The History Of Disney's Cinderella

There are very few people who haven't seen the Disney Version of Cinderella. This Movie was a hit in the '50's and still is today.

We all know this version as the story of Cinderella, thanks to Walt Disney. The original story of Cinderella was called Cendrillon and it was written by Charles Perrault. When Disney released its animated movie Cinderella to the public on the 15th of February 1950, it became one of the highest grossing films of the year, and Disney's most successful release since Bambi in 1942. Walt Disney took a big gamble by getting together the financing for this full featured movie. If it had been unsuccessful, the Studio would have been too broke to make any more animations in these post war years.

The magical tale was directed by Wilfred Jackson, Clyde Geronimi and Hamilton Luske. The voice of Cinderella was done by Ilene Woods. The wicked stepmother was voiced by Eleanor Audley and the fairy godmother was voiced by Verna Felton. Mike Douglass did the voice of Prince Charming. The prince had a larger role in earlier drafts of the screen play, but this was cut out of the film.

There were other parts of the film that were also cut out, like a song called 'Cinderella Worksong', which was a fantasy that she had when her Stepmother told her she could go to the ball if she finished all her work. She imagines herself multiplying into many maids to complete all her tasks. Instead they used this song for the mice when they made Cinderella a dress. In another cut scene, Cinderella spys on her family after they return from the ball moaning about the girl that the prince danced with all night. She was amused that they didn't realize that it was her, but this scene was also cut, as Disney thought that this made her look spiteful.

The soundtrack for for this included well liked songs like A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes, The Work Song, So this is Love and Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo all written by Mack David, Jerry Livingston and Al Hoffman. The song Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo was nominated for best song at the Academy Awards, and Cinderella also got a nomination for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture.

In 1957, 1965, 1973, 1981 and 1987 Cinderella was re-released in theaters. It came out on video in 1988.

Cinderella was made on the cusp between the successful Disney animations of the 1930's and the 1940's and the less popular animations of the 1950's. This movie represented both era's perfectly.


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Michel Maling has enjoyed growing up on Disney Movies. For More Disney Food, visit: http://thedisneydomain.com