2. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a 1937 animated film by Walt Disney (who else?) and based on the German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. Snow White is one of the most-loved fairy tales in history, and Disney's film has much to do with its popularity. In this charming kids film, we once again have the evil step-mother who is jealous of her daughter. The step-mother, a queen, is also a witch of great power. In her jealousy, she sends Snow White into the woods with a huntsman who is supposed to kill her, but he takes pity on the beautiful girl and lets her flee, instead bringing a boar's heart to the queen as proof that Snow White is dead. Snow White happens upon the seven dwarfs and lives happily with them in the woods. One day, the queen discovers that Snow White is still alive and tricks the girl into eating a poisoned apple. Snow White is revived by the kiss of true love (a prince, of course), and heads off with her new husband to live happily ever after.
Dark Inspirations? Now this one is really dark. The original story by the Brothers Grimm contains many elements that are much more disturbing than the Disney movie. The Brothers Grimm first collected the story in print in 1812. In that version, Snow White's mother is the antagonist, not her step-mother. It is believed the version was changed after children began reading the stories (the Brothers Grimm originally intended their book for adults). Supposedly having your mother want to kill you was too much for the kiddies in 1812. In the Brothers Grimm story, the huntsman is supposed to cut out Snow White's lungs and liver, but instead butchers a wild boar. When he returns with the boar's organs, the queen has them cooked and she proceeds to eat them.
More variations in the book occur when the queen is attempting to eliminate Snow White at her home with the dwarfs. The queen first strangles Snow White with stay-lace (whatever that is), but the dwarfs arrive in time to revive her. She next tries a poisoned comb, but the dwarfs save her again. Finally she uses the poisoned apple. However, Snow White is not saved by "love's first kiss". Instead, we have a creepy prince who convinces the dwarfs to let him keep the dead body of a young girl at his castle. Along the way he drops the coffin and the apple dislodges from Snow White's throat, at which point she awakens. Snow White and the prince naturally fall in love and plan their wedding. At the wedding, the evil queen is forced to put on a pair of iron shoes that have been heated until they glow. She is then made to dance in the shoes until she dies. Rather than endure that punishment, I think I would have just attacked Snow White and forced someone to slice me up with their sword. Wouldn't you? The inspiration for the movie Snow White? How about a story where a girl's mother tries to put her to death and eat her just because she is beautiful, a strangling, a couple of poisonings, a necrophiliac prince, and a woman tortured beyond belief for her crimes. I'm glad I'm writing this during the day instead of just before I fall asleep.