Signaling at once the end of an era and a return to feature-length story cartoons after years of making episodic fare like “Make Mine Music” and “Three Caballeros,” “Cinderella” is one of Walt Disney’s best known, most admired enchanting fables.
Some liberties are taken with the original Charles Perrault fairy tale due to political correctness and aim to appeal to all members of the family. Thus, the wicked step sisters do not have their eyes pecked out by crows.
But overall, the story remains the same: Cinderella, (Ilene Woods) mistreated and abused her selfish step family, dreams of going to the Prince’s ball. She gets her wish fulfilled due to the efforts of her Fairy Godmother, who helps with her pumpkin-into-coach bit, before warning, “be home by midnight” warning.
Though enchanting the prince at the ball, Cinderella hightails it at midnight, leaving a glass slipper behind.
Though charming, Cinderella is not as inventive as Disney’s animated features “Snow White” or “Fantasia.” But is has many good moments that add to a delightful feature, enhanced by the inclusion of several funny animal characters and several melodic songs, including “Cinderelly,” “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes,” and “Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo.”
Oscar Nominations: 3
Sound Recording: C.O. Slyfield
Song: Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo, music and lyrics by Mack David, Al Hoffman and Jerry Livingston
Scoring (Musical): Oliver Wallace and Paul J. Smith
Oscar Awards: None
Oscar Context:
The Song Award went to Ray Evans and Jay Livingston for Mona Lisa, from “Captain Carey, U.S.A.”
Adolph Deutsch and Roger Edens won the Scoring Oscar for Ännie Get Your Gun.”
Running time: 60 Minutes.
Directed by Hamilton Luske and Wilfred Jackson.
Bill Peet, Ted Sears, Homer Brightman, Ken Anderson, Erdman Penner.
October 4, 2005
RKO Radio Pictures