Deaf Crocodile Looks To Nov. 11 For The Special Edition Blu-ray Release Of Lev Atamanov’s The Snow Queen, The Scarlet Flower & The Key: Treasures Of Soviet Animation, Volume 2

Deaf Crocodile, with sales and distribution support provided by MVD Entertainment Group, has a nice surprise for fans of film animation scheduled for Blu-ray distribution on Nov. 11.

The Blu-ray collection is titled Lev Atamanov’s The Snow Queen, The Scarlet Flower & The Key: Treasures of Soviet Animation, Volume 2.

Following World War II, but behind the “Iron Curtain,” there was a filmmaker who specialized in animated fairy tales.  His name was Levon “Lev” Atamanyan (Atamanov) and his work from the period is now widely regarded as excellent; superb; genius.   Sadly, during the 1950s his work was virtually unknown in the United States because of the “Cold War” and political tensions at the time.   Except for one film.

You may actually know Atamanyan’s most famous animated film and not realize it.  In 1957 he made Snezhnaya Koroleva, which was based on Hans Christian Andersen’s 1844 story, “The Snow Queen.”   

In early August of 1959, there is a short blurb in American newspapers from syndicated gossip columnist Louella Parsons that reads: “I didn’t know the Russians went in for anything as light as a Disney-like animated cartoon in full length.   Most of their movies are overloaded with Communist propaganda.”

She continues, “But, not only has Universal-International bought from the Soviets a charming cartoon fantasy, Hans Christian Anderson’s ‘The Snow Queen,’ but the studio’s own teenage queen Sandra Dee will dub the title role in English.”

There is no mention of Atamanyan in her column.   By September of 1959, we learn that Art Linkletter has been recruited by the studio to do a special prologue and The Bad Seed star, Patty McCormack, has also been added to the voice-dubbing cast ... still no mention of Atamanov/Atamanyan.

The film has its "World Premiere" on April 1, 1960 at the Colfax Theatre in South Bend, Indiana.  There's a certain irony in having a "World Premiere" of a film that had been around since 1957 on April Fool's Day!

The credits says that The Snow Queen features the voices of Sandra Dee, Patty McCormack and Tommy Kirk.  The credits also herald Art Linkletter as "starring" in the film's prologue (is that a unique credit in film history?).   If you read the small print, Alan Lipscott and Bob Fisher were the writers and Robert Faber was the producer ... "Cartoons, Animation and Screenplay by Soyuzmultfilm Productions," but no mention of Atamanov.

Patty McCormack was the on-stage celebrity for the 8:30 performance ... and there was a big parade the next day at 9AM in downtown South Bend! 

The Snow Queen arrived in the Los Angeles area in 13 theatres on July 6 … and expanded around the country with addition theatrical dates through December of 1960.   The film was a hit for Universal-International … perhaps Atamanyan received some royalties (perhaps film historian Rolf Giesen’s commentary track on the Deaf Crocodile Blu-ray release on Nov. 11 will shed some light).

As to the Blu-ray collection, these are all new film restorations of the original Russian-language versions (with English subtitles).   The Snow Queen is voice by Yanina Zheymo (no Sandra Dee, no catchy songs …), also included are Atamanov’s 1952 release of The Scarlet Flower and his 1961 animated treat, The Key. 

Bonus features include commentary on all three films by film historian Rolf Giesen and two newly-prepared video essays — “Written with Ice Crystals: Master Soviet Animator Lev Atamanov and The Snow Queen” (by film historian Evan Chester) and “Innocence & Cynicism: The Snow Queen and Hayao Miyazaki: (by “Animation Obessive” expert John Adkins).