Snow White (2001) (TV)

Director:

Caroline Thompson

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

17 March 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Family

Plot:

Snow White's mother dies during childbirth, leaving baby Snow and father John for dead on an icy field, who then receives a visit from one of Satan's representatives, granting him three wishes.

Plot Keywords:

Snow White | Daughter | Wish | Childbirth | Fairy Tale

Cast

Miranda Richardson	...	Queen Elspeth
Kristin Kreuk	...	Snow White
Karin Konoval	...	Crone
Tom Irwin	...	John
Vera Farmiga	...	Josephine
Tyron Leitso	...	Prince Alfred
Michael Gilden	...	Monday (Red)
Mark J. Trombino	...	Tuesday (Orange)
Vincent Schiavelli	...	Wednesday (Yellow)
Penny Blake	...	Thursday (Green)
Martin Klebba	...	Friday (Blue)
Warwick Davis	...	Saturday (Indigo)
Michael J. Anderson	...	Sunday (Violet)
Clancy Brown	...	Green Eyed One
Milana Orchard	...	Baby Snow White

Also Known As:

Blanche-Neige (Canada: French title)
Snow White: The Fairest of Them All (USA)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

Canada | USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG (TV rating) | Australia:G | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Babelsberg International Film Produktion

Quotes:

Sunday: Monday's child is fair of face.
[Monday bows]
Sunday: Tuesday's child is full of grace.
Tuesday: Tuesday.
[waves]
Sunday: Wednesday's child is full of woe.
Wednesday: I MOST CERTAINLY AM NOT!
Sunday: Thursday's child has far to go.
Thursday: Thursday.
[waves]
[...]

Kristin Kruek SHINES as "Snow White"

It's not your traditional version of the Grimm's famous story, but this effort by Hallmark Entertainment (distributed by Disney) certainly has it's merits!

Caroline Thompson's script tells the traditional story of the princess with "skin as white as snow" and the jealous stepmother who wishes her stepdaughter dead. But Thompson decides to elaborate the story with several touches of her own. For instance, Snow White's father, John (played by Tom Irwin), releases a "jinn" or "genie" type creature (Clancy Brown) from a frozen prison in the ice. To show his thanks, the creature grants John three wishes: 1) milk for his infant daughter, 2) a kingdom, and 3) a queen. But the candidate chosen to sit at King John's side, is none other than the creature's hideous sister, Elsbeth (Miranda Richardson). As an "act of kindness" to his sister, he transforms her blemished skin to worldly beauty. But King John's heart still lies with his dead wife, Josephine (Vera Farmiga). So, Elspeth's first spell of manipulation is cast.

Another added plot twist borrows from another Grimm's story, "Snow White and Rose Red". Queen Elsbeth lets her raging hormones get the best of her when Prince Alfred (Tyron Leitso) spurns her lusty advances. For revenge, Elsbeth turns the prince into a bear, who then seeks out Snow White to help break the spell.

In a psychological twist, Esbeth disguises herself as Josephine, Snow White's mother, when she delivers the poisoned apple. Quite clever.

Hallmark Entertainment regular Miranda Richardson is perfectly cast as the woman who's sole existence rides on being "fairest in the land". In her usual brilliant way, Richardson's performance is deranged yet humorous all at once.

Kristin Kreuk (WB's "Smallville") as "Snow White" gives a deeper performance than one would expect. Rather than turning the princess into a sugary sweet victim, Kreuk brings out the human qualities of a teenager who longs to be seen as more than the beauty she is. Because of Elsbeth's spell on him, her father ignores her. Her stepmother hates her. The visiting prince swoons over her. The poor girl simply wants to be loved and known for the person behind the beautiful face. Kreuk was the perfect choice.

The seven dwarfs are creatively reworked as the creatures that control the weather. They travel around the countryside as a rainbow, with each of them playing a different color. Named for the days of the week, each dwarf's personality comes from the old nursery rhyme' "Monday's child is fair of face, Tuesday's child is full of grace.....". Warwick Davis, of Ewok fame, plays "Saturday". Davis is no stranger the Snow White story, having performed in and directed many pantomime productions in his homeland of England. In another creative twist, Vincent Schiavelli plays "Wednesday"....the only "dwarf" over 4.5 feet tall! Michael J. Anderson (Twin Peaks) plays "Sunday" the kind-hearted sympathetic leader of the "magnificent seven".

As in anything she is in, Vera Farmiga is wonderful. She is under used sadly, as Josephine is buried for most of the film. Thankfully she is brought back for the famous apple sequence.

If you are expecting a live action version of the Disney 1937 classic, you will be greatly disappointed. The film rides on it's own merit and will hopefully become another family classic. Thanks Hallmark!