La pantoufle de verre

MGM probably hoped for another "Lili" by casting Leslie Caron as the lead in a live-action version of Cinderella. While this effort didn't quite meet with the success of that earlier film, it still delighted a number of people who continue to hold fond memories of the production. Leslie Caron makes an irresistably appealing "Ella" and Estelle Winwood is a glorious fairy-godmother but Michael Wilding does tend to be a rather bland Prince Charming. Watch for Amanda Blake (Miss Kitty on "Gunsmoke")as one of the selfish stepsisters. And just try, after seeing this movie, NOT to hum, "Climbing rose, on the wall ... "

Leslie Caron is Cinderella and Michael Wilding is the Prince in this euhemerized version of the classic fairy tale.

Under the direction of choreographer/director Charles Walter, it's a charming version of the story, with the fantasy taking place in Miss Caron's dreams, as choreographed by Roland Petit and danced by Les Ballets de Paris. Estelle Winwood plays the fairy godmother as a dotty creature who can scare up a ball gown and a coach-and-four through means that turn out to be a matter of knowing people. A lush score by Bronislau Caper offers a simple romantic theme and dance music.

While Caron is fine in the role -- although her Parisian accent in the midst of English speakers is odd -- Wilding's casting is bizarre; he is too old for the role, and is inserted into the ballet sequence in short shots, simply moving while the ballet dancers and Miss Caron -- who had been working with Petit since 1948 -- perform their art gracefully. A sequence in which Wilding teaches Miss Caron how to dance is amusing in a meta way. Walter Pidgeon narrates, Keenan Wynn acquits himself well as Wilding's equerry, and Elsa Lanchester is largely wasted in her role.

Why wasn't this film more successful, and why isn't it more well known than it was and is? It is an utterly delightful and original take on the Cinderella story in which almost every element is just right. Leslie Caron is completely enchanting as Ella. True, she may not be an amazingly gorgeous beauty in her ball gown, but she is radiant nevertheless. Especially those eyes. Oh, those expressive eyes! They show you the true beauty beneath her outward plainness. She is a wonderful actress and phenomenal ballet dancer, as demonstrated in the wonderful dream ballet sequences in which she dances with the Roland Petit ballet company. These sequences may seem unnecceasry at first, but they turn out to do exactly what the ballet dances in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals do: They express the character's emotions in ways that not even dialogue and music can. They are indeed a vital part of the film. Estelle Winwood is charming as Ella's eccentric "fairy godmother." Walter Pidgeon's uncredited narration is pithy and wise. True, Michael Wilding is indeed a bit bland as Prince Charming/Charles (though not really all that bad) and this is one of Kennan Wynn's weakest appearences (except for his reaction when he sees Ella at the ball), but all in all these are tiny flaws in one underrated gem of a film.

Granted, Leslie Caron is NOT Cinderella, but I did like Michael Wilding (even though he seemed a bit old for the part), and Estelle Winwood was fantastic. I did like some of the twists, especially the use of subterfuge vs. magic (Ella "Borrows" a dress, rather than having her godmother "Create" one for her). But mostly, I agree with dinky-4, the song "Climbing Rose" is what I remember most about the movie. I'm hoping the score has been released on CD, but haven't found it so far.

By the way, if anyone knows where I can get the sheet music and/or CD for that song, please let me know! I've been looking for the music for what seems like forever!

i first saw this movie on late night family channel as a kid... it tooks me years to find it again, when i FINALY found it i ran out and bought it(2 months on back order!!) this is such a sweet light hearted cinderella tale of a girl named Ella who always told everyone she would grow up to live in the palace... and people just shrugged her off and called her "cinder-ella" because of cleaning out the fireplace and being covered in ashes... a fairy godmother who is accentric and amusing with word games what holds a good message, there are some key moments what always make me laugh every time i watch it... this is the first leslie caron movie i saw and i fell inlove with her and have now seen many more of her movies... she is a very beautiful woman with great skill and always reminds me a bit of Audrey Hepburn(maybe it's just me)...whenever i'm down this movie always makes me smile i can never get bored of it!... if you love light hearted romance comedies or the classics this movie is worth watching!