Unreality Companion: Cinderella (1950)

In which I expand on the content from my weekly Unrealitymag.com article.

As you might imagine, Cinderella was never my favorite Disney movie growing up.  I had nothing against to, but it really didn't speak to my demographic: boys.  When it really comes down to it, Cinderella was female wish fulfilment involving an overworked girl who gets a night off, a nice outfit and gets to go to a dance with the boy that she likes.  That kind of story just doesn't appeal to a little boy who'd rather watch The Lion King or Dragon Ball Z.

But I'm not that little boy anymore.  I'm more open to traditionally "girly" things that I was as a child.  After all, I loved the new Cinderella movie that hit theaters last week (my Unreality article this week), so why should I still be so standoffish toward this one?  What's the real difference between the two movies when you really get down to it?

Narratively, there's not much to separate the two movies.  In the wake of her father's death, a kind-hearted young girl is turned into a slave in her own home by her mean-spirited stepmother and stepsisters.  When cruelly denied the opportunity to go to a ball at the palace, her fairy godmother uses magic to transform her ragged clothes into a spectacular gown and her animal friends into her escorts for the evening.  Forewarned that the magic would only last until midnight, she was forced to hurriedly flee from the ball, leaving a glass slipper as the only clue to her identity, resulting in a widespread manhunt for the mysterious maiden who stole the heart of the prince.

As you can see, I can use the exact same summary for both films and absolutely nothing is out of place.  The stories are identical, but the manners in which they're told are fundamentally different.  Cinderella (2015) is a historical drama: complete with bribes, political back dealings and an emphasis on matters of the state over matters of the heart (my favorite line being "lose heart and gain wisdom").  Cinderella (1950), however, is a pure, unadulterated fairy tail: complete with a storybook opening and all the magic that mid-century Disney could provide.

While the updated version's charms will most likely be lost on its youngest viewers (who in all honesty just want to see a princess in a pretty dress marry the prince), the animated version is perfect for that exact demographic.  It's brightly colored, briskly paced and prefers to keep the focus on the fun animal antics and supernatural enchantment rather than the behind the scenes wheeling and dealing of a pressed monarchy and the doldrum life of an abused stepsister.  The emphasis is placed on plot, rather than character, and that should suit children just fine.

Rather than singling out Cinderella's mistreatment, Disney opted to keep the story light and cut away to the happy antics of Cinderella's talking animal friends.  Instead of showing the titular character struggling through her chores, they show mice and birds while they sing and sew.  Jaq and Gus slink through the walls to secure ribbons for the dress.  And their attempts to free Cinderella from the attic when the Archduke comes to call with the missing glass slipper are oddly reminiscent of Prince Charming's rescue of Sleeping Beauty.

Now that's not to say that the animated version is all sunshine and happiness, just that Disney knew well enough to keep the camera where the action was.  Cinderella's attempts to get into the carriage with her step family are shockingly brutal, even by today's standards.  The sisters viciously slash at and savage, and watching the protagonist half-naked and understandably hysterical almost made me think that I was watching a different kind of movie altogether.  But the appearance of the fairy godmother immediately following that incident, with her rhyming dialog and up-tempo singing, keeps it from getting too dark for children.

When everything is said and done, Cinderella is a textbook Disney movie.  It has a prince, a princess, a conniving villain, memorable songs and a happy ending with just the right amount of magic thrown into the mix.  Although I personally think that it pales against the Kenneth Branagh version, it holds up remarkably well on its own merits and is aimed at slightly younger viewers.  There is a reason why it's been the go-to Cinderella for the last 65 years.

Rating:  7/10

Worth Buying:  Yes, especially if you have children.

So which version of Cinderella is your favorite?  Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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