Musicals On TV - Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1965)

CBS, 1965
Starring Leslie Ann Warren, Stuart Damon, Celeste Holm, and Jo Van Fleet
Directed by Charles S. Dubin
Music by Richard Rodgers; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein

The 1957 Cinderella had been a major success, one that CBS was eager to repeat. After a stage version also went over well in London, they decided to do a remake that took advantage of new color and videotaping technologies. How does this more traditional version stack up against the previous one? This time, we're going to start on the road to the castle to find out...

The Story: The Prince (Damon) has returned from a year of rescuing beauties and slaying dragons. His parents the King (Walter Pidgeon) and Queen (Ginger Rogers) are holding a ball in honor of his arrival home and hope that he'll choose a bride. Sweet servant Cinderella (Warren) doesn't think she'll be among those chosen. Her obnoxious stepmother (Fleet) and stepsisters Prunella (Pat Carroll) and Esmerelda (Barbara Ruick) won't allow her to go, as they wish to capture the Prince's eye themselves. It'll take a little bit of magic from Cinderella's glamorous fairy godmother (Holm) to get Cinderella to the ball...and the equally potent magic of her own kind nature to win his heart.

The Song and Dance: This is the version of Cinderella I grew up with. It ran a lot on cable when I was little, and my sisters and I always enjoyed it when it was on. Warren is a wonderfully sweet Cinderella, and Damon is suitably dashing as her Prince Charming. Ruick and especially sarcastic Carroll have some nice moments as the jealous stepsisters. Holm makes a far warmer and more motherly fairy godmother. Once again, the sets and especially the costumes are lavish and gorgeous. That vaunted color glows like a child's fairy-tale picture book from the 1960's.

Favorite Number: Damon kicks things off in romantic style with "Loneliness of Evening,"  a gorgeous ballad originally cut from South Pacific. Holm and Warren discuss the importance of wishing in "Impossible/It's Possible," just as Cinderella's come true. Damon and Warren do a lovely "Ten Minutes Ago." Ruick and Carroll's "Stepsisters' Lament" is tied slightly better into the story and is very funny.

What I Don't Like: I wish both of the earlier Cinderellas did more with the Prince. In fact, "Loneliness of Evening" was added because Cypher's Prince in the original was a bit of a nonentity. Damon's so charming and witty when he does turn up, I kind of wish we could see more of him. Ironically, we don't see enough of the King and Queen. Despite being played by movie stars Pidgeon and Rogers, their role is greatly reduced from the other two films. They're mostly just seen at the ball and consoling their son after his dream girl runs off.

The Big Finale: Still a favorite of mine, this simple and sweet Cinderella might be especially nice for the youngest fairy-tale lovers and those who grew up with it like I did.

Home Media: Out of print and fairly expensive on DVD. Your best bet here is streaming. It can currently be found for free on several streaming services, including YouTube.

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