the role of the dwarfs in as much as to let them share the title with the heroine. Though their role is relatively important within the Grimm original, they have hardly any development, and are essentially the same character multiplied by seven.

Interesting. So the dwarfs in the tale are similar to the dwarves in The Hobbit, with very little differentiating one character from the others.

[Disney Duster]

Thanks for answering ProfessorRatigan. Nice to know your thoughts. You have a lot of good points. And for some reason a lot of people have said they forget how good Cinderella is until they've watched it recently.

[Dr Frankenollie]

And for some reason a lot of people have said they forget how good Cinderella is until they've watched it recently.

That happened with me, to some extent. Before I watched it somewhat recently, I considered it one of my least favourite Walt-era features. Now I love it. I suppose people forget it's quality largely because of the Mice, who - despite being incredibly annoying (at least to me) leave a not-too-forgettable mark on the film, an indelible kind of stain that makes people think of the superfluous cat-and-mouse scenes before the stronger character moments between Tremaine and Cinderella. It's a shame, because the movie is, in terms of characterisation, a much stronger and more mature film than both Snow White & Sleeping Beauty, yet frequently seems to be dismissed as overtly bland. It's certainly bland in its messages and themes, but...when isn't Disney bland in the lessons it teaches? The animation is rather inferior to the other princess films, yet it should still be admired and appreciated, because the look of the film is fabulous. The human character designs are stiff and the colouring rarely varies, yet the animal animation is terrific and there are the usual moments of ingenious, masterful animation that can be spotted in most DACs (the bubbles scene, the ballroom dance). So it deserves a better reputation than it has received.

However, I have to favour Snow White. Better character designs all round (Tremaine is a more subtle villainess than the Queen, yet the latter is a bit scarier and has a far more creative, interesting appearance), better animation and direction (just look at the flight through the forest sequence! Also, I would argue that the bubbles sequence with Cinderella is an attempt to replicate the magical shot in "I'm Wishing" at the bottom of the well), better characters (Cinderella has the titular heroine herself and the antagonist, BUT other than that, I couldn't care less about the characters. Conversely, Snow White has the heroine, the antagonist, the Dwarfs and the Huntsman) and overall is just more entertaining. It's funnier. It's more uplifting. It's scarier. In fairness, much of this is due to the plot rather than the handling of it - Snow White is about murder, Cinderella is more to do with infatuation - although Cinderella does have that superb suspense sequence when the Mice try to bring the key to Cinderella. It's as though Hitchcock has suddenly crossed paths with Tom and Jerry, and the fact we care for Cinderella is a large factor in making it work. Still, even the best moments of Cinderella appear to be (generally lesser) copies of Snow White's best moments. Snow White is more original and innovative, whilst Cinderella is very much 'more of the same'.

[Disney Duster]

I don't think the mice are what make people think Cinderella is poor, I think it's just that it doesn't have as interesting, detailed backgrounds or highly emotional moments as Snow White and other films. The dress-ripping scene, climax and happy ending are contenders for the climax of Snow White, but ultimately I think Snow White just wins over them.

But I wouldn't say the character designs of Cinderella are stiff. I think Cinderella's ball design is beautiful, sweeping, classically elegant and fun, Lady Tremaine's design stark, regal and imposing, the stepsister's designs bouncy and fun, and Lucifer's design pompously humorous. And I think those characters of the stepsister and Lucifer are ones people really like and care about in addition to the main character and villain, as well as make the film funnier than Snow White.

I do agree though, Snow White's original story, regardless of how it was done, does have the advantage over Cinderella in that it's intriguingly about someone dying.

But I really disagree that Cinderella is just "more of the same". Cinderella differs from Snow White. It goes on its own path about a run-down chateau, a grand, ornate ballroom, a magical garden with transformations, mice that can talk, and a dream of happiness and a better life with an elevated station coming true.

On that note, I forgot to say to Professor Ratigan than Cinderella differs from Snow White a lot in having a more realistic personality. She pokes a bird and plays with and threatens to beat Lucifer, she gets angry at him and the King/palace clock, she makes a face at her stepsister's singing, and she squints in anticipation of her Fairy Godmother transforming her. Plus she's warm and sweet without being annoying. So Walt did advance when he made her.

[Dr Frankenollie]

But I wouldn't say the character designs of Cinderella are stiff. I think Cinderella's ball design is beautiful, sweeping, classically elegant and fun, Lady Tremaine's design stark, regal and imposing, the stepsister's designs bouncy and fun, and Lucifer's design pompously humorous. And I think those characters of the stepsister and Lucifer are ones people really like and care about in addition to the main character and villain, as well as make the film funnier than Snow White.

I'm not referring to Cinderella in her ball gown, I'm referring to her throughout the entire film; even in her ball gown, she seems too wooden, too human, lacking in the softer, more cartoony quality that earlier humans such as Geppetto had plenty of. And surely even you can admit that while Tremaine's design suits her, it is stiff and nowhere near as interesting or imaginative as the designs of the Queen, Maleficent, et al. I suppose it could be argued that the stiffness in animation and rather realistic design for Tremaine is representative of her cold approach to life and her stoic demeanour, but even with some creepy expressions she is underwhelming compared to her counterparts. Also: Cinderella is not funnier than Snow White. The Dwarfs are hilarious, especially Dopey, the blustering Doc and obviously Grumpy. Lucifer provides a bit of wicked humour, and the Stepsisters are somewhat amusing during their music recital, but it's inferior to the comedy of Snow White (which takes up a large portion of the middle). Still, this is just a matter of differing senses of humour.

But I really disagree that Cinderella is just "more of the same". Cinderella differs from Snow White. It goes on its own path about a run-down chateau, a grand, ornate ballroom, a magical garden with transformations, mice that can talk, and a dream of happiness and a better life with an elevated station coming true.

The shot from the bottom of the well in "I'm Wishing" in Snow White = the bubbles during "Sweet Nightingale."

The Dwarfs = The Mice.

The Dwarfs race against time back to the cottage to save Snow White = the Mice race against time to free Cinderella.

...And on the whole, the film's plot and the way it focuses on the comedy of the supporting characters is very similar to Snow White, following an exact formula. It's a formula that works, but the fact is that Snow White was the first to develop this kind of family-friendly storytelling, mixing romance, humour & suspense all in one, and Cinderella tries to emulate it. Clearly, Snow White should be seen as superior for being the original version of an often reused plot. Maybe there are improvements here and there (Cinderella and Tremaine), yet there also many more moments of inferiority compared to Snow White.

[Disney's Divinity]

Clearly, Snow White should be seen as superior for being the original version of an often reused plot.

I disagree. I don’t think a film should be ranked higher than a film that does the same formula better just because it came first.

[Disney Duster]

I would not say Cinderella's design makes her too stiff, but probably the live-action reference does. And yes, I find Lady Tremaine's design to match her character well and be just what is needed. She doesn't have as interesting a design as Maleficent but few villains do and I consider her on the same level as the Queen's design. If you disagree, that's all I can say. She looks fantastic to me, and one reviewer mentioned she has heart-shaped lips that just curl so evilly, and her sleeves are so pointed and her face and hair look so foreboding.

It is true that the humor in the films comes down to different senses of humor, because I find Lucifer and the stepsisters funnier than the dwarfs (and how can you forget the stepsisters were also funny when the slipper came!).

I don't think that "Sing Sweet Nightingale" is at all meant to emulate Snow White's bottom of the well shot. Cinderella is reflected thousands of times in different colors among rainbow bands beaming out of black space. It's much more of an actual sequence than one or two shots in Snow White's song. "Nightingale" is something wholly new.

And yes the side characters of the animals getting more, well actually probably just about equal screentime with the main characters is not something just in Snow White, it happens in many Disney movies. The animals are easier to animate and get more or equal time. Cinderella is different enough. And don't get me started on how Snow White stole the scullery made and animal help plot points from Cinderella's original story.

If you want to play hardball about what scenes are similar to others, ask me about what in Sleeping Beauty is a retread of Cinderella.

And I agree with Divinity that if a formula is done well, it doesn't mean all the other times it's done are inferior to the first time. That doesn't make full logical sense. A formula can be done many times and have the later times be better than the first time. I already admitted Snow White is superior in the emotion it manages to elicit that Cinderella unfortunately just doesn't beat. And the dwarf paddding is superior to the mice padding.

EDIT: I should have just said, it doesn't matter if some of those scenes are similar, Cinderella takes you to enough scenes, like the ones I already mentioned, that it's different.

[ProfessorRatigan]

I just watched Cinderella, and I noticed something... When Lady Tremaine 'figures out' that Cinderella was the girl at the ball and starts off toward the tower to lock Cinderella inside, Gus and Jaq follow her, taking a short cut through a mouse hole at the bottom of the stairs. They beat Tremaine to the top and try to warn Cinderella to 'look out behind' her when Tremaine locks the door. I bring this up because, well, when Jaq and Gus in the very next scene try to bring the key to Cinderella, they ignore this hole at the bottom of the stairs, and, instead, we get the suspenseful sequence of them trying to get the key ALL the way up the stairs. But why DIDN'T they use the short cut? The key was no wider than Gus, and he could fit through it.