Cinderella

This movie was first released in 1950 and became the greatest critical and commercial hit for the studio since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and helped reverse the studio's fortunes, which were downturned due to World War 2.

The story is about a young girl called Cinderella who is forced to become a maid in her own house to her cruel step-mother and sisters who took over the estate after her father dies. Her only friends are the resident mice and birds who she treats with respect and friendship. One day, the king, a pudgy likeable man who wishes his son to marry so he may have grandchildren to care for, orders every eligible maiden in the small kingdom to attend a royal ball in honour of the Prince. Cinderella’s step-mother, wanting to advance the interests of her own daughters, tries to keep Cinderella busy so she has no time to make her dress. Her small friends decide to repay Cinderella’s kindness by doing it for her, only to be thwarted as the step-sisters ruin the dress. All is not lost when Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother uses magic to create a new dress and allows her to go to the ball.

At the ball, the Prince rejects every girl until he sees Cinderella, who agrees to dance with him. The two fall in love and go out for a stroll together in the castle gardens. As they are about to kiss, Cinderella hears the clock start to chime midnight and flees. As she leaves the castle, one of her slippers falls off. The palace guards give chase as Cinderella flees in the coach before the spell breaks on the last stroke of midnight.

The next day, the king issues a royal proclamation ordering every maiden in the kingdom to try on the slipper for size in an effort to find the missing girl who the Prince intends to marry. After this news reaches Cinderella's household, the step-mother realizes her stepdaughter is that girl and locks her in her attic bedroom. Thanks to the efforts of her small friends, Cinderella managed to escape her room and ask to try on the slipper.

Knowing it will fit, the step-mother orchestrates for the slipper to fall and break. However, much to her horror, Cinderella reveals the other slipper, which fits perfectly. The film ends with a now-married Prince and Cinderella at their wedding, sharing a kiss as they leave.

SONGS: Songs in the film include "Cinderella", "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes", "Sing Sweet Nightingale", "The Work Song", "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo", and "So This is Love".

DID YOU KNOW: The original story of Cinderella was a lot more gruesome than its Disney counterpart. In the original, the step-sisters cut off bits of their feet in an effort to fit into the glass slipper. Gross!