 At this time , Disney also encouraged his staff to see a variety of films . These ranged from the mainstream , such as MGM 's Romeo and Juliet ( 1936 ) — to which Disney made direct reference in a story meeting pertaining to the scene in which Snow White lies in her glass coffin — to the more obscure , including European silent cinema . Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs , as well as the two Disney films to follow it , were also influenced by such German expressionist films as Nosferatu ( 1922 ) and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari ( 1919 ) , both of which were recommended by Disney to his staff . This influence is particularly evident in the scenes of Snow White fleeing through the forest and the Queen 's transformation into the Witch . The latter scene was also inspired by Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ( 1931 ) , to which Disney made specific reference in story meetings . 
