#12 Cinderella

Title: Cinderella

Release Date: March 4th, 1950

Voice Cast: Ilene Woods, Verna Felton, Eleanor Audley, Jimmy MacDonald

Plot: A beautiful young woman who has become a waiting victim of her stepmother and two stepsisters finds freedom when she gets the chance to attend a ball as a candidate for the princess bride.

Review: Ah, it's nice to be out of the package films. True, I did like three of them, but it's just a warming feeling to be back to complete stories. I feel like I can review these films better for two similar reasons: 1. These films are made up of single stories and single elements, leaving little room for conflict when it comes to scoring; 2. I can be more objective in the review, with less compare and contrast to other Disney films. That being said, from this post forward, you will hear no more about those package films. Hooray!

There couldn't have been a better step into the light than Cinderella. Let me start by saying that the voice acting is splended. Woods' singing is mesmerizing, and her talking is shockingly natural. The mice are difficult to understand at some points, but that unique squeakiness is what makes them so hilarious to watch, specifically Jaq and Gus (<3).>character is uninteresting, right down to the royal messenger. Speaking of characters (what a lousy transition on my part), you may think that the stepmother is the most wicked being in this film, but that doesn't make her the most loathsome. No no, that award goes to the stepsisters, Anastasia and Drizella. They're ugly with nasty voices, blatant stupidity, and appalling arrogance. It's the complete deluxe package to invoke hatred, and that's what makes great characters. :)

Needless to say, Cinderella comes with a stellar soundtrack. "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" is what I regard as one of the three iconic Disney songs. (Other two? "Someday My Prince Will Come" and "When You Wish Upon A Star".) There's also "The Work Song", which, as it is sung by mice, sounds like a reprise to the Munchkinland Sequence from The Wizard of Oz. It's amazing how enormous the resemblence is in the singing. Finally, there's "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo", made catchy by nonsense words, and the incredibly romantic duet, "So This Is Love."

To put it in a short sentence: Cinderella is, from beginning to end, flawless.

A Dream Is A Wish