Snow White in France. Chapter 1 : 1938 -1943

If the fairest one of all stays eternally young, it is no secret anymore that she was born a long time ago. The date commonly given is that of the premiere at the Carthay Circle Theater on December 21, 1937. But the film did not go into general release until at least February of 1938 !


The French press mentions the film as early as 1935, when Walt Disney came to visit Paris. There are more and more articles by the end of 1937. In February of 1938, Ciné-France publishes one about Snow White patterns to make dresses. On March 11, 1938, the same magazine says that the French version is being recorded at the Disney studios (chanteuse Lily Pons's name is mentioned erroneously for the lead). It also says that band leader Ray Ventura is already recording his versions of the film's melodies.

Other records were cut in the USA and in England prior to that, and some were commercialized in France. On February 21, Frank Luther, with the help of Zora Layman, records a wacky version (in English) of the story on three discs. On March 25, Anne Lenner sings two songs accompanied by Carroll Gibbons and the Savoy Hotel Orpheans: "One Song" and "With A Smile And A Song". That same month, the US original soundtrack was released in Great Britain on three discs and, despite the language barrier, also in France. Still in March, Guy Lombardo and wife Carmen recorded two songs: "With a Smile And A Song" et "Whistle While You Work".
On April 9, Joe Loss and his orchestra offers a selection of the film's songs.
In May, Georges Briez does "Un sourire en chantant" (With a Smile And A Song") and a medley of "La tyrolienne des nains" (The Silly Song") and "Heigh Ho".

Le Populaire from April 22, 1938 announces the competitor's project : Max Fleischer prepares his own feature but the subject has not been revealed yet. It should be ready for the 1938/1939 season.

To conquer Europe, the film naturally started by Great Britain, where no adaptation was needed. But once finalized, the French version enabled Disney to present his first feature magnificently in Paris, on the Champs-Élysées, in only one theater, whose facade was entirely decorated for the occasion: the Marignan theater, in which Snow White replaced La tragédie impériale, a film by Marcel L'Herbier, starring Harry Baur.

The Marignan theater in 1938

The Marignan theater in 2013

The event happened on Friday May 6, 1938, and was heavily publicized in many newspapers (except in the communist paper L'Humanité which only changes the film program of the Marignan on May 11) and several personalities were invited at the gala premiere: actor Noël-Noël, opera singer Lily Pons (who, according to the press, was considered for the lead role), actress Renée St Cyr, director Robert Siodmak, etc.. Les petits chanteurs à la croix de bois (The little singers of Paris), presented by Father Munier, start the show, and "precious souvenirs" are handed. Seats for the evening retailed at 30, 40, 75 and even 100 francs! Guests had to be smartly dressed.

For this original release, several posters were used: one with the American design (see above), but French designer Bernard Lancy also designed several others, which were even used abroad.

The program of the Marignan announces many tie-in products. Among them, other than imported British and American records, are those of Ray Ventura (Siffler en travaillant & Un sourire en chantant) and the two first songs by Lucienne Dugard, recorded in May, in time for the release: Un sourire en chantant & Un jour mon Prince viendra. These recordings are the first to use alternate lyrics, not those of the film (and that are found on the Salabert songbook that was published then). The same phenomenon can be found in the USA: there alternate lyrics for commercial recordings also, something which endures today for almost every new recording. This particular disc will lead many to believe that Lucienne Dugard was among the cast of the French dub of the film,in spite of the fact that her voice is completely different from Snow White's.

Irène Hilda in 1938

As a matter of fact, while Disney remained very secretive about the cast list, the press will speculate more than once about the star. I guess the actresses in these articles were probably mentioned for publicity, or simply because of the journalist's ignorance. Indeed, in its letters to the editor column, Pour Vous informs its readers on June 29, 1938 that "the actress who speaks for Snow White is called Irène Hilda". Olivier Kosinski brought to my attention the fact that A. de Montgon published an article in Le Petit Bleu on May 24, 1938 where he"reveals" that it is the Belgian actress and singer Sim Viva who gave her voice to Snow White in the French version. Yet, in a few paragraphs (July 20, 1938 in Pour Vous or July 7, 1938 in Cinémonde) the name of the actual actress who played the part can be found: director Jacques Tourneur's wife, Christiane Tourneur.

René Lehmann, in L'Intransigeant on May 7, 1938 (published the day before) gives his vision of the French version: "I must say the French voices given to these legendary little characters are often plagued with Germanic or Anglo-Saxon accents that shocked me." This is mostly due to the fact that the French version had been recorded in the USA by expatriates. Gilbert Bernard, of Le Matin, who praises the film, also notes the same problem: "The only critic I can make - regretfully so - is about the quality of the French voices ; which would have been better if the adaptation had been done in Paris instead of Hollywood." Walt Disney heard the critics and in Le Matin of May 15, 1938 one could read a press release in his name to glorify his efforts: "My most sincere wishes of success for the French version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I hope this production will help maintain and reinforce the friendship that always existed betwen the people of France and the U.S.A." That same day, the Marignan had seen thousands of spectators in a week and Le Journal de Mickey started the weekly publication of the comic adaptation of the film in color.

The Marignan

The movie thus settled at le Marignan as a permanent show from 1.30pm until 1.30am! In spite of that, the lines kept getting longer and these showings were not enough. On June 4, 1938, Le Matin announced that "because of incalculable demands from children and parents, two special showings of Snow White will be programed for Pentecost. Walt Disney's film will play at 10am On Sunday 5 and Monday 6 and the seats for these extraordinary events will exceptionally sell at 12, 16, 18 and 20 francs."

RKO trade ad

Danielle Darrieux in 1938

A contest was organized, described in the June 10 edition of Le Matin : "Contestants were supposed to designate the famous actors who they thought were best qualified to play the fictitious characters of Walt Disney's beautiful film. Milton was chosen for Happy, to Fernandel went the part of Bashful, Dopey would be Noël-Noël, Sneezy always with a cold would be played by Lucien Baroux, for Grumpy, Raimu was proposed. Michel Simon has to be satisfied with Sleepy and Armand Bernard becomes Doc. Finally Danielle Darrieux has been chosen for the nice Snow White."

The Marignan

On June 14, Le Matin tells of the incredible success of the film for the past six weeks and warns its readers that the exclusivity of the Marignan will only end in seven months and that, before this, "the film will not play in any neighborhood theater in Paris". That same day, Fred Adison and his orchestra record La tyrolienne des nains, again with "commercial records" lyrics, different from that of the film.

On June 21, 1938, it is Elyane Célis, with Marcel Cariven's orchestra, who records her version of Un sourire en chantant and Un jour mon Prince viendra. That version will also be quite popular and adds a new potential player to the supposed list of actresses who played Snow White (that isn't the case: for a complete list of actors who played in the French version of the film, please read this article). In June also, Albert Valensi aka "Valsien" also releases a medley of the film's tunes with the great orchestra of the Odéon and Odette Moulin releases a Pathé record of "Sifflez en travaillant" and "Un sourire en chantant" with the Fredo Gardoni orchestra.

Other products were made, as never before: handkerchiefs, puzzle games, card games, jewelry, and 25 postcards edited by E. Séphériadès. This series manages to tell the story of the Princesse while retaining only the dwarfs and the Prince, even adding scenes (like the one below) to cover for the absence of the Queen, the hunter, etc.

Postcard 19

In Le Matin, Grumpy complains in a fictitious July 10 interview that he had to learn seven languages to allow a release abroad. He mentions the title translations (all wrong, just like one could find in the Carthay Circle Theater program) and says he had trouble with Arabic "that isn't a language, [but] an explosion".

But it was worth it. On July 15, the newspaper claims "Blanche Neige breaks all records", and says that the film "during its nine first weeks of exclusivity, grossed a total sum of 3,600,000 francs, or a weekly sum of 400,000 francs!"

Hall of the Marignan

On September 3, 1938, Le Temps announces that the film won a special prize at the Venice festival. In the meantime, Yvonne Marsay and André Pierrel release their musical fantasy played by the Fernand Warms orchestra. In the USA, the soundtrack's release sold very well. So with a cover very similar to the British release, in September two records came out in France where the story of Snow White was recorded with Marcel Cariven's orchestra and sung by Elyane Célis. In this recording only, the songs kept the film's original lyrics.

The Marignan's exclusive engagement ended after 18 weeks when the film moved to l'Impérial for another exclusive 17 weeks from September 9, 1938, and from December 9, le film came out simultaneously in several theaters in Paris in time from Christmas. Meanwhile, it had already traveled through France to become the country's most phenomenal success.

However, even outside of Paris, exclusive engagements were negotiated: so on November 13, 1938 at the Excelsior in Rennes, Snow White plays for the first time in the region at 13H30, 16H30 and  20H45. An article in Ouest éclair says that "the ticket office was overcrowded". For once, the article warns that "No one can forget Snow White's voice" and calls the film "a complete success as each of the arts know very few." Publicity boasts that the film will not play elsewhere in the district for a year and in the town for 2 years!


On November 17, the same paper says that "all records of the film Snow White can be purchased at the maison Racine, 6 Lafayette street." and announces the broadcast of a"selectiion of tunes of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a film by Disney and Churchill." on radio Toulouse at 10.30pm (!)

And earlier, on September 23, 1938, because of the success of the first record, Lucienne Dugard recorded another with the songs "Je souhaite - Un chant" (with the film's lyrics only slightly adapted) & "Siffler en travaillant". Fred Adison, too, records a new title on November 21: Heigh-Ho.

Keep in mind that, at the time, France is not limited to its European territories. Snow White is also released in the many colonies. On October 31, 1938, the film reaches the Régent in Algiers and on November 9, the press says that the wildest hopes of the theater manager were fulfilled: "a lady who had seen the film in Paris came from Constantine to Algiers only to see it again." It came back in June 1940 in the same theater although it had never really left the screen in this town. Snow White is visible there with almost no interruption until February of 1943!

It is also presented in Indochina, at the Majestic of Hanoi which for the occasion, prints a luxurious program with the story of the film among colored illustrations.

On November 1, Le Temps announces that the film could be the first American movie to be played in U.S.S.R. since Modern Times.

Snow White continues its career in Paris: on December 11, 1938, it plays at the Lutétia, the Eldorado and at the Victor Hugo. Books are also announced: "Published by Hachette (...) in the series Hop-là with wonderful fold out pages, the prettiest chapter of Snow White, Snow White and her animal friends."


As a matter of fact, at Christmas, the film is still her to stay: on December 23, 1938, as it is freezing out (10°F in Paris) 7 theaters in Paris still play it.


On Christmas day, Le Temps announces a 9.30pm radio adaptation of Snow White on radio Droitwich. The show is played again the next day.

On december 26, 1938, the films is announced at the Casino in St Malo and at the Foyer in Combourg "which obtained the region's exclusivity for 10 month.

On January 10, 1939, the movie still plays in Paris at the Bonaparte and the Caméo.

In Fougères, on February 1, 1939, Ouest éclair praises M. Véiès' initiative who organized special showings for school children the day beforeand on that day too. In Dinard, the film is shown on February 2 and 4 at the Ciné Palace. Around this time too, the first advertisements for a collection of stickers  found in the Menier chocolate bars to glue in the two Snow White albums

And from March 2, Ouest éclair publishes a part of the comic adaptation in its Thursday pages until July 13, 1939.

In front of this lasting triumph, and to bring a response to the critics, on February 17, 1939, as the film is still touring the country, a new exclusivity is announced, this time at the Normandie, a Pathé theater on the Champs-Élysées: the film in English! Showings start at 9.15pm.
 
This, however, doesn't last, and from March 8, Snow White has been replaced by La vie est magnifique, at the Normandie. The astonishing success of the film in France resonates far beyond the French borders and The Hollywood Reporter announces in his July 11, 1939 issue that "Snow White [is the] only US pic to crack French best 10". Snow White actually came in third after Quai des Brumes and Three Waltzes, the latter being completely forgotten some 80 years later.

Even though showings became less frequent as time went on, the public slowly took possession of the characters and the Noëlistes at St Vincent High School presented their version of the tale on February 5,1939 at 2.30 pm. Other stage adaptations will follow, on March 28, 1939, a version by Mme Jeanne Blanc is mentioned: "Blanche Neige et le Prince charmant"part of a show by Fernand Rouvray. That same day, the coming of a new feature called Pinocchio is announced, as well as the creation of a new Disney character: Goofy. On June 13, 1939, at the Luxembourg parc, a Snow White puppet show is played and Simone Debergé's adaptation is played on Saturday June 24, 1939 in Fougères starring Noëlla Debergé, actually a follow-up of the film.

But from March 29, 1939, the Lutétia programs two versions of the film every day. The matinée is Blanche Neige and the evening show is Snow White."
Mardi Gras offers a new occasion to publicize the film: in fact, Ouest France tells on March 20, 1939 of the carnival in Rennes with a Snow White float, and the character is even recieved at Town Hall and congratulated by the deputy mayor.

On April 8, 1939, the French version is released... in New York! At the Waldorf Theater, even French francs are accepted.

On May 5, 1939, almost a year after the release of the film, famous singer Jean Lumière also collaborates with Marcel Cariven to record his version of Un chant (One Song).


On June 12, 1939 there are advertisements in Ouest éclair for Cadum soaps who offer as a gift one of the eight color lithographies of Snow White in each box of three soaps. Each one represents a dwarf, except the eighth one which is, of course Snow White and her Prince. They met with great success and a new series with others scenes were produced.

Image Cadum belge

But on September 1, 1939 comes the war and Pinocchio's release is canceled. Yet, copies of Snow White apparently were still in circulation in France for years after that. Wally Feignoux, French representative of Walt Disney in France stayed in Paris throughout the war to protect his boss's interests (and copies). Snow White is played on March 22, 1940 in Servan, and on June 2, 1940 at the Select in Rennes.

A new film from the studio was even released in March and April of 1940: La grande parade de Walt Disney, a kind of Festival of Hits which will be released later in the USA but with a rather different program: if Ferdinand the Bull is indeed part of the show, the rest is composed of other shorts: Brave Little Tailor, The Practical Pig, Donald's Golf Game, Ugly Duckling, and Farmyard Symphony.

Le Midi Libre of September 9, 1942 announces the last showings of Snow White downtown Toulouse at the Nouveautés (7 francs a seat) non stop from 2 to 6 with a special 9  o'clock showing because "this film will be forbidden in France from October 15."

It is indeed then that, in the free zone, that all American and British films were banned. If it hadn't been for that measure, it is likely that the little Princess' career would have gone on.


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That's all for today folks!