Cinderella (1965)

"It would not be so bad if I saw them as fair young maidens."

"How else do you see them?"

"As contenders for a prize and I am the prize."

Cinderella (Warren) sleeps in the ashes and dreams of a better life.  She lives with her cruel Stepmother (Van Fleet) and her vain stepsisters Prunella (Carroll) and Esmerelda (Ruick), and does all of the work at home.  The King (Pidgeon) and Queen (Rogers) throw a ball to welcome their son, Prince Christopher (Damon), back to the kingdom and to introduce him to all of the eligible ladies in the kingdom.  Cinderella longs to go to the ball, but her family laughs at the thought.

After her Stepmother and stepsisters leave, she is visited by her Fairy Godmother (Holm).  The Fairy Godmother encourages her to wish for the impossible.  And soon she is on the way to the ball.  Will her impossible dream come true?


In 1957, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein adapted the fairy tale Cinderella into a made-for-TV musical.  The production starred Julie Andrews as Cinderella.  The movie was a success and in 1965 Rodgers commissioned a remake.

The film was remade again in 1997 with Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother.  This version was also slightly different than the previous versions, with minor alterations to the story and new songs (taken from other Rodgers and Hammerstein shows).

It was also adapted as a stage musical.  The first production of the show was in 1958.  It went through several alterations around the world.  In 2013 it debuted on Broadway with Laura Osnes as Cinderella and Victoria Clark as the Fairy Godmother.  The production won 9 Tony Awards, including Costume Design.

Rodgers served as the Executive Producer for the movie, while Joseph Schrank wrote a new script.  Most of the songs from the original production were kept, with the addition of "Loneliness of Evening" (which was originally written for "South Pacific").

They put together a fantastic cast.  Lesley Ann Warren, who was only 18, shines as Cinderella.  This was her first big role and launched her career (2 years later she made her feature film debut in The Happiest Millionaire).  She is charming and compelling.  Stuart Damon, who worked on Broadway prior to this movie, is nice but bland as the Prince.  The stepsisters are ridiculous and portrayed by fabulous actresses.  Barbara Ruick is a hoot as Esmerelda.  This is her second Rogers and Hammerstein musical; she appeared as Carrie Pipperidge in the 1956 Carousel film.  Pat Carroll is best known as the voice of Ursula in Disney's The Little Mermaid, but is funny here as Prunella.

Veteran actors Walter Pidgeon and Ginger Rogers are the King and Queen.  They don't get to do much, but bring an air of authority to the roles.  They even get a brief solo dance (to please Rogers fans).  Jo Van Fleet is haughty as the Stepmother.  And Celeste Holm brings the magic as the Fairy Godmother.

It is clearly a made-for-TV movie.  The production is good, but doesn't have the budget / production values of a feature film.  The costumes are ok... with Cinderella's gown as the main standout.  The songs are well done and the dances are good, but not grand.  It is a charming film... but I prefer aspects of the other versions of this movie: I love Julie Andrews as Cinderella, the production of the Brandy version, and the costumes/music of the Broadway version.

Cinderella (1965) 84 minutes
Director: Charles S. Dubin
Starring: Ginger Rogers as Queen
Walter Pidgeon as King
Celeste Holm as Fairy Godmother
Jo Van Fleet as Stepmother
Stuart Damon as Prince
Pat Carroll as Prunella
Barbara Ruick as Esmerelda
Lesley Ann Warren as Cinderella