Disney's adaptation of the beloved fairy tale became a classic in its own right,
thanks to some memorable tunes (including "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes,"
"Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo," and the title song) and some endearingly cute comic relief.
We all know the story--the wicked stepmother and stepsisters simply won't
have it, this uppity Cinderella thinking she's going to a ball designed to find
the handsome prince an appropriate sweetheart, but perseverance, animal buddies,
and a well-timed entrance by a fairy godmother make sure things turn out all
right. There are a few striking sequences of pure animation--for example, Cinderella
is reflected in bubbles drifting through the air--and the design is rich
and evocative throughout. It's a simple story padded here agreeably with comic
business, particularly Cinderella's rodent pals (dressed up conspicuously like
the dwarf sidekicks of another famous Disney heroine) and their misadventures
with a wretched cat named Lucifer. There's also much harrumphing and exposition
spouting by the King and the Grand Duke. It's a much simpler and more graceful
work than the more frenetically paced animated films of today, which makes it
simultaneously quaint and highly gratifying. |