THE PLOT THUS FAR
Cinderella comes to life in this 50th Anniversary Edition of the most beloved fairy tale of all time. A sparkling fantasy of music, magic and romance, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella captivates from overture to finale with a delightful score and stunning flittering performances from an all-star cast. Academy Award nominee Lesley Ann Warren is charming as the raggedy waif turned belle of the ball with Broadway star Stuart Damon as the Prince. Also starring Academy Award nominee Walter Pidgeon, Academy Award Winners Ginger Rogers and Celeste Hold as the Fairy Godmother, Cinderella will waltz into the hearts of the entire family and live happily ever after as one of the most irresistible musicals ever made.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“Cinderella” was a lovely attempt at capturing an accurate Broadway production of Cinderella for 1960s television. A lot of the camera angles and styling seem reflective in some of the shows that Megan Draper starred on in Mad Men. But, this is Lesley Ann Warren’s showcase to shine. Her songs, her interactions with Rogers and Holm. Everything just adds up to a lovely production that is so much a part of its time.
Lesley Ann Warren might still be my favorite Cinderella. Her facial features, posture and voice suggest an innocence yet elegance that suits the original fairy tale. The classic 1950 version that Disney presented seemed to play in some of Germany’s darker re-imaginings of the character. Especially since if you were using a woman from the region, Warren’s features would probably be way closer to what the Brothers Grimm intended. Plus, how about that music?
The DVD comes with a retrospective featurette as the special feature. The A/V Quality is spectacular for a show of its age. The Dolby track has been remastered from original elements. Plus, the transfer really pops for standard definition. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.
RELEASE DATE: 09/09/2014