Disney Era Analysis – Cinderella
As mentioned in the first blog post in this series, I’ll be writing analysis content on all 60+ Disney animated feature films and their film making eras.
The third era is the Silver Age, which ran from 1950 to 1967 and started with Cinderella. As mentioned in a previous blog post, the Silver Age is also known as the “restoration age,” as the films during this era returned to Disney’s roots of feature-length narratives and adaptations of famous narratives, having high-art animation, being approachable (cartoonish gags, music from contemporary artists, and a lighter approach to storytelling), steering clear of intense scenes, and being heartwarming with happy endings, good morals, and catchy songs.
So how well did Cinderella measure up to these famous features, and was it the right film to kick off the Silver Age?
Returning to Disney’s roots of feature-length narratives and adaptation of famous narratives:
Cinderella was Disney’s first feature-length animated film with a feature-length narrative since Bambi (1942). Cinderella was also an adaptation of Charles Perrault’s 1697 fairytale of the same name.
Having high-art animation:
Interestingly, Disney animators tried an animation technique with this film that had never been used before (at least at Disney). The technique involved having most of the film done with live action models before being animated.
Being approachable (cartoonish gags, music from contemporary artists, and a lighter approach to storytelling):
Cartoonish gags:
During the film’s story development, the storyboard artists suggested adding visual gags with some of them ending up in the final version of the film that was released. Some of these included the King and the Grand Duke bouncing up and down on the King’s bed as if they were on a trampoline, and the Tom and Jerry-like scenes between Jaq, Gus, and Lucifer.
Music from contemporary artists:
According to IMDb, this was the first Disney film to have its songs published and copyrighted by the then-newly created Walt Disney Music Company. The Company had famous songwriting group, Tin Pan Alley, compose the songs. With the exception of the opening titles song and Prince Charming’s part of the “So This Is Love” duet, all the songs were performed by the cast members.
A lighter approach to storytelling:
I felt the lighter approach to storytelling came from Disney’s choice to revive the opening of a storybook during its opening credits, as if they are reading Cinderella to the audience, and the songs that were written and used throughout the film to progress the plot along. I also felt that the cartoonish gags enabled a lighter approach to the storytelling in this film.
Steering clear of intense scenes:
I would say that Cinderella didn’t totally steer clear of intense scenes. I found the scene where the stepsisters are tearing Cinderella’s first ball dress apart, and the scene where the palace’s horses are chasing after Cinderella and her carriage after she leaves the ball, to be intense.
In regards to the latter scene, I felt it was very similar to the headless horsemen scene from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad.
Being heartwarming with happy endings, good morals, and catchy songs:
While Cinderella is mostly grim with the death of her father and the treatment she endures at the hands of her stepmother and stepsisters, there are heartwarming moments in the film, such as the moments between her and the animals, and her interactions with Prince Charming. The story certainly had a happy ending with Cinderella marrying Prince Charming and getting away from her stepmother and stepsisters.
The songs of the film were definitely catchy, I found myself smiling and even singing along to them a little.
According to IMDb, the moral of Cinderella is to never stop believing in your dreams. One day, they will come true if you keep your hopes high.
My overall thoughts:
Overall, I felt Cinderella was the right film to kick off the Silver Age, with Disney’s choice to adapt a fairytale being a strong choice in terms of returning to telling feature-length narratives on screen, and it also mirrors how the Golden Age took off. In fact this film reminded me of the Golden Age films and what made them great, which was very much needed after the effort it took for me to get through the Wartime Era films.
It was also the right film to kick off the era as the film’s production enabled the establishment of the Walt Disney Music Company and using an animation technique that Disney hadn’t used before. This shows Disney spreading its wings and growing as a film making business.
I’m looking forward to watching and reviewing the remaining films of the Silver Age.
The next part of the Disney Era Analysis series will focus on Alice in Wonderland.
Fun Facts and Trivia:
- According to IMDb, excluding the initial prologue explaining how the stepmother came into Cinderella’s life and the closing wedding scene, the main story of the film takes place over approximately a 24-hour period.
- The Prince is never called “Prince Charming” in the film, nor is he given any personal name at all.
- This was the first Disney film set in France.
References:
Loveday Writing 