We've hit 1950, which you'll be pleased to hear is much less painful than the previous decade. We've got some legit classics ahead of us, kicking off with a quintessential Disney princess' perfect fairytale...
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| Casting off the stench of 'Fun and Fancy Free' |
Cinderella (1950)
A choir croons the title song 'Cinderella' whilst an old-fashioned fairytale book opens to reveal a glittering castle. We all collectively breathe a sigh of relief. This is more like it. Indeed, the opening to Disney's second princess film might be the most stereotypically 'Disney' there is.
Following the narrator's preamble, which explains the dead dad, the stepmother gone bad, the kingdom's single prince, and Cinderella's servant-state, we get down to business. Cinders awakens from her dream-filled slumber, summoning all her animal friends, including cute bluebirds and talking mice, who are perfectly trained in housework. Cue the first proper song.
'A Dream is A Wish Your Heart Makes' has arguably become more popular after Lily James' rendition in the live-action remake, but it's stood the test of time as one of the better Disney princess songs. Unlike Snow White or Aurora, Ilene Woods' vocals aren't childish or operatic, but smooth and sweet, mirroring jazz singers of the time. They also fit the character herself – while she's forced to submit to her stepmother and stepsisters, Cinderella is quietly rebellious, slyly ridiculing them to her animal friends and never forgetting that she should have it so much better.
The first half of the film relies heavily on Cinderella's relationship with the creatures of the house. Most scenes centre around the mice (Jaq, and new recruit Gus), as they bond with Cinders – they can talk in a squeaky kind of way – and try to avoid the menacing claws of Lady Tremaine's cat, Lucifer.
Lucifer is basically the devil. The literal cat-and-mouse scenes, where the furry fiend is trying to catch his prey, Tom and Jerry style, are ridiculously tense. I was actually holding my breath and yelping at the screen for the mice to get away from his lethal grip. His part in the film's climax is extraordinarily vile, and I'm glad to see the back of him.
Less openly violent but even more sinister than Lucifer is his owner, the formidable Lady Tremaine. Just like her feline counterpart, the vindictive stepmother is introduced to us by a pair of eyes glowing in the dark. Indeed, she is synonymous with darkness, literally throwing shade on to Cinderella wherever she goes. The true power of her menace lies in restraint – while she goads the stepsisters into getting their claws into Cinderella and leaving her in tatters, she simply smirks from the sidelines. Unlike other Disney villains, she has no magical powers, but plays in mind-games. The idea that she could be real makes her even more scary.
In a film that plays very cleverly with darkness and light, the bouncing Fairy Godmother arrives in all her bright, sparkly glory, as a desperately needed beacon of hope. 'Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo' has become a stone-cold classic, and not just for its earworm quality. It's a tonic to the desperate sadness in that moment, and sets the story on a trail to happiness.
As well as being a well-crafted story with real pathos in its characters, Disney's 12th animated classic oozes style from beginning to end. From the smooth, '50s lilt of its songs and Cinderella's voice, to the colour palette. The palace itself is a designer's dream, the reflective blue and purple glittering surfaces calling back to Cinder's famous scrubbing scene where she harmonises in her own soap bubbles, and reaching forward to the elegant glass slipper which unlocks her freedom and happily ever after.
Cinderella marks a true return to form, with a perfectly paced story, memorable songs, proper villains, cute sidekicks, and a character you can truly get behind. Bring on the rest of the 1950s.
Following the narrator's preamble, which explains the dead dad, the stepmother gone bad, the kingdom's single prince, and Cinderella's servant-state, we get down to business. Cinders awakens from her dream-filled slumber, summoning all her animal friends, including cute bluebirds and talking mice, who are perfectly trained in housework. Cue the first proper song.
 |
| 'I just had that dream that all my teeth fell out. Thank f**k I'm awake.' |
'A Dream is A Wish Your Heart Makes' has arguably become more popular after Lily James' rendition in the live-action remake, but it's stood the test of time as one of the better Disney princess songs. Unlike Snow White or Aurora, Ilene Woods' vocals aren't childish or operatic, but smooth and sweet, mirroring jazz singers of the time. They also fit the character herself – while she's forced to submit to her stepmother and stepsisters, Cinderella is quietly rebellious, slyly ridiculing them to her animal friends and never forgetting that she should have it so much better.
The first half of the film relies heavily on Cinderella's relationship with the creatures of the house. Most scenes centre around the mice (Jaq, and new recruit Gus), as they bond with Cinders – they can talk in a squeaky kind of way – and try to avoid the menacing claws of Lady Tremaine's cat, Lucifer.
 |
| 'FEED ME YOUR SOUL, PETTY HUMAN.' |
Lucifer is basically the devil. The literal cat-and-mouse scenes, where the furry fiend is trying to catch his prey, Tom and Jerry style, are ridiculously tense. I was actually holding my breath and yelping at the screen for the mice to get away from his lethal grip. His part in the film's climax is extraordinarily vile, and I'm glad to see the back of him.
Less openly violent but even more sinister than Lucifer is his owner, the formidable Lady Tremaine. Just like her feline counterpart, the vindictive stepmother is introduced to us by a pair of eyes glowing in the dark. Indeed, she is synonymous with darkness, literally throwing shade on to Cinderella wherever she goes. The true power of her menace lies in restraint – while she goads the stepsisters into getting their claws into Cinderella and leaving her in tatters, she simply smirks from the sidelines. Unlike other Disney villains, she has no magical powers, but plays in mind-games. The idea that she could be real makes her even more scary.
 |
| Opening your email inbox after a holiday |
In a film that plays very cleverly with darkness and light, the bouncing Fairy Godmother arrives in all her bright, sparkly glory, as a desperately needed beacon of hope. 'Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo' has become a stone-cold classic, and not just for its earworm quality. It's a tonic to the desperate sadness in that moment, and sets the story on a trail to happiness.
As well as being a well-crafted story with real pathos in its characters, Disney's 12th animated classic oozes style from beginning to end. From the smooth, '50s lilt of its songs and Cinderella's voice, to the colour palette. The palace itself is a designer's dream, the reflective blue and purple glittering surfaces calling back to Cinder's famous scrubbing scene where she harmonises in her own soap bubbles, and reaching forward to the elegant glass slipper which unlocks her freedom and happily ever after.
 |
| Me vs. any decent property in St. Albans |
Cinderella marks a true return to form, with a perfectly paced story, memorable songs, proper villains, cute sidekicks, and a character you can truly get behind. Bring on the rest of the 1950s.
Villain rating(s): 10/10 for Lucifer, who does nothing to make me into a cat person (pure evil). 9/10 for Lady Tremaine, who really needs a good slap around the face to get rid of that smirk.
Best Song: 'A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes' (and the mouse reprise) 💖
Disney Detail: Many of Cinderella's tropes are synonymous with Disney Princess movies, but a couple of details are knowingly nodded to in 2007's Enchanted. One is Giselle's opening song where birds and mice are helping her make a dress, another is her reflection in the bubbles during 'Happy Working Song,' and the third is love interest Nancy Tremaine – played by the incomparable Disney legend Idina Menzel – being named after Cinderella's stepfamily. Luckily, she turned out not to be evil at all.
Why it's a Classic: Cinderella brings together the traditional fairy tale format that Walt Disney Studios are famous for, whilst incorporating contemporary style and flair in the animation. Cinderella herself, as well as the Fairy Godmother, are synonymous with Disney magic.
Best Song: 'A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes' (and the mouse reprise) 💖
Disney Detail: Many of Cinderella's tropes are synonymous with Disney Princess movies, but a couple of details are knowingly nodded to in 2007's Enchanted. One is Giselle's opening song where birds and mice are helping her make a dress, another is her reflection in the bubbles during 'Happy Working Song,' and the third is love interest Nancy Tremaine – played by the incomparable Disney legend Idina Menzel – being named after Cinderella's stepfamily. Luckily, she turned out not to be evil at all.
Why it's a Classic: Cinderella brings together the traditional fairy tale format that Walt Disney Studios are famous for, whilst incorporating contemporary style and flair in the animation. Cinderella herself, as well as the Fairy Godmother, are synonymous with Disney magic.
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