Cinderella
Though screen adaptations of Cinderella
abound, none is as well-remembered as the 1950 Disney animated version.
Returning to full-length animated features for the first time since
1942, Disney also made a return to the world of fairy tales, expanding
the classic French story with a host of new animal characters.
Sweet-hearted Cinderella moves in with her Stepmother and two
Stepsisters, Anastasia and Drusilla, when her widowed father remarries.
When the father dies, the Stepmother raises Cinderella as a domestic
slave. Cinderella’s only friends are the animals—bluebirds, Bruno the
dog and two mice named Gus and Jaq. The birds and mice are menaced by
the Stepmother’s cat, Lucifer (and with a name like that…).
Across the village, the King announces a grand ball, inviting all
eligible young ladies to come meet his unmarried son. That should
include Cinderella, but her wicked family leaves her without a thing to
wear. Thankfully, Cinderella has a Fairy Godmother. With a little
magic, a glass slipper and some help from her animal friends,
Cinderella just might live happily ever after.
True to Disney form, the film included a number of memorable tunes,
including “Cinderelly,” “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes,” and the
Oscar-nominated “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo.” The film was a triumphant
comeback for Disney's animated features, becoming one of the
most-watched movies of the year. Disney decided to stick with the trend
of animating popular tales, moving on to Peter Pan over the next few years.
|
 |
| 
