Snezhnaya koroleva (The Snow Queen) 1957 | Lev Atamanov | Russian Version

Snezhnaya koroleva 1957 | Lev Atamanov | Russian Version

When the Snow Queen, a lonely and powerful fairy, kidnaps the human boy Kay, his best friend Gerda must overcome many obstacles on her journey to rescue him.
Director: Lev Atamanov
Writers: Hans Christian Andersen (story), Lev Atamanov (screenplay), Nikolay Erdman (screenplay)

Trivia
Hayao Miyazaki has stated that this film is one of his inspirations to work in animation. When he started his career, Miyazaki had a rough start and was thinking of leaving animation. But when he saw The Snow Queen, he admired it and continued working in anime.

Quotes
Granny: Look, the snow is falling again, and every snowflake is like a little white bee.

Gerda: Grandmother, tell us, where do these white bee snowflakes come from?

Granny: From the north. They fly here over cold seas, in icy winds, through blizzards and fogs. They are loyal servants of the Snow Queen.

Alternate versions
Original version runs only 63 minutes and has two songs in Russian. US version runs 70 minutes, with a 5-minute live-action prologue and a 2-minute montage added. It has three new songs in English, one in the montage and two replacing the russian songs.

Connections
Edited into Retro Christmas Classics (2007)

Soundtracks
The Snow Queen
(english version)
Words and Music by Diane Lampert and Richard Loring