Cinderella
Released 1950
Directed By Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
Music By Paul J. Smith, Oliver Wallace with songs by Mack David, Al Hoffman, and Jerry Livingston
Released 1950
Directed By Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
Music By Paul J. Smith, Oliver Wallace with songs by Mack David, Al Hoffman, and Jerry Livingston
Happy Valentine’s Day fellow Disney fans!!! I hope you have plans for this holiday, be it
with your spouse, significant other, or friends and that you are staying safe
in this extended winter weather. I
really don’t have much set up for this month’s film so … Let’s dive in!
Cinderella the classic story of a young girl treated
badly by her wicked stepmother and stepsisters, sneaking away to a royal ball,
falling instantly in love with the Prince (and he with her) and ultimately the
glass slipper fits and there’s a royal wedding.
Well … at least that’s the story in a nutshell. In watching the special edition disc
released, there’s so much that could be said about this wonderful film: the
animation, the treatment of Cinderella and Lady Tremaine as people where the
animals and stepsisters were truly “cartoony;” the perfect balance of comedic
and magical elements with humanized and psychological depth in the character; a
story that gets us to root for the underdog and rejoice and cheer when the she
finds her happy ending; or the composition that gave us many memorable songs (who
could resist humming “A Dream Is A Wish” or “Bibbidy Boppity Boo”). I found myself struggling which direction to
take this month’s blog until I realized: the Cinderella story parallels that of
Walt Disney and many of the people involved with Walt Disney Studios.
Walt Disney came from humble beginnings, the child of an
Irish-Canadian immigrant father and German-American mother. He and his brother Roy moved to California
with basically a suitcase and the money in their pockets (which really wasn’t
much). Over the course of the next few years, Walt and Roy built Walt Disney
Studios, which then led to the creation of Disneyland, and the start of Disney
World, which started with Walt’s idea of the Experimental Prototype Community
Of Tomorrow (affectionately termed EPCOT today). Walt Disney Animation Studios
had seen success with the full length animated feature of Snow White and the
Seven Dwarves when it was released in 1937 but hadn’t really had a
successful movie since. Without success
in the film realm, the studio would soon have to close its doors. Cinderella had provided that success
needed to help bring the studio out of debt.
The voice of the heroine herself was portrayed by Ilene Woods had her
Cinderella moment during the film as well.
Woods originally came in to record demo tracks of the music that would
later be used in the film. When Disney
had heard the tracks he contacted Woods to play the role of Cinderella. The music for the film was written by three
Tin Pan Alley writers (the first song written for the film was “A Dream Is A
Wish Your Heart Makes”) … Certainly a Cinderella moment for them as well.
The list could go on and on I’m sure of Cinderella moments
connected with Disney and all the endeavors of the studios and theme
parks. Disney’s driving force was his
dream and his love of drawing. I must
admit that of all the Disney Princess movies, Cinderella is perhaps that
rare breed of movie that … well … That I didn’t get into as much as the
others. I know … Blasphemy of all
Disney-philes here is a movie that has withstood the test of time cinematically
and musically, and this reviewer saying “eh it’s okay.” But while not my favorite of the animated
features, having “Cinderella Moments” in life has drawn me to this film.
So what you may be asking is my Cinderella moment? Well … Truthfully … There are many to count. Early in my singing career taking a few
awards I never thought I would (like an incentive award for the Met), the new
position in my workplace that as the “new guy” I thought I’d never get, my
career as a drag performer … Many things.
Forgive me for a shortened blog this time around
everyone. I undertook Cinderella
as a challenge knowing I would have a difficult time writing on it. However, that’s part of undertaking anything
right? If Walt Disney’s life and work
teaches us anything, it’s that dreaming and achieving even when there are
obstacles is still possible. Much like
the success of Cinderella came at a time the studio was close to financial
peril and help turn the fortune of the studio around.
Cinderella: The rags to riches story of a girl with a pure heart that finds love with her prince with the help of a little magic from her Fairy Godmother. Taking a timeless story and adding Disney magic, this film gives us the right blend of fantasy and humanity creating a perfectly balance feature.
Cinderella: The rags to riches story of a girl with a pure heart that finds love with her prince with the help of a little magic from her Fairy Godmother. Taking a timeless story and adding Disney magic, this film gives us the right blend of fantasy and humanity creating a perfectly balance feature.
Perfect For: The dreamer in your family, whether young or young at heart.
Most likely character you’ll see in the parks: One of the few films you have a chance to see several characters. Most likely you’ll see Cinderella herself dressed in her ball gown finery, but often times in Disneyland the Tremaines, Drizilla, Anastasia and Lady Tremaine herself, looking for a husbands and even *shudders* singing.
Well everyone I’m going to give this new posting scheduled a
try for a bit. We’ll see how it happens
but … in the meantime, what’s your Cinderella moment?
In honor of Mardi Gras, the film for March will be: The Princess and the Frog
In honor of Mardi Gras, the film for March will be: The Princess and the Frog
Make it a Magical Day – Pat A
