Summer of Magic- "Cinderella"

The 1950's may just be the greatest decade in Disney history. This prosperous time period saw the release of five genuine classic animated films, an increased focus on live action films from the studio, a new integral presence in television, and, of course, the opening of Disneyland. Every story, though, has a beginning, and this dynamite Disney decade began in 1950 with one risky animated film project entitled Cinderella. This was the studio's first full-length animated film since Bambi in 1942, and after a bevy of package films, many were wondering if Disney could recapture the magic they discovered with their first five features. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Disney rightfully reclaimed its throne on top of the animated and cinematic world with Cinderella, one of the crowning achievements in the studio's history.

Throughout the years, the story of Cinderella has been told time and time again with countless different interpretations, but Walt Disney's classic animated film is still the cream of the crop by far. This film is the poster child for Disney magic and imagination. From the innumerable classic elements on display here to the intricacies uniquely discovered upon each additional viewing, Cinderella is simply incredible. The opening scene with Cinderella awakening and flawlessly performing the iconic number, "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes," is everything you would expect and want from classic Disney. The following scenes match that wondrous standard as Cinderella is filled to the brim with blissfully masterful scenes.

Our leading lady, Cinderella, is a character for the ages. She is the perfect Disney princess. Her elegance, even in the midst of her adverse situations, never falters, and from the beginning, she knows exactly what she wants and will stop at nothing until she witnesses her dream coming true. She is a character anyone can relate to, and that is the main reason why Cinderella has stood the test of time and remains a classic in cinema. Her supporting characters are superb as well. The mice are some of the best sidekicks in Disney history, especially the selfless duo of Gus and Jack. Our villain, Lady Tremaine, along with her obnoxious daughters Anastasia and Drizella, are the perfect foils to Cinderella and her dream. Also, the Fairy Godmother is an outright legend, plain and simple. Her lone scene is perhaps the most iconic in the studio's history, and rightfully so.

The soundtrack for Cinderella is phenomenal. The aforementioned "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" deserves to be a co-anthem for Disney alongside "When You Wish Upon a Star" from Pinocchio. Its lyrics are simple, yet profound, which is why it works so well for this film. The legendary scene featuring Cinderella dancing with her Prince Charming for the first time is expertly coupled with the beautiful "So This is Love." Even the mice's song, "The Work Song," is infectious and an excellent opportunity for these instant legends to shine. Of course, the Fairy Godmother's "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" is one of the crown jewels of music for Disney in the first Golden Age without question. These songs never outshine the scene on display or the characters within that scene, which is a tremendous testament to Walt and his crew.

I truly cannot overstate the importance of Cinderella to the history of Disney. If it had failed, Disney may very well have shut down feature film production. Luckily for us, it succeeded in an unprecedented manner. As Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs did for Disney in 1937, Cinderella ushered in a brand new era filled with unprecedented critical and financial prosperity. For a variety of reasons, Cinderella is a genuine gem.

Rating: 10/10

Historical Significance: As I previously stated, if Cinderella had flopped at the box office, film historians and Disney insiders believe that Walt would have stopped making full length feature animated films and would have instead focused on live action films and television. The film cost the studio about three million dollars to produce, but it went on to gross ten million dollars during its original release and over $93 million over various re-releases. According to Box Office Mojo, adjusted for inflation, Cinderella grossed over half a billion dollars, topping such notable modern day hits as Finding Nemo, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King, and Spider-Man 2. With the profits from Cinderella, Walt began building Disneyland with confidence while continuing to finance live action and animated films. Notable films released by Disney in the fifties include Treasure Island (1950), 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), and Old Yeller (1957) on the live action side with Peter Pan (1953), Lady and the Tramp (1955), and Sleeping Beauty (1959) on the animated slate.

Behind the Scenes: Ilene Woods provided the voice for Cinderella with exquisite mastery. Unfortunately, she suffered from Alzheimer's in the late stages of her life. During this difficult time, she failed to remember voicing the legendary Disney princess, but according to her nurses, she was extremely comforted by the words of "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes." The nurses would sing it to her as often as they could until her death in 2010 because she enjoyed it so much. Notably, Walt Disney claimed that the scene where Cinderella's dress is transformed from rags to riches by the Fairy Godmother was his favorite piece of animation.

Favorite Character: I have to go with Cinderella for this one. As I wrote before, she is the quintessential Disney princess. Disney doesn't give just any princess a castle inside the most visited theme park in the world. Cinderella is a legend not only for Disney, but for Hollywood at large. She is
hard-working, determined, and graceful all at the same time. She never complains about her situation (even though she has every right to do just that); instead, she just goes to work and still manages to find joy in life. She is a character that everyone should admire and love wholeheartedly.

Favorite Scene: I agree with Walt on this one. The Fairy Godmother's scene featuring "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" and Cinderella's transformation is pure Disney magic. The
deft blend of comedy, drama, imagination, and creativity is a spectacle to behold. The animation is gorgeous and the detail in this scene is absolutely stunning. This is one of my favorite scenes of all-time, and it deserves to be on the Mount Rushmore of animated film scenes (listen to the iconic song here).

Favorite Song: It has been a while since this section was included on one of my reviews, and I am so glad it is back because I love Disney music! The entire soundtrack for Cinderella is classic Disney at its finest, but "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" is a cut above the rest. This song, along with a handful of others, defines Disney magic. From the awe-inspiring animation to the beautiful vocals of Ilene Woods to the thematic material in every lyric, this song is one for the ages (do yourself a favor and listen to it here).

Updated Ranking: As you could probably guess by now, Cinderella is one of my favorite Disney films of all-time. Thus, its ranking supports that claims.

1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
2. Cinderella
3. Pinocchio
4. Dumbo
5. Bambi
6. Fantasia
7. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
8. Fun and Fancy Free
9. Melody Time
10. The Three Caballeros
11. Saludos Amigos
12. Make Mine Music

The greatest Disney decade was kicked off miraculously and triumphantly with Cinderella, a classic that only gets better with age. Again, its importance to the history of Disney cannot be overstated. This was and is a studio-defining film. Tomorrow, we will revisit another classic from this fabulous decade: Alice in Wonderland.

-Cody Fleenor