World War II really brought the Disney Studio to its knees. After years of producing top-notch animated productions like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo and Bambi, the war forced the studio to get by on cheaply made films which were enough to make sufficient money to stay alive. In 1950, when all was better, Uncle Walt decided to try to revive the magic of the animated film- with the same formula that made Disney, Disney. The musical fairytale. And for good reason. Cinderella is definitely one of the best Disney films ever made.
We all know the story so there is really no need to delve deep into it. Cinderella, the titular protagonist, is orphaned and forced to live with her stepmother and stepsisters. Reduced to a servant in her own home, Cinderella copes with the orders and demands thrown upon her every single day. Yet she dreams of a better life where all her dreams will come true. But when she falls in love with the kingdom's prince, it will take her courage, determination and sheer self sacrifice to make all her dreams come true. Either that or a Fairy Godmother, a bunch of singing mice and a perfect fit into a glass slipper.
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| Not bad for a pumpkin. |
Cinderella is simply charming. No pun intended. The animation is soft and pretty, the songs are catchy and hummable and the story is very engaging. The climax of the story - where (Mild Spoilers!) Cinderella must race against time to fit into the slipper - is gripping and was definitely a nail-biter for me.
What stands out about this film is the characterization. Cinderella is sweet, determined and lovable (though she gets flak for being passive). Lady Tremaine, the stepmother, is genteel, proud but cruel and would give Mother Gothel from Tangled a run for her money. Cinderella's twin stepsisters, Drizella and Anastasia are goofy, cartoonish and simply caricatures of un-femininity. The Fairy Godmother is like everyone's grandmother, fussy and loveable. The King is pompous and scatterbrained. The Grand Duke is likeable and gets many a funny moment in the film.
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| "Talk to the hand!" |
Supporting characters like the mice, Lucifer the cat and Bruno the dog are memorable and contribute many of the film's laugh-out-loud moments. And there's also the Prince.
Like I said, the animation is gorgeous. Backgrounds are lush and detailed, and characters in the foreground seem to have a sense of realism. The animation is so well done, it's almost like characters were rotoscoped (they weren't, so put that thought out of your head!). Cinderella and Lady Tremaine in particular are the most realistic-looking characters. But not to the point of looking creepy. It's very beautifully done. Two scenes stood out for me in particular, both iconic moments in film history. The first is the "Sing Sweet Nightingale" sequence, where Cinderella cleans the floor amid hundreds of floating bubbles. The other was, of course, the transformation scene, particularly when the Fairy Godmother transforms Cinderella's rags into that beautiful gown. To think that was hand-drawn is mind blowing.
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| Hand drawn. Believe it. |
Cinderella has never been one of my favorite Disney films. I'll be honest.I think I have seen it a grand total of three times. Compare that with my favorites like Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Aladdin among others, which I have seen more than two dozen times each. I have always enjoyed Cinderella from a distance, never truly embracing it as one of my all time favorites. That still hasn't changed upon my most recent viewing this month. The film is sweet, pretty and feel good with some great scenes and music. Does it stand alongside the best of the best at the lofty Disney heights? It kind of does, but still doesn't feel "epic". It's a rather middling film. Don't get me wrong, Cinderella is amazing. But for me, personally, it doesn't do that much to rank it among my all time favorites.
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| "Are you on Facebook!?" |
If you like Disney animation, especially musical fairytales, you'll love Cinderella. The film is a delight from start to finish and you'll definitely find yourself humming the songs long after. 62 years later, this film is still high on the entertainment value. Combine that with the aggressive Disney Princess marketing and Cinderella is more than just a film- it's a brand. But it's a brand that the Disney Company should be- and is- proud of.
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| Perfect fit! |
Overall, a fantastic, magical film. If you haven't seen it, watch it now!
RATING: ★★★★ (Very Good)
Walt Disney's Cinderella is now available for the first time on Blu-ray as part of Disney's prestigious Diamond Collection. Buy it now from Amazon (US). Visit the official Cinderella site here.