Ok, so I am skipping ahead to the next Disney animated film that I am actually familiar with. Am I allowed to do that? Whatever, it’s my blog. And I’m psyched about this next one.
Alright, this movie has to be one of my favorites. Ever. Not just Disney, but in life. It is, of course, Cinderella (1950), the classic tale of an orphan child living as a slave to her Evil Stepmother and sisters. Just as every other lonely and abandoned Disney girl, Cinderella’s only friends are animals, namely two adorable mice, Jaq and Gus-Gus. When word gets to the household that the Royal Prince will be holding a ball, Cinderella’s Stepmother tells her that she may only go to the ball if she finishes all of her chores…which she then goes out of her way to ensure, with the help of her malicious cat Lucifer, will never happen. In her despair on the evening of the ball, Cinderella cries to herself in the garden, realizing her dreams are hopeless. BUT, the girl’s secret Fairy Godmother hears her troubles, and comes to the rescue with a beautiful pumpkin-carriage and horses, a beautiful dress, and of course, fine glass slippers. Cinderella graciously rushes off to the ball and meets her beloved Prince, who is entranced by her beauty. As the Godmother had warned, however, the spells were to wear off at Midnight, and when the clock strikes Twelve, Cinderella rushes away from the castle in such a hurry that she leaves one of her unique shoes behind. The Prince and his men search the entire kingdom for the one who fits the glass slipper. Despite the Stepmother’s desperate attempts to keep her locked away, Cinderella shows the men that she is the one they are looking for by showing them the other matching shoe. And, so it goes…they all live happily ever after.
My favorite part of this movie in particular is Cinderella’s wardrobe. Aside from her cleaning rags, the pink dress that all of her creature-friends make for her is absolutely adorable. And, of course, who can forget that beautiful blue dress? I am so hung up on the beauty of the princesses’ dresses in general, but Cinderella’s dress is one of the most glamorous.
Unfortunately, this movie is not as gender-neutral as other Disney films. It is definitely a girly princess flick, but I don’t think that’s any less reason to love it!
