This Is My Best-1945-03 27

0:00Good evening. This is Orson Wells, inviting you to listen to Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. On Crested Blankers, this is my best. This is my best. America's greatest stars in the world's best stories. This energy tweak by Sennley's Crested Blanca wine. Wine of friendly nature. Pride of the bitters are. Symbol of hospitality. Compliment to honored guests. A wine to serve proudly, saying this is my best. This is Crested Blanca. C-R-E-S-P-A. P-L-A-N-C-A. Crested Blanca. Crested Blanca. C-R-E-S-P-A. Our guest tonight is Jane Powell, who appears through the courtesy of Metropolitan Mayor,

1:03the producers of the Picture of Dorian Gray. And now here's our director, Mr. Well. We're very proud. Thank you. We're very proud that tonight's show has been chosen for re-broad guests over season. I'm proud, too, if you'll pardon the personal reference, because my oldest daughter, Christopher, is seven years old today. Like most young ladies and gentlemen of her age, Christopher likes her father to tell her a story. Well, I don't know a better one than Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. In recent memory, Walt Disney can drive the best of all his technic-colored fables on the theme, and none of us who've met Dopey and Doc or the rest of the Seven, none of us who've heard the warm and irresistibly singable songs from Walt's picture. I'd like you to forget those wonderful things for as long as we live. Walt Disney didn't write the story, of course, neither did the brother's grim, who first put it into print. The tale is a little bit older than time, so nobody remembers who first thought it up. Maybe it really happened. Whatever the facts of the matter, it surely belongs on this is my best,

2:03and on my daughter's birthday. Once upon a time in the middle of winter, when the flakes of snow were falling like feathers from the sky, a queen sat at a window sewing. And while she was sewing, she pricked her finger with the needle, and three drops of blood fell upon the snow, and the red looked pretty from the white snow and she thought to herself, would that I had a child as white as snow, as red as blood, and as black as the wood of the window frame. Soon after that, she had a little daughter who was as white as snow, and red as blood, and her hair was as black as Ebony, and she was therefore called little snow white.

3:05And when the child was born, the queen died. After a year at past, the king took to himself a other wife. She was a beautiful woman, but she could not bear that anyone else should surpass her in beauty. She had a wonderful looking glass, and when she stood in front of it, and looked at herself in it, she said, Magic mirror on the walls. Who is the parent one of all? And the looking glass answered, Babe, be right in the window. But snow white was growing up, and grew more and more beautiful. She was as beautiful as the day, and more beautiful in the queen herself. And finally, the queen asked her looking glass. Magic mirror on the walls. Who is the parent one of all? And the looking glass answered, Babe, be right in the window frame. But old, a lovely lady died. A glass is more fair to me.

4:06A glass for her, reveal her name. This red scroll, hair glass is Ebony. It is white with snow. Snow white. At this the wicked queen locked snow white away in a distant wing of the castle, and dressed her in rags, but none might learn of her beauty. But in the wall garden outside Snow White's room was a wishing well, and there each day she would walk with her friends, the birds, who came from far away to listen to a song. I'm with you. For a long time now, to find me, for the years, I'm with you.

5:11You are with me. You are with me. You are with me. Oh. Did I frighten you? No. But I think you better go now before the queen's cards catch you here. Will. Now that I found you, feel what I have to say. One song I have but one song. One song only for you. One heart and the living,

6:14ever and treating, constantly true. One love that has possessed me. One love that has possessed me. One song only for you. One love that has possessed me. It was not long before word came to the queen that a prince of a mighty neighbouring realm had sought out Snow White and declared his love for her.

7:14When she heard that she turned green, and then yellow with jealous rage, and summoned a faithful huntsman to do her despicable bidding. Take her far into the forest. Find some secluded glade where she can pick wild flowers. Yes, your majesty. And there, my faithful huntsman, you will kill her. But your majesty, the little prince. To make doubly sure you do not fail. Bring back her heart to me, in this jeweled casket. Her heart matters. And so the huntsman took Snow White into the forest, to do with the queen at bed, and to do deeper and deeper the path ran, into the glades of the very depths of the forest, where the sun seldom penetrates, and the day is like a fetid midnight, in the reek of rotting leaves,

8:15and when they had got there, the huntsman drew forth his knife, and held it above her. Forgive me, I beg of your highness. Forgive me. Why, why don't I understand? The man with jealousy shall stop at nothing. But who? Queen, your stepmother. Commended you to kill me? Yes, run, hide, hide. Where can I go? Through the woods over the seven hills anyway. But I don't know the way. No matter go, quickly run, run away, hide. Now Snow White began to run. In her terror, the branches of the trees were like giant clutching hands, reaching out to claw at her, choker, terror to pieces. And now all flew out of a thicket, a bat circled above her head, regarding her with red, cyclist and malevolent eyes. And now all around, closing her in, were luminous, gleaming, glowing eyes, coming out of the black night of the forest,

9:15evil, shining eyes, coming closer, closer, closer. And when they came still closer, Snow White was ashamed that she'd been so frightened. For now as the dawn came up, she saw that the shining eyes had belonged to the gentlest animals of the forest, and a scream of terror that sent in scampering for cover. Please, please don't mind a wave. I won't hurt you. But you don't know what I've been through, and all because I was afraid. But I'm so ashamed of the first I made. What do you do when things go wrong? You think it's all? We have a fire and a cold like a bright sunny day, your hair's made of rain, and your heart is yours.

10:18With a fire and a fall, for the world seems to wake, and I knew we'd join to the dew as the sun is on. There's no use in grumbling, and rain drops come thumbling, remember you're the one who can feel the world with time and time. When you're fine and you feel, everything is in tune, and it's green and white for the whole. It's green and white for the whole. It's green and white for the whole. It's green and white for the whole. Toward evenings, Snow White came upon a little cottage of the forest and went into it to rest herself. The cottage was small,

11:18very small. Oh, oh, how adorable. It had a little bed. And look, it had the names carved on them. Doc, happy, sleepy, a funny name for children and grumpy and bad for sleeping. Oh, oh, I'm housekeeping myself. Living by just light on across the beds without mud in the mud. Oh, I want to start the night. I'm still asleep.

12:19Shut up, shut up. Somebody's been sleeping in my bed. It's in mine. It's a guru. And she's beautiful. Just like an angel. Angel. She's a female. No, female is body. Not your mouth. You wake her up. Oh, let her wake up. She don't belong here. Oh. Oh, are you a little men? How do you do? I said, how do you do? How do you do what? Oh, you can talk. I'm so glad. But don't tell me who you are. Let me guess. I know. You're grumpy. And you. You're Doc. What? What is it? Well, that's true. And you. Your best home. Your best home. Just a little. And you. Me. You're sleepy. You're sleepy. And you.

13:19You're sleepy. Not that time. Oh, I'm sleepy. And you. You're sleepy. Happy, man. That's me. And this, this, this here is dopey. See, he don't talk to him. You mean he can't? You don't know he never tried. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up. Now, you young lady. We know who we are. Who are you? I'm Snow White. Snow White. The princess. Yes. And please, please don't send me away. If you do, she'll kill me. Who? My stepmother's a queen. Oh. Well, then, I guess we've settled at Tuesday. Yes. Oh, you're welcome. Sorry. I'll keep house for you. I'll wash and sew and sweep and cook and cook. Oh. And I can also tell stories. Tell us the story now. Oh, what kind of story would you like? A true story. A love story. Well, yes. Yes. Well, once it was a princess, and she fell in love.

14:19Was it hard to do? Oh, oh, no. It was very easy. And then we could see that the prince was charming. The only one for me. Did he say he loved you? Did he steal a kiss? No. No? No. He was so romantic. I couldn't resist him. Someday, my prince will come. Someday, I'll find my love. And I'll know the form of a baby. Oh, what will you not be happy for me? Oh, what will you not be happy for me? Will you please tell my love you? I'm still a kid. Oh, too, I'm a good girl.

15:25I'm waiting for you. One for me, one for me. I'm a real pretty. Oh, oh, shut up, grumpy. Come on, flowers. Let's go to work. Just whistle by your wife. One for me, one for me, one for me. In the mornings, the little man went to the mountains to look for copper and gold. And in the evenings, they came back. And then they're separate to be ready. Snow White was alone the whole day, but she was never lonely.

16:25The birds and beasts of the forest kept her company. And the queen, meanwhile, believing the Huntsman had brought the best and most beautiful of all. And she went to the magic mirror and said, No white lies dead in the forest. The Huntsman has brought me proof. Behold in this jeweled casket. Her heart. Who now is the fairest one of all? Snow White still lives. The fairest is the life. It's the heart of the king you own in your life. The heart of a pig. Then I've been tricked. I'll go myself. I'll go to the dwarf cottage myself in a disguise so complete. No one will ever suspect. Now a formula to transform my beauty into ugliness. Change my greenery raiment to a peddler's cloak. Mummy dust will make me old.

17:30To shroud my cold of black of night. To age my voice and old hagg's cat. To wipe my hair off scream of fright. Now to drink the evil nicks. What? My hair? My voice? My voice? My voice? A perfect disguise. No. Which of my magic formula is a death of Snow White? Ah, this book of magic spells. Which shall it be? One kiss to the poison apple, and the victim's eyes close forever in the sleeping death.

18:33But wait, there may be an antidote. An antidote for the seduced poison apple. Here it is. The victim of the sleeping death can be revived only by love's first kiss. Ah, no fear. The dwarfs will think he's dead. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. You're the very deniler. Very much dead. Oh, no. My pet. I have a hair. Is this the nose? No, no, not. Oh, making pies? Yes, good by pie. It's apple pies that make an invoction of water. Pies made from apples, like these. Oh, they do look like this. Yes, but wait till you taste one, Barry.

19:34But, well, thank you, but I don't see. Oh, this might be the one with no ordinary apples. This is a wishing apple. One bite and all your dreams will come true. No, no, I promise I wouldn't know. I'll need these as someone you love. Well, well, what if there you are? I thought so. Take the apple dear and make your wish. I wish that it go on. I wish that my prince will find me and carry me away to his castle and he will live happily ever after. Fine, fine. Now, take the blades of the apple. Why are you laughing at me? Oh, if your dreams are for us, we'll still. Have we not come here? Now, I'll be the best in the land.

20:38The dwarfs, when they came home in the evening, found Snow White lying upon the ground. She breathed no longer and was dead. They lifted her up and made her on a beer and all seven of them sat around it and wept for her and wept three days long. Then they were going to Barry, but she still looked as if she were living. She still had a pretty red cheeks. They said we could not bury her in the dark ground and they had a transparent coffin of glass made and they later in it and wrote her name on it in golden letters and that she was a king's daughter. Then they put the coffin out upon the mountain and one of them always stayed by it and watched it and birds came too and wept for Snow White. First an hour, then a raven and last a dove. And now Snow White lay a long time in the coffin and did not change, but looked as if she were asleep for she was as white as snow, as red as blood. And her hair was as black as yesterday.

21:39And the last one day, as the dwarfs were placing fresh flowers on Snow White's glass coffin. One more, one more, one more. One more, one more. Listen. What's that? Be quiet. Surely somebody's singing up the mountain. But, but, but. They said that the song Snow White said a pretty huge dishing. Maybe you heard about Snow White and decided to come and see her. What if they don't know? Who's going to tell her? Violin. I found you. Glass. This is kissing us. And he, he don't know. Well, tell him, darling. I take it. Hey, hey. She's moving. She's waking out.

22:39Oh, darling. You will only be sleeping after all. Have I? Your father's keeping you long? Forever it seems. Then I found the antidote for the old witch's poison back in it. First kiss of the month. The first kiss of the month. One more, one more. Have had for granted. One more. One more. One more. One more. One more. One more. One more. And snow White went away with the prince. And Snow White went away with the prince, and their wedding was held with great show and splendor.

23:45But Snow White's wicked stepmother was also bitten to the feast. When she had arraided herself in beautiful clothes, she went before the looking glass and said, Near and near on the walls, who is the fairest one of all? And the glass answered, Oh, we, above here, the feathers are found, but the young queen is there as I pass and I drown. Then the wicked woman offered a curse, a curse so dreadful that the mirror shattered into a thousand pieces, and where the queen had stood, was only a heap of ashes, from which black spiders crawled and scuttled off into the night. And Snow White and the prince lived a long, long time and had all the happiness they wanted as long as they lived. The end.

24:55And Snow White and the prince lived a long, long time and had all the happiness they wanted as long as they lived. Henry, that's good like a wine, joined the audience here in Hollywood in applauding Jane Powell for her performance in tonight's play on This Is My Best. A few moments Mr. Wells will be back to tell you about next week. If ever a man can justly feel he is master of the manner, it's when he sits the head of his old table at dinner time and plays host to his family and friends. The gracious lady of the house, AIDS and the Betts, is feeling of pride when she adds some charming touch, like a crest of Lanka table wine served with the meat. This excellent wine never fails to add a note of festivity to any occasion.

25:56And remember, the service of wine is a simple thing. Just choose the wine you like best and serve it well, too. It may be a red table wine, such as Crest of Lanka, California burgundy or claret, or it may be a white table wine, like Crest of Lanka, California sorter. No matter which you choose, when you see the name Crest of Lanka on the bottle, you can be assured it is the Crest of quality in wine since 1889. And now, Mr. Austin Wells. Thank you. And thanks to our lovely and very young singing star, Miss Jane Powell. And congratulations to Bill Day. Thank you very much. We're extra proud of the music of the Crest of Blanca Orchestra, arranged and conducted by Bernard Katz. He and his fine musicians deserve another good word, a very, very good word. A John McIntyre, who has been bringing you Crest of Blanca's message on this program since it began, was the magic mirror.

27:00I'm sorry to say that he and Mrs. McIntyre, otherwise known as Jeanette Nolan, are forsaking radio after the night and going off to the wilderness to raise a family. And I supposed to write a novel. A very sorry to see them go. Jeanette, by the way, played the wicked queen tonight. She was wonderful, as always. For the record, I think we ought to admit that in the tale is told by the grim brothers from whom we borrowed pretty heavily tonight. There's a grizzling, closing sequence with some business by the wicked queen dancing. It's no white's wedding in red hot shoes. Now, my daughter, Christopher, doesn't mind that sort of thing at all, but we thought we'd better censor it for the benefit of the grownups. As Mr. G. K. Cheston once said so truly, children are innocent and love justice while most of us are wicked and naturally prefer mercy. Before I tell you about next week's show, here's a brief, a very urgent message. The women's army core needs at least 8,000 more women immediately for a whack hospital company in this country. Women to free nurses for uninterrupted care and of the wounded by serving as medical and surgical technicians and medical stenographers.

28:03No previous experience is necessary to enlist, and you may choose a hospital near your home. Next week on, this is my best, we bring you a very strong story by a very gifted American novelist, Mr. John Dos Pazos. Don't miss it, please. I think we can promise you an unusual broadcast. Its title is pretty unusual, too. Number one, figured out for yourself. Till next week then, until number one. I remain as always, obediently yours. Our story was abandoned for radio by Robert Tholman. Snow White was presented tonight by arrangement of Walt Disney, whose new production, The Three Cabelleros, has just been released. Don't forget, next week, Dawson Wells will star in his own radio production of John Dos Pazos' exciting story, number one. And remember, whenever you die, die in with wine, and make it the best wine. C-R-E-S-P-A-T-L-A-N-C-A. Cresta. Cresta.

29:05This is my best, today, prepared in collaboration with Renate. This is my best, and the presentation is the question mark of wine company of little more California, and came to you from Columbia's Playhouse in Hollywood. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.