Snow White: A Tale of Terror (1997) (TV)

Director:

Michael Cohn

Writers (WGA):

Jacob Grimm (story) &
Wilhelm Grimm (story) ...

Release Date:

18 July 1997 (Greece)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

The fairy tale is over.

Plot:

Based somewhat more authentically on the Grimm Brothers' story of a young woman who is unliked by her stepmother...

Plot Keywords:

Apple | Stepmother | Crusades | Mirror | Snow White

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Sigourney Weaver	...	Lady Claudia Hoffman
Sam Neill	...	Lord Friedrich Hoffman
Monica Keena	...	Lilliana 'Lilly' Hoffman
Taryn Davis	...	Little Lilliana 'Lilly' Hoffman
Gil Bellows	...	Will
Brian Glover	...	Lars
David Conrad	...	Peter Gutenberg
Anthony Brophy	...	Rolf
Frances Cuka	...	Nannau
Chris Bauer	...	Konrad (as Christopher Bauer)
John Edward Allen	...	Bart
Miroslav Táborský	...	Gustav
Andrew Tiernan	...	Scar
Bryan Pringle	...	Father Gilbert
Dale Wyatt	...	Maidservant Elsa

Also Known As:

Snow White (USA) (short title)
Snow White in the Black Forest
Snow White in the Dark Forest
Snow White: A Tale of Terror (Canada: English title)
The Grimm Brothers' Snow White

MPAA:

Rated R for some horror violence and a scene of sexuality.

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Netherlands:16 | Spain:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Barrandov Studios, Krizeneckeho namesti, Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

Polygram Filmed Entertainment

Trivia:

The role of Liliana (Snow White) was originally written with Alicia Silverstone in mind.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The tree Lilly picks the apple from near her mother's grave is in fact an oak tree.

Quotes:

Claudia Hoffman: You can see, and you can hear, but from inside the tomb of your mind. No breath will escape your lips, no tears your eyes. To the world, you are dead. And soon, even your precious father will forget... you were ever alive. But you, my dear, you will have all eternity... to remember.

Soundtrack:

Cum Doctorum

Superb adaptation of soapy tale

Although I liked Disney's version of the Snow White tale (and still keep it as the classic example of fairy-tale screen- handling), still I was positively struck with this adaptation. Now here's the version no-one would have dreamed of ever seeing. The all-innocent victimised princess has been turned into a proud little brat who despises her step-mother from the very first time she sees her; the mean, scheming, mirror-gazing step-mother was changed into a lady doing her best to be accepted by her husband's intolerant daughter - only after miscarrying her son does she turn into the stereotype of evil; the adorable seven little dwarfs were metamorphosized into seven miners, some of whom really hate the girl. Best of all the Prince charming has been erased and the silly "Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" likewise. Anyway the film is a masterpiece from beginning to end - the highlights being the spells cast by the maddened step-mother. Being a gothic horror movie, it still has some spurts of really dark humour, such as Claudia saying, "Mmmm... Delicious!" when eating the supposedly cooked Lilly; and "I have brought someone to keep you company" (to the crucifix). The on-location shooting is very adequate and the superb performances from everyone make this a movie worth watching and appreciating.