CINDERELLA (1950)

Summary:

Walt Disney's animated masterpiece, "Cinderella," tells the timeless tale of a kind-hearted young woman trapped in servitude by her cruel stepmother, Lady Tremaine, and her two jealous stepsisters, Anastasia and Drizella. Despite her dismal circumstances, Cinderella maintains a hopeful spirit, finding solace and companionship in her loyal animal friends. Her life takes a magical turn when a royal ball is announced, offering the chance for every maiden in the kingdom to meet Prince Charming.

Through the intervention of her benevolent Fairy Godmother, Cinderella is transformed from a ragged servant into a beautiful princess, complete with a magnificent gown, a carriage, and glass slippers. She attends the ball and captivates the Prince, but the enchantment is temporary, set to expire at the stroke of midnight. Her hurried departure leaves behind a single glass slipper, becoming the key to her destiny and the Prince's quest to find his mysterious love. The film is a classic celebration of perseverance, kindness, and the enduring power of dreams.

Keywords: Cinderella, 1950, Ilene Woods, Fairy Tale, Animation, Musical, Fantasy, Romance, Disney.

Plot:

The story opens in a picturesque kingdom, introducing Cinderella, a young woman of gentle spirit and unwavering kindness. Orphaned at a tender age, she was left in the care of her stepmother, Lady Tremaine, a woman of cold demeanor and calculating cruelty. Lady Tremaine, along with her two equally unpleasant daughters, Anastasia and Drizella, treats Cinderella not as a family member but as a mere servant. Cinderella's days are filled with endless chores, from cooking and cleaning to attending to the whims of her demanding stepsisters, while they live lives of leisure and luxury. Despite her grueling existence, Cinderella finds joy and companionship in the small creatures of the household: mice Jaq and Gus, her loyal dog Bruno, and Major, the horse. These animals are her only true friends, and they often assist her in her tasks and provide much-needed emotional support, often at odds with Lady Tremaine's conniving cat, Lucifer.

Meanwhile, at the royal palace, the King, frustrated by his son Prince Charming's lack of interest in marriage, devises a plan. He announces a grand ball, inviting all eligible maidens in the kingdom to attend, hoping the Prince will find a suitable bride and provide him with grandchildren. The news of the ball sends a ripple of excitement through the kingdom, and even into Cinderella's dismal household. Anastasia and Drizella are ecstatic, immediately planning their outfits and practicing their musical "talents," much to Cinderella's exasperation. Cinderella, too, harbors a secret hope of attending, a dream that seems impossible given her lack of suitable attire and her stepmother's strict rules.

Cinderella's animal friends, witnessing her quiet despair, decide to take matters into their own paws. They meticulously mend and decorate an old gown of Cinderella's late mother, using discarded sashes and beads from the stepsisters' belongings, transforming it into a beautiful, if somewhat patchwork, ball gown. On the night of the ball, as Cinderella prepares her stepfamily, they descend the stairs, only to be met by Cinderella, radiant in her newly fashioned dress. For a fleeting moment, Lady Tremaine is taken aback, but her jealousy quickly surfaces. She subtly points out the familiar sash and beads to her daughters. Enraged by the thought of Cinderella outshining them, Anastasia and Drizella, egged on by their mother, launch into a vicious attack, tearing Cinderella's dress to shreds and leaving her heartbroken and alone in the garden, sobbing uncontrollably amidst the ruined fabric.

Just as all hope seems lost, a gentle light appears, and Cinderella's Fairy Godmother materializes before her. With a warm smile and a wave of her magic wand, "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo," she begins to work wonders. A pumpkin is transformed into a magnificent carriage, four mice become majestic horses, Bruno the dog becomes a footman, and Major the horse is turned into a coachman. Finally, with a flourish, Cinderella's tattered dress is replaced by a breathtaking ball gown, shimmering with silver and blue, complete with sparkling glass slippers. The Fairy Godmother imparts a crucial warning: the magic is only temporary and will cease at the stroke of midnight, reverting everything to its original form. Cinderella, filled with renewed hope and gratitude, promises to be home before the clock strikes twelve.

Arriving at the ball, Cinderella is an ethereal vision. Her entrance immediately captures the attention of all, particularly Prince Charming, who is instantly smitten. He has been bored and disinterested in all the other maidens, but Cinderella's grace and beauty captivate him entirely. They dance the night away, oblivious to anyone else in the crowded ballroom, falling deeply in love with each step. Lady Tremaine and her daughters, despite being present, fail to recognize the mysterious princess, too consumed by their own self-importance and jealousy. As the clock begins to chime midnight, Cinderella, remembering her Fairy Godmother's warning, tears herself away from the Prince's embrace, rushing out of the palace. The Prince, bewildered and desperate to know her identity, pursues her. In her haste, Cinderella loses one of her glass slippers on the grand staircase, a single shimmering clue to her identity.

The Prince is heartbroken but determined. The Grand Duke is dispatched across the kingdom, tasked with finding the maiden whose foot fits the delicate glass slipper. This royal decree brings the search to Cinderella's household. Lady Tremaine, realizing the gravity of the situation and fearing Cinderella might be the mysterious princess, locks her in her attic room, preventing her from trying on the slipper. As the Grand Duke arrives, Anastasia and Drizella desperately try to force their feet into the tiny slipper, but to no avail. Their feet are far too large, leading to comical but frustrating attempts.

Meanwhile, Cinderella's loyal mouse friends, Jaq and Gus, having overheard Lady Tremaine's scheme, manage to steal the key from her pocket. With Bruno's help, they struggle to carry the heavy key up the long stairs to Cinderella's attic room. After a tense struggle with Lucifer, who tries to thwart their efforts, they finally manage to unlock the door, freeing Cinderella just as the Grand Duke is about to leave, convinced there are no other maidens in the house. Cinderella rushes down, her heart pounding, and requests her turn to try on the slipper. Lady Tremaine, in a final act of malice, trips the Grand Duke's footman, causing the glass slipper to shatter into countless pieces.

The Grand Duke is distraught, believing all hope is lost. However, Cinderella calmly reveals that she has the other slipper, producing it from her pocket. Lady Tremaine and her daughters watch in horror and disbelief as Cinderella gracefully slips her foot into the remaining glass slipper, which fits perfectly. The magic of the moment is undeniable, and Cinderella's true identity is revealed. The Grand Duke, overjoyed, immediately takes Cinderella to the palace. Soon after, Cinderella marries Prince Charming in a magnificent ceremony, fulfilling her destiny and breaking free from her life of servitude. She and the Prince live happily ever after, a testament to her enduring kindness and the power of believing in one's dreams, even in the darkest of times.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Ilene Woods as Cinderella
• Eleanor Audley as Lady Tremaine (Stepmother)
• Verna Felton as Fairy Godmother
• William Phipps (voice) / Mike Douglas (singing) as Prince Charming
• Luis Van Rooten as The King / The Grand Duke
• Lucille Bliss as Anastasia Tremaine
• June Foray as Lucifer (cat) / other voices
• Jimmy MacDonald as Jaq / Gus / Bruno / other voices

Crew:

• Directors: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
• Producer: Walt Disney
• Screenwriters: Ken Anderson, Homer Brightman, Winston Hibler, Bill Peet, Erdman Penner, Harry Reeves, Joe Rinaldi, Ted Sears, Al Perkins (based on "Cendrillon" by Charles Perrault)
• Music Score: Oliver Wallace, Paul J. Smith
• Songs: Mack David, Al Hoffman, Jerry Livingston
• Art Director: Mary Blair (Color and Styling)
• Lead Animators: Marc Davis, Milt Kahl, Ward Kimball, Eric Larson, John Lounsbery, Wolfgang Reitherman, Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Les Clark

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: February 15, 1950
• Language: English
• Genre: Animated Musical Fantasy, Romance
• Running Time: 74 minutes
• Accolades: Nominated for 3 Academy Awards (Best Original Song for "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo", Best Original Score, Best Sound)