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| Cinderella - 1965 |
Coming up next on this edition of TV Tuesday, we have 1965's "Cinderella", that rags to riches story about a girl who lives life as a maid to her stepmother and stepsisters and eventually becomes a princess.
The film's cast includes Lesley Ann Warren, Stuart Damon, Ginger Rogers, Walter Pidgeon, Celeste Holm, Jo Van Fleet, Pat Carroll, and Barbara Ruick.
A tired prince arrives at an estate on his way home from slaying dragons, rescuing princesses, and outwitting a few magicians. A servant girl named Cinderella meets him at the door. She doesn't recognize him. The Prince asks for a dipper of cool water, which she gladly gives him.
As he takes his leave, Cinderella comes to realize his identity, and she is shocked that she's just been conversing with a prince. The two seemed to have hit it off quite well actually.
Cinderella is a maid to her stepmother and two stepsisters. They are in the village waiting to welcome the Prince home.
The King and Queen are also on hand to receive their son and are pleased to welcome him home.
Back at Cinderella's house, her stepmother is busy coaching her daughters on how to land a prince. Cinderella is given no chance to participate in the conversation.
Relegated to the kitchen, Cinderella lets her imagination run wild "In My Own Little Corner".
The King and Queen decide that it's time their son was married. They decide to throw a ball with every eligible maiden in the kingdom invited.
Naturally, Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters are all excited about going. Cinderella is told to stay at home. She watches them go to the ball with tears in her eyes.
Of course, Cinderella's Fairy Godmother arrives and helps Cinderella's dream come true. She can go to the ball after all.
She makes turns a pumpkin into a golden carriage, creates a special pair of glass slippers, and makes Cinderella a beautiful dress while proving "impossible things are happening every day." Cinderella is given the admonition that she must leave the ball before midnight, because at the stroke of twelve, everything will return to what it once was.
At the ball, the King and Queen note that everyone seems to be having a good time, everyone that is, except their son.
That all changes the moment Cinderella arrives at the ball. The Prince is captivated by her, and everyone wonders just who this mysterious girl really is.
The Prince twirls Cinderella around the dance floor and then it's out into the garden for a chorus of "Ten Minutes Ago I Met You".
Cinderella's stepsisters lament about how unfair it that the Prince hasn't chosen one of them.
Back inside, everyone seems to be in a jovial mood. The King and Queen even take to the dancefloor themselves. (It's great to see Ginger Rogers dancing, if only for a few moments.)
Well, you know what happens. At midnight, the clock begins to chime the hour, and Cinderella hurries home before the magic wears off. Devastated that she has returned to her old self, Cinderella leaves behind a glass slipper as she hastily exits the palace.
The Prince decides that she is the only girl for him and initiates a kingdom wide search to find her.
You know the story. The Prince finds Cinderella and sees that the glass slipper fits. He intends to marry her. Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters aren't exactly over the moon about it.
Watching from a distance, the Fairy Godmother magically transforms Cinderella into what she looked like at the ball.
Later, the Prince takes Cinderella to meet his parents in a grand procession. The greet her warmly.
And everyone goes right inside the palace to live happily ever after. This version is a little different than most. Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters follow the new Princess right into the palace as family.
Cast rundown:
Lesley Ann Warren....................................Cinderella
Stuart Damon...........................................The Prince
Ginger Rogers...........................................The Queen
Walter Pidgeon..........................................The King
Celeste Holm.............................................Fairy Godmother
Jo Van Fleet..............................................Stepmother
Pat Carroll.................................................Prunella
Barbara Ruick............................................Esmeralda
And that's it for Cinderella. At the time of its television release, it was a very popular program. It became the highest-rated non-sports special on CBS up until 2009. The dress worn by Cinderella to the ball was apparently very heavy. After twelve hours of filming, Lesley Ann Warren could not move her shoulders and had to be injected with a muscle relaxant. Many years later, Lesley Ann Warren would come into possession of the crown that she wore as Cinderella. It made its way to a Vermont costume shop and from thence to Ebay, where her husband purchased it for her.
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