chelseacduran They tried to do a rendition of classic and didn't come out too well. The ballet is pretty. Caron, as usual, is strikingly beautiful. However those are the highest points. They make the Ella (Cinderella) character seem like she has developmental or mental issues.. She doesn't seem to understand normal day to day interactions or behaviors, throws tantrums and they made her talk in a deeper slow cadence. Somewhat disappointed. This Ella character just wasn't up to snuff especially for Caron. Also, Wilding seems too old to be the prince. I guess my expectations were just too high. If I was 10 I may have liked it but as an adult it's not my favorite.

mike48128 In some ways better than "Lili" but it still seems low-budget when compared to "Gigi". Beautiful story of "Ella", dubbed Cinder-Ella by a callous boy in town. Here she has a cinder-smudged face and is impish, as always, with two fantasy ballet sequences; as Leslie Caron was a great ballerina, after all. The first fantasy dance could be called "The Cook's Son Palace Ballet" and involves her visiting the palace to see the cook's son, who is actually the prince. It involves a great cooking sequence with a chorus line of ballerinas, and ends with Leslie dancing (on wire) and flying off the top of a huge wedding cake. The second dance is the "Dance of the Egyptian Princess" who in reality, is Ella's mistaken identity. This dance is not as imaginative, and is almost unnecessary to the story. A good supporting cast: Estelle Winwood as the funny absent-minded Mrs.Toquet (fairy godmother.) Elsa Lancaster as the mean stepmother. Amanda Blake as Birdena, one of the two very pretty but ugly-in-spirit stepsisters. A surprisingly good narration by Walter Pigeon. A good musical score. The movie falls down with too much dialog, not enough action, and no magical transformation of the pumpkin, mice, and lizards into coach, horses, and coachmen. (It all happens "off camera".) Where are the great special effects possible with "Famous Studios" and MGM Movie Magic? Missing scenes that should have filmed: Ella as a 6-year-old, running into the Prince for the first time. Her clothes turning back into rags, as the gown was "borrowed" and was (maybe) magic? The coach dissolving. (The "pumpkin" is shown smashed.) The happy-ever-after-ending seems slowly staged and less than triumphant but I am not sure why. The castle doesn't seem "grand" enough and very little of it is shown beyond the ballroom, kitchen and the Prince's study. Michael Wilding (or his dance double?) is o.k. but the whole production seems slow moving and lethargic. The "magic sparkle" of the fairy tale is somehow missing. A procession to the castle but no triumphant wedding? Worth watching just to see the captivating Leslie Caron dancing "on toe" once again. Not heroic or "dashing" enough for boys, so little girls might like it better. The "broadcast print" shows a lot of wear and tear and has not been well-restored.

bmbdsm ***This comment may contain spoilers.*** One of the best versions of "Cinderella" that has ever been filmed. Leslie Caron gives a splendid performance as Ella. Michael Wilding also does a good job as Prince Charming. Estelle Winwood is hilarious as a kleptomaniac "fairy godmother". Elsa Lanchester does a fine job playing the wicked stepmother. The supporting cast gives good performances also, including Keenan Wynn as the prince's valet, and Amanda Blake and Lisa Daniels as the wicked stepsisters. This version is also highly original. Caron's Cinderella tries to make friends, but is laughed at. Winwood's godmother is a bookish and well-read person. Superb direction by Charles Walters (LILI, also starring Caron), and includes two fantasy ballet scenes! A film for the whole family! Recommended. 10/10.

flowergirlz_us I can't remember when I first saw this movie, but it was one of those movies that you can remember somewhere in the back of your mind. Then someone gave me a copy of it years later and it all came back. In terms of scripts, well, it's not the best written movie there is. Some of the actors seem a little out of place, including Leslie Caron. Although she's adorable, and can dance like no one else can, she is difficult to understand. And though the story of Cinderella is a french tale, and the story is set in France, Caron is mixed in with English and American actors, and sometimes has difficulty getting the words out. And the character actor Keenan Wynn, while not offensive seems an odd choice as a French Duke. But the musical numbers are spectacular, not to mention the ballgown that Ella "borrows" for the ball. This is such a good movie and I can't wait for it to come out on DVD. It's magical, colorful and makes you believe in fairytales..