It's Possible! [63] According to A. J. Jacobs of Entertainment Weekly, the film's budget was approximately four-times that of a typical television film. "[41] While lauding Brandy and Montalban's efforts, James described the film's feminist re-writes as "clumsy" and accused it of wasting Houston's talent. [11][128] Additionally, Montalban has reprised his role as the prince in both regional and touring productions of Cinderella, some of which have been directly based on or inspired by the 1997 film. ", "Ranking The 10 Actresses Who Played Cinderella Like Royalty", "Brandy Shares Her Fondest #BlackGirlMagic Moments", "Why Rodgers & Hammerstein's 'Cinderella' Is Still Relevant In 2017", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cinderella_(1997_film)&oldid=1142127041, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 17:27. [20] Agreeing that Cinderella required a certain "naivete that's just not there when you're 30-something",[17] the producers suggested that Houston play Cinderella's fairy godmother instead,[20] a role she accepted because it was "less demanding" and time consuming. [37] Zadan agreed that "We've only been able to make [expensive musicals] because of the home-video component. Cinderella currently has a score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. This list shows all films released in 1997, including films that went direct-to-video, or only got an international theatrical release. [64] During the 25th anniversary reunion special aired on ABC on August 23, 2022,[68] Brandy revealed that all of the closeup shots of Cinderella's feet in the glass slippers were done by a foot model with smaller feet than her own size 9, joking that "size nine shoes look like size 12 on TV". Piala AFC. [5] Auditions were held in both Los Angeles and New York. [17][26] Brandy, who identified "Cinderella" as her favorite fairy tale,[19] was the first person of color to portray the character on screen,[17][27] with both Brandy and Houston becoming the first African-American actresses to play their respective roles in any screen adaptation of the fairy tale,[28][29] although an all-Black modern-day re-telling of "Cinderella" entitled Cindy had premiered in 1978. Release Date Title Production Budget Opening Weekend Domestic Box Office Worldwide Box Office; Jun 25, 2019: Cinderella II: Dreams Come Feb 6, 2007 [38], Freedman continuously re-wrote the script between 1993 and 1997, particularly concerned about whether or not Houston would like his teleplay. [15], The diversity of the cast prompted some members of the media to dub the film "rainbow 'Cinderella'",[13][103][112] Laurie Winer of the Los Angeles Times summarized that the film's cast "is not just rainbow, it's over the rainbow", observing that "the black queen (Goldberg) and white king (Victor Garber), for instance, produce a prince played by Filipino Paolo Montalban" while "Cinderella withstands the company of a white stepsister (Veanne Cox) and a black one (Natalie Desselle), both, apparently, birth daughters of the mother played by Bernadette Peters. [136], Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella is considered to be a "groundbreaking" film due to its diverse cast, particularly casting a Black actress as Cinderella. [49] The original song lacked a bridge and was deemed inferior to Houston's trademark vocals,[37] thus it was combined with the bridge from "One Foot, Other Foot" from Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical Allegro (1947). [4], According to Ray Richmond of Variety, Freedman's teleplay is faster in pace and contains more dialogue than previous versions,[2] although A Problem Like Maria: Gender and Sexuality in the American Musical author Stacy Ellen Wolf believes that the teleplay borrows more from the 1957 version than Joseph Schrank's 1965 version due to sharing much of its humor, dialogue and gender politics with Hammerstein's book. [37] Cinderella and the prince are also shown meeting and developing an interest in each other prior to the ball,[38] lessening the "love at first sight" element at the behest of the producers, by having Cinderella and the prince meet and talk to each other first,[37] an idea that would be reused in subsequent adaptations of the story. [17] Although filmmakers are usually hesitant to interpolate songs from other sources into adaptations of Rodgers and Hammerstein's work, Ted Capin, President of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization,[10] challenged the producers to conceive "compelling reasons" as to why they should incorporate new material into the remake,[52] allowing the filmmakers significant freedom on the condition that the additions remain consistent with the project. [129][130], Despite its initial reception, Cinderella has become widely revered as one of the best film adaptations of the fairy tale. [104] In addition to receiving praise for its overall craftsmanship and musical format, critics appreciated the film's color-blind cast. In 2014, actress Keke Palmer was cast as Cinderella on Broadway, becoming the first Black actress to play the role on Broadway. Cinderella (Signature Edition) (10,859) 7.3 1 h 14 min 1950 X-Ray G. Beloved by generations of fans, Disney's timeless classic Cinderella is now part of the Walt Disney Signature Collection and the prestigious National Film Registry. [12] The idea to remake Cinderella for television a second time originated as early as 1992, at which time producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron first approached the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization about obtaining the screen rights to the production. Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella was the most widely viewed program in the history of the medium. Despite being apprehensive about introducing herself to him, the pair bond upon realizing that both are dissatisfied with their sheltered home lives. [16] Since Houston was still slated to play Cinderella at the time, production was unable to proceed without her involvement. [34][38][41], Cinderella was provided with a more empowering motive in that her fairy godmother reminds her that she has always been capable of bettering her own situation; she "just didn't know it" yet. [21] Although the stage musical Annie had already been adapted as a film in 1982, the film was considered to be a critical and commercial failure. NEW Barbie as Cinderella 1997 Doll box missing but never removed from cardboard. [52], "Falling in Love With Love", which Rodgers wrote with lyricist Lorenz Hart for the musical The Boys from Syracuse (1938), was adapted into a song for Cinderella's stepmother, a character who seldom sings or expresses her innermost feelings in previous adaptations of the fairy tale. MPAA PG. [42] The filmmakers found this song particularly easy to incorporate. The original cast included Brandy and the late Whitney Houston, as well as Whoopi Goldberg as Queen Constatina, Paolo Montalban as Prince Christopher, Victor Garber as King Maximillian, Bernadette . "[29] Chase hoped that the film mirroring an evolving society "will touch every child and the child in every adult",[19] encouraging "children of all colors [to] dream. [12] During a scheduled visit in July, approximately midway through the filming process, Mary and James previewed early footage of the film and met the cast. "I auditioned some 7,000 times for Cinderella ," James jokingly recalled to The Hindu in 2020. [70] Winston supplied the set with three armed guards to ensure that the jewelry remained protected at all times and was safely returned at the end of filming. "[26] Company alumna Veanne Cox and television actress Natalie Desselle, respectively, were cast as Cinderella's stepsisters. [123] Inspired by the success of Cinderella, Zadan and Meron saw remaking the musical as an opportunity to rectify the previous adaptation's errors. [20] Freedman was more concerned with writing a film suitable for young girls in the 1990s than writing a multi-cultural film, inspired by stories about his wife being affected by women's representation in films when she was growing up. [12] The New York Daily News journalist Denene Millner observed that although the remake is "not all that different from the original", its version of Cinderella is more outspoken, the prince is more interested in finding someone he can talk to as opposed to simply "another pretty face", as well as "a hip fairy godmother who preaches self-empowerment" as a result of its "'90s flair". [51], ABC aired Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella on August 23, 2022 for the film's 25th anniversary, following Cinderella: The Reunion, A Special Edition of 20/20. [19][24][25] Houston believed that Brandy possessed the energy and "wonder" to play Cinderella convincingly, admitting that their fictional relationship as godmother and goddaughter translates "well on-screen because it starts from real life";[4] when Houston telephoned Brandy to offer her the role, she introduced herself as her fairy godmother. [37] Prince Christopher's palace was built on the same location as what had been the yellow brick road from the film The Wizard of Oz (1939), thus the palace's courtyard bricks were painted yellow in homage to the classic film. [37] Although the producers agreed that Houston's character would sing the film's closing number,[52] selecting a song for Houston proved a challenge. [16] Houston believed strongly in the story's positive moral "that nothing is impossible and dreams do come true," encouraging the filmmakers to imbue their version of Cinderella "with a 90s sensibility but to remain faithful to the spirit of the original. "[37] Attempting to eliminate the element that Cinderella is simply waiting to be rescued by the prince, Freedman explained, "I'm not saying that it's the most feminist movie you'll ever see, but it is compared the other versions. [42] Disney asked the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization to be as open about changes to the musical's score as they had been about the script and cast. Home video promotional poster, featuring Houston and Brandy as their respective characters. 16. [89], Fuse broadcast Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella on November 2, 2017 in honor of the film's 20th anniversary,[51] naming the television special A Night Of Magic: 20th Anniversary of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella. [17] The casting directors recruited performers from various entertainment facets, spanning the Broadway, television, film and music industries. [84] AllMusic biographer Steve Huey attributes the film's high ratings to its "star power and integrated cast". [12] Music producers Chris Montan and Arif Mardin were interested in combining "Broadway legit with Hollywood pop",[12] re-arranging the musical's original orchestration in favor of achieving a more contemporary sound by updating its rhythm and beats. [113] Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella was nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards,[18][114] including Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. With kindness and respect", which some critics identified as the studio's attempt to make the film more feminist. Although mistreated by her cruel stepmother and stepsisters, Cinderella is able to attend the royal ball through the help of a fairy godmother. [49] Most of the film's cast Brandy, Houston, Cox, Garber, Desselle and Montalban was present; Goldberg and Alexander were unable to attend. [52] While Mary, Rodgers' daughter, was initially against using "Falling in Love With Love", she relented once Peters was cast as the Stepmother,[52] feeling confident that the Broadway veteran was capable of "put[ting] a different kind of spin on it. [20] Furthermore, Alexander insisted that Lionel be different from his Seinfeld character George Costanza, despite Freedman originally writing several in-jokes that alluded to Alexander's most famous role, prompting him to revise several of the actor's scenes accordingly. [121] Bill Carter of The New York Times predicted that the success of the broadcast "will mean more musicals for television, probably as early as" 1998. [20] Performed while they prepare for the ball,[54] the song was offered "a driving, up-tempo arrangement" for Peters. It is a remake of the Rodgers and Hammerstein's television movie musical, and the only one of the three versions to be shot as a film. [21] According to Zadan, musical films struggled to sell well on home video until Cinderella was released. "[16], Television writer Robert L. Freedman became involved with the project as early as 1993. When the Prince and Lionel arrive at Cinderella's home, the Stepmother locks Cinderella in the kitchen hoping to keep her hidden. Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella is a 1997 American musical telefilm produced by Walt Disney Television. [4][19] The film has a total of five executive producers: Houston, Chase, Zadan, Meron and David R. [143], According to Ruthie Fierberg of Playbill, Brandy's performance "immortalized the role on screen",[144] while Hollywood.com's Jeremy Rodriguez ranked her seventh out of "10 Actresses Who Played Cinderella Like Royalty", praising her for introducing "a more independent version of the classic character. [17][19] Zadan explained that, because of her popularity, Houston "had so many other concrete things that she was doing that 'Cinderella' took a back seat". However, development was delayed for several years, during which time the network grew disinterested in the project. [45] Peters' stepmother was adapted into a more comical version than previous incarnations of the character due to the actress' comedic background. [29] Writing for Nylon, Taylor Bryant called the film both "An Underrated Classic" and "One of the most important moments in [film] history". [37] Despite concerns that Hart's "biting" lyrics would sound too abrasive against the rest of the score, James, Hammerstein's son, was very much open to the idea. [39] Casting the stepmother proved particularly challenging since most of the white actresses considered for the role felt uneasy about acting cruelly towards a Black Cinderella; Bette Midler was among several actresses who declined. [67] Cinderella's "glass slippers" were made of shatterproof acrylic as opposed to glass, and only one pair was designed to fit Brandy's feet; the shoe the prince discovers and carries on a pillow in search of its owner was designed to be extremely small in order to give it the appearance of being "incredibly delicate", with Iscove describing it as "too small for any human" foot. [37], Brandy found the recording process "challenging" because the film's songs were different than any material she had recorded before, explaining that she was nervous since her "voice wasn't fully developed", especially in comparison to her idol Houston and at times struggling to project. [38] Cinderella has a conversation with the prince in which she explains that a woman should always be treated "like a person. [12] Further development was inspired by the success of CBS' adaptation of the stage musical Gypsy (1993) starring Bette Midler which,[13][14] in addition to being credited with reviving interest in the genre,[14] Zadan and Meron had also produced;[15] CBS executive Jeff Sagansky asked Zadan and Meron to start brainstorming ideas for a follow-up shortly after Gypsy premiered. [42] Describing herself as familiar with the "flavor" of Rodgers and Hammerstein's material, Houston opted to perform their songs simply as opposed to her signature pop, R&B or gospel approach. [71], The film's sets were designed by Randy Ser,[12] while art direction was headed by Ed Rubin, who opted to combine a "bright and bold" color palette with "a great deal of subtlety". [4] The studio originally planned to release an original soundtrack featuring the film's music. [22] Mary and James often visited,[35] as well as Chapin. With her Fairy Godmother's warning that the spell will only last until midnight, Cinderella leaves for the ball. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (101 Dalmatians) Walt Disney Productions. [20] Describing the project as both a major opportunity and responsibility, Alexander acknowledged that Cinderella's failure to succeed could potentially jeopardize the future of musical films altogether. [110] The Oxford Handbook of The American Musical editor Raymond Knapp believes that Brandy's sitcom experience negatively affected her acting, writing that she often overreacts and delivers lines "as if they were punch lines rather than emotionally generated phrases. Lionel demands that the kitchen be unlocked and searched, and the Prince discovers Cinderella in the courtyard about to run away. Widest Release 3,848 . Release Date Mar 13, 2015 - Sep 17, 2015. She's directed music videos, which I'm not turning my nose up at, many directors have started out directing music videos, but it's just not the same thing. [9][20] CBS originally intended to air the completed film by the end of the 1994-1995 television season, but the project was continuously delayed. [101] Some purist fans were less impressed with the contemporary arrangements of Rodgers and Hammerstein's original music. [20] The filmmakers wanted to prove that Stepmother is not simply "an evil harridan" but rather a "product of bitter experience",[20] for which Freedman himself suggested "Falling in Love With Love". [45] A public screening of the film was hosted at the Sony Lincoln Square Theatre in New York on October 27, 1997. [52] Broadway lyricist Fred Ebb was recruited to contribute original lyrics to the new arrangement "that melded stylistically with the Hammerstein originals. Based on the French fairy tale by Charles Perrault, the film is the second remake and third version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical, which originally aired on television in 1957. "[49] According to Paller, the screening resembled a Broadway tryout more than a film preview since the audience reportedly applauded at the end of every song. [49] Although well-received by audiences,[27] Cinderella premiered to generally mixed reviews from most critics,[89][98][99][100] who were critical of some of its songs, cast and feminist approach,[34][41] at times deeming it inferior to the 1957 and 1965 versions. [12] Three songs not featured in previous versions of the musical were added to augment the film's score,[48] each of which was borrowed from a different Rodgers and Hammerstein source;[9][13][35][53] these additions are considered to be the most dramatic of the changes made to the musical. Distributor Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. "[16] Kelsie Gibson of PopSugar wrote that the film is superior to Disney's other princess-themed offerings from the 1990s. "[37] Goldberg found the film's colorful cast to be reflective of "who we are", describing it as "more normal" than all-Black or all-white casts. [95] On February 4, 2021, Brandy announced on The View that the film would be released on Disney+ on February 12, 2021. [16] After relocating their production company, Storyline Entertainment, from CBS to Disney Studios,[18] Zadan and Meron re-introduced the project to Houston. They save the original sound while updating it. [117] Freedman's teleplay was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Children's Script. [27] Principal photography began on June 23, 1997 and was completed over a 28-day period,[13][17][60][61] primarily on stages 22 and 26 at Sony Picture Studios in Culver City, California,[35] which had been the location of MGM Studios during what is now revered as "the golden age of the movie musical. [37] Zadan and Meron wanted Houston to end the film with a wedding song for Cinderella and Christopher. Its recreation in 1965 . [49] Praising its sets, costumes, choreography and script, Paller concluded "everything about the TV play worked", predicting that both young and adult audiences will find the program memorable. Cinderella: Directed by Robert Iscove. Piedmont Community College is committed to making . 'Cinderella' becomes the servant of the house. Comparisons: vs. Beauty and the Beast. [90] The network also aired "Cinderella"-themed episodes of Brandy's sitcom Moesha and the sitcom Sister, Sister in commemoration. [76] The film's impending premiere coincided with the launch of the official Rodgers and Hammerstein website, which streamed segments from the upcoming broadcast via RealVideo from October 27 to November 3, 1997. [37] The main characters were dressed in costumes that complemented their roles and personalities, the stepfamily's "loud" dresses in contrast to Cinderella's warmer, more neutral tones.
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