I’ve been in a romance-y mood ever since I saw The Princess Diaries, and the other night I decided to indulge in a viewing of one of my all-time favorite romantic movies. At one o’clock in the morning. When I should have been writing a paper. Such is life.

I’m a sucker for Rodgers and Hammerstein. I love musicals, and not too many folks can outdo this creative team. And I definitely prefer the touchy-feely sentimentality of Hammerstein to the more hard-edged lyrics of Hart. I’ve loved their version of Cinderella for as long as I can remember, and it stands as my favorite although I enjoyed Disney’s version and Drew Barrymore’s Ever After. The songs are phenomenal, the prince (Stuart Damon) is gorgeous, and the sweep-you-off-your-feet, seemingly impossible romance is a thrill every time. (OK, Bargainluvers, you can dole out that corny award any time now.)

Leslie Ann Warren, 17 at the time, stars as the starry-eyed Cinderella, a meek and mild lass who exudes an innocence and freshness rarely seen on screen. She timidly obeys the commands of her step-mother and, to a lesser extent, her step-sisters, but when no one is looking, she whiles away her hours dreaming by the fireplace (In My Own Little Corner). As the movie begins, Cinderella is alone at home with strict orders to speak to no one. When a handsome stranger passes by on his travels, however, her kindness overcomes her fear of her step-mother and she offers him some water. As he and his companions move on, Cinderella discovers to her delight that the courteous gentleman with whom she had been speaking is, in fact, the prince.

When she learns of the prince’s invitation to a royal ball (The Prince is Giving a Ball), Cinderella dreams of going to meet the prince again. Her step-family, of course, balks at the thought, and she must remain at home among the ashes. That is, until her fairy godmother shows up to convince her that anything is possible if she wants it badly enough (Impossible). The fairy godmother’s song is a key number in both the Disney version and this version. Here, however, the emphasis is upon an individual’s power to dream the impossible and make it come true. In Disney, the focus is on the magic in a few certain words. I like both, but Bibbity Bobbity Boo isn’t likely to come in handy much in ordinary life!

Devoid of her rags and draped in a luxurious fur-trimmed gown, Cinderella arrives at the ball, flooring the previously fatigued prince. Once glance, and the prince is hooked. And somehow, it seems to him that they have met before… Ten Minutes Ago, the prince’s starry-eyed duet with Cinderella about their love at first sight, is my favorite song in the film. Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? also fits in here, an interesting question because the prince didn’t really fall for Cinderella until she looked like a princess instead of a dirt-smudged servant. Kinda like Eric in The Little Mermaid. These princes who are so sure they’ll know their true love the first time they lay eyes on her… Anyway, Cinderella’s abrupt departure leaves the prince in shambles, and he must embark on a kingdom-wide search for the missing girl of his dreams. The film ends as it begins, and the prince’s ability to recognize Cinderella in her rags and still be smitten is enough evidence for me that this love is not based solely on exterior appearances.

I love this movie. Its sets are very simple, and the scene in which Cinderella flies to the ball in her carriage is extremely fake, but I breathe it all in just the same. This prince has long been my standard for whether or not I consider an actor to be terribly handsome. Few can measure up. As I watched this most recently, I realized that the prince, as kind and courteous as he is, is a bit condescending. In his conversation with Cinderella, he carries a clear air of superiority, and he comes off as a bit of a snob when he dismisses Prunella and Esmerelda on the basis of a creaking knee and batting eyes. Cinderella is poor and subservient, but under the right conditions it is clear that she’s physically flawless. Oh, well. It’s a fairy tale.

The step-family is extremely enjoyable. Prunella (hey, speaking of Little Mermaid, she played Ursula) and Esmerelda (a Rodgers and Hammerstein regular) come off as a couple of silly, insecure young women constantly badgered by their whining mother. They’re not especially nice, but it’s not too hard to sympathize with them. Their moment in the spotlight comes with the hilarious and all-too-true song, Why Would a Fellow Want a Girl Like Her? They also come across as being halfway decent sisters during the song I Suppose. (Is that the title? I’m not sure.) The step-mother is hilariously snivelly, always complaining and wearing a look of disdain on her face. The look she wears when the prince silences her from reprimanding Cinderella at the end of the film is simply priceless. Put it on freeze frame. You’ll laugh out loud. The king and queen are regal and genteel, played by veteran actors Walter Pidgeon and Ginger Rogers, and the kindly fairy godmother is beautifully portrayed by Celeste Holm.

I could watch this movie a hundred times – I probably have – and never get tired of it. “Ahhh-ahhh-ahhh!” (Little Mermaid again. Think Ariel getting her voice back from Ursula. Divine chorus. Can ya hear it? That is the sound of inspiration.)

~el fin~


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8