Original production animation drawing of the Evil Queen with the Heart Box from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," 1937, Walt Disney Studios; Graphite, green, blue, and red pencils on watermarked five peg hole paper; Production numbers stamp lower left and numbered 130 in graphite pencil lower right; Size - Queen 10 x 5 1/2", Sheet 10 x 12"; Unframed.
To purchase this drawing or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE!
"Then I've been tricked!" - Evil Queen
To purchase this drawing or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE!
"Then I've been tricked!" - Evil Queen
Development
on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs began in early 1934, and by June
Walt Disney announced to The New York Times the production of his first
feature, to be released under Walt Disney Productions. Before Snow White
and the Seven Dwarfs, the Disney studio had been primarily involved in
the production of animated short subjects in the Mickey Mouse and Silly
Symphonies series. However, Disney hoped to expand his studio's prestige
and revenues by moving into features, and he estimated that Snow White
and the Seven Dwarfs could be produced for a budget of $250,000 (this
was ten times the budget of an average Silly Symphony).
Snow
White and the Seven Dwarfs was to be the first full-length cel animated
feature in motion picture history, and as such Walt Disney had to fight
to get the film produced. Both his brother and business partner Roy
Disney, as well as his wife Lillian attempted to talk him out of it. The
Hollywood movie industry mockingly referred to the film, while is was
in production, as "Disney's Folly." Disney ended up having to mortgage
his house to help finance the film's production, which would eventually
ran up to a total cost of $1,488,422.74; an absolutely massive sum for a
feature film in 1937!
After
a long and difficult four years, on January 13, 1938, Snow White and
the Seven Dwarfs made its New York premiere at Radio City Music Hall.
The film ran for five weeks in a row, the first motion picture to do so,
and it could have played longer if not for prior commitments of the
venue. It was to be the theatres' most successful engagement in all of
the 1930s. The film was loved by everyone and Disney, along with his
animation team, had managed to make an animated film that the audience
would believe! The crowd would be sad and cry when Snow White bit the
apple and was placed in a glass casket; and they would laugh, smile, and
be happy during the song and dance numbers with the Dwarfs. However,
Disney was criticized by some for making a very scary film for children.
When
the movie was played at Radio City Music Hall on its first release, the
theater managers had to replace the music played when Snow White runs
into the Dark Forest; because they were nervous that the kids would be
too frightened upon hearing it. Snow White's run into the Forest had
another result; young children were still so scared by the sequence,
that they wet their pants. As a result, the velvet upholstery of each
and every seat held by a child, had to be replaced prior to every
showing of the film.
The Walt Disney film's version of the Evil Queen changing into an Old Hag is very different compared to the original story. In the Disney version, the Queen uses her dark magic powers to actually transform herself into an old woman instead of just taking on a disguise; as in the Brothers Grimm story. Animation provided a transformation scene that is truly spectacular and the Disney team even made the event greater by utilizing the multi-plane camera; to make the room itself appeared to spin. This sequence along with the flight of Snow White through the Dark Forest; caused the British Board of Film Censors (now, the British Board of Film Classification) to give the film an A-certificate (children had to be accompanied by an adult) upon its original release. This resulted in a nationwide controversy as to whether the Forest and the Witch were too frightening for younger audiences. Nevertheless, most local authorities simply overrode the censor's decision and gave the film a U-certificate (Suitable for children).
Walt Disney's response to the idea that the film was too frightening for children was, "I do not make films primarily for children. I make them for the child in all of us, whether we be six or sixty." This may have been his statement, but he never made another film with such a scary villain. Every film after Snow White had the main villain accompanied by a comedic sidekick; such as Maleficent and her Goons, Cruella de Vil with Horace and Jasper, or Medusa with Snoops.
Close up of the original production drawing of the Evil Queen with the Heart Box.
The Walt Disney film's version of the Evil Queen changing into an Old Hag is very different compared to the original story. In the Disney version, the Queen uses her dark magic powers to actually transform herself into an old woman instead of just taking on a disguise; as in the Brothers Grimm story. Animation provided a transformation scene that is truly spectacular and the Disney team even made the event greater by utilizing the multi-plane camera; to make the room itself appeared to spin. This sequence along with the flight of Snow White through the Dark Forest; caused the British Board of Film Censors (now, the British Board of Film Classification) to give the film an A-certificate (children had to be accompanied by an adult) upon its original release. This resulted in a nationwide controversy as to whether the Forest and the Witch were too frightening for younger audiences. Nevertheless, most local authorities simply overrode the censor's decision and gave the film a U-certificate (Suitable for children).
Walt Disney's response to the idea that the film was too frightening for children was, "I do not make films primarily for children. I make them for the child in all of us, whether we be six or sixty." This may have been his statement, but he never made another film with such a scary villain. Every film after Snow White had the main villain accompanied by a comedic sidekick; such as Maleficent and her Goons, Cruella de Vil with Horace and Jasper, or Medusa with Snoops.
Close up of the production stamp.
The
Evil Queen, one of the greatest Walt Disney animated villains of all
time, was animated by the famous Disney animator Art Babbitt. Babbitt
was already an accomplished animator prior to working on "Snow White."
He was known for creating the character of Goofy and for his work on
"The Country Cousin," which won an Academy Award for the Disney Studio
in 1936. The villain for Snow White was the Evil Queen; which Walt
Disney and Joe Grant (Walt Disney character designer and story artist)
had conceived as a blend of Lady Macbeth and the Big Bad Wolf, as well
as traits inspired by actresses Joan Crawford and Gale Sondergaard.
Refinement of the Queen was done by animators Grim Natwick and Norm
Ferguson; however the actual animation of the Queen fell to Babbitt.
Rotoscoping, a technique used in animation whereby live actors are used to portray the characters and then animators trace over the footage frame by frame; was not used as much on the Queen as it was for the character of Snow White. Babbitt preferred to avoid rotoscoping and instead draw the character free hand. It has been stated that you could wallpaper a room with just drawings that Babbitt made just of her mouth and eyes; because all of the Queen's emotions came through her face. The Evil Queen, wonderfully voiced by veteran stage actress Lucille La Verne; holds a place in history as being the first character to ever speak in a full length animated film.
Rotoscoping, a technique used in animation whereby live actors are used to portray the characters and then animators trace over the footage frame by frame; was not used as much on the Queen as it was for the character of Snow White. Babbitt preferred to avoid rotoscoping and instead draw the character free hand. It has been stated that you could wallpaper a room with just drawings that Babbitt made just of her mouth and eyes; because all of the Queen's emotions came through her face. The Evil Queen, wonderfully voiced by veteran stage actress Lucille La Verne; holds a place in history as being the first character to ever speak in a full length animated film.
Close up of the production number.
This
is an absolutely stunning original production animation drawing of the Evil
Queen holding the Heart Box. It is from the scene after she ordered her
Huntsman to kill Snow White and then, as proof, bring back her heart in
a bejeweled box that the Queen gave him. The Huntsman is unable to kill
Snow White, but the Queen is unaware of this, and she goes before her
Magic Mirror to ask "Who NOW is the fairest one of all?" When the Mirror
replies that Snow White is the fairest one of all, the Queen holds up
the box and opens it's lid stating, "Snow White lies dead in the forest.
The Huntsman has brought me proof. Behold, her heart." The Mirror responds that it is "the heart of pig you hold in your hand." The Evil Queen realizes that the Huntsman has lied and she says, "Then I've been tricked!" This is a
beautiful eyes open and mouth sneering drawing of the Evil Queen holding the open Heart
Box; and certainly it is one of the most desirable drawings to own by any
Walt Disney, Snow White, or Villains collector! The complete dialog from
the scene is below:
Evil Queen: "Magic Mirror on the wall, who now is the fairest one of all?"
Magic Mirror: "Over the seven jewelled hills, beyond the seventh fall, in the cottage of the seven dwarfs, dwells Snow White, fairest one of all."
Evil Queen: "Snow White lies dead in the forest. The huntsman has brought me proof. Behold, her heart."
Magic Mirror: "Snow White still lives, the fairest in the land. 'Tis the heart of a pig you hold in your hand."
Evil Queen: "The heart of a pig?! Then I've been tricked!"
Evil Queen: "Magic Mirror on the wall, who now is the fairest one of all?"
Magic Mirror: "Over the seven jewelled hills, beyond the seventh fall, in the cottage of the seven dwarfs, dwells Snow White, fairest one of all."
Evil Queen: "Snow White lies dead in the forest. The huntsman has brought me proof. Behold, her heart."
Magic Mirror: "Snow White still lives, the fairest in the land. 'Tis the heart of a pig you hold in your hand."
Evil Queen: "The heart of a pig?! Then I've been tricked!"
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