Trivial Pursuits: Still the Fairest

The 70th anniversary of the premiere of Walt Disney's masterpiece, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is approaching. In celebration of the landmark occasion, the Disneyland Resort will host a special event this Friday, November 16 at Disney's California Adventure. A panel of animation experts will be on hand for a discussion of the classic film, followed by a screening of the movie itself.

Commonly known as the first American feature-length animated motion picture (various foreign productions vie for the worldwide title among film historians), Snow White also achieved several other "firsts" in cinematic history:

• First animated feature worldwide to be made in color and with sound.
• First film to have the actual film soundtrack released on phonograph record.
• First film to have merchandise available on its opening day.
• First film to offer alternate screen images for international distribution.
• First animated feature to win an Academy Award (a special one, presented to Walt by Shirley Temple, consisting of one regular sized Oscar and seven miniature ones).
• First animated feature to become the highest grossing movie of all time, a title it held until Gone With the Wind was released in 1939.
• First animated feature to be selected for the National Film Registry.
• First Disney classic to be released in their Platinum Edition DVD series.

For more behind the scenes trivia on the making of Snow White, see my Toon Talk review of its 2001 DVD release.

UPDATE: Ken Pellman reports for LaughingPlace.com on his reactions to the DCA event, including pictures of some of the limited edtion merchandise that was available.

Click here to buy the Snow White and the Seven DwarfsPlatinum Edition DVD from Amazon.com.
Links via Imdb.com, Register123.com, Loc.gov and LaughingPlace.com.