A Study in Ash

I'm gonna put something out there that might be a bit controversial...I hope it doesn't make any of you think less of me.

I love love love the Cinderella fable.  I know, I know.  

It's weird because I don't think of myself as a Princess-loving girl (besides Leia, natch).  But there it is.   I realized this when I was on my two ridiculously long flights last month.  The new Cinderella was featured and I was super excited.  When I examined why, it occurred to me that there are no two ways about it:  I'm a fan.  And I have been for a long time.  Some of you may know this, but the first kitten I ever had was a Siamese that our elderly next door neighbors gave me (now that I think of it, they must have instilled in me my love of cats; they had two gorgeous Siamese that I adored - and as I recall they had horribly racist names like maybe Ping and Pong? This was the 60's, people, don't judge.  The neighbors were extremely nice people, actually.).  I was about 5 or 6 at the time (this was a big year for me, if you read my Halloween post).  My parents let me name the kitten, which we thought was a girl.  I named her Cinderella.  Upon further inspection, though, we discovered that Cinderella wasn't a girl, so we ended up calling HIM Cindus. I think this name was borne out of me wanting to call the cat Cinders (I think that's the name the horrible stepsisters call Cinderella in the storybook I had) and either I garbled it (I was calling deodorant "dodorant" at the time....God knows why I knew that word but there you have it)  or that's how my Bostonian mother pronounced it.  Cindus didn't have a long life, but he followed me everywhere I went and I loved him dearly.

Since then, not only have I seen the traditional Cinderella films, but quite a few adaptations as well (even the Hilary Duff one...it's terrible but I still liked it (Jennifer Coolidge plays the evil step mother so that's a big plus)).  I guess I'm a sucker for a girl who works her ass off all the time and ends up with a sugar daddy.  Or maybe I like that the shoe only comes in her size.   

I did a bit of research about the Cinderella fable.  The first instance of this story was from 7 BC and featured a Greek girl (yup!).  Not all the elements are there, but there's a lost red slipper.  The version that introduced many of the elements commonly found now (pumpkin, fairy godmother and glass slipper) is a French story from 1697.  There are well over 200 documented theatrical versions of Cinderella (plays and films) starting from the mid 1800s.  That's a lot of fairy godmothers.

On my flight, they also were playing the original Cinderella (as well as an another offshoot film called After the Ball, which was adorably irreverent, combining Cinderella and Victor/Victoria) so here I give you my thoughts on Cinderella, old and new.

Cinderella - released in 1950

This version of Cinderella was taken from the French story I mentioned above.  Apparently because of WW II, etc, Disney hadn't had a big hit in many years (I think since Snow White was released in the late 30s) and they were banking a lot on this movie.  They employed 3 directors (similar to many of the animated films I worked on, actually) and used a new song writing collective, Tin Pan Alley (they ended up partnering with this company a lot, according to Wikipedia).  What they did totally paid off.  Cinderella became one of their most successful films; the profits leading to Disney being able to fund other productions and build their distribution company, as well as other endeavors.

One of the reviews says something about the "adorable mice".  Like a "how can you go wrong" type of thing.  Well, I'm gonna say that the mouse Gus Gus?  He's a fucking idiot.  I am SHOCKED that he didn't get eaten by the cat, Lucifer, within the first few minutes.  He's a portly mouse and continually looks like he's going to have a little animated heart attack when he's running up stairs or jumping around.  Gus Gus bugged.  Every stinkin' job they gave him, he messed up.  Where is Darwinism when you need it?

And speaking of the other mice, I'd like to ask, how does one employ a bunch of rodents (or any animal, really) to work for you?  I'm a nice person who's good to animals.  Why don't I have a staff of furry and winged creatures that are cleaning my house and sewing my clothes??  

I kept having to remind myself that this version was made in 1950...particularly when the amazingly handy female mice sang "Leave the sewing to the women, you go get the trimmin'" to Gus Gus and Jaq.  No surprise, Gus Gus fucked that up too.  Additionally, Prince Charming's dad (the King) was less interested in getting his son a good match and more interested in getting a baby-maker in the castle.  Any vessel would do.

Another interesting fact I learned is that for the first time on this film, the animation department hired "live action models" to film reference to keep the animation costs down.  Interesting!  They actually hired actresses to do the scenes, with rudimentary sets and props.   I believe they continued to employ this method through at least 101 Dalmatians.  We used this method too,but it was our animators shooting themselves as reference in an renovated storeroom.  Watching their reference was truly some of my favorite times at work.

Another quick thing about the animators.  I only saw one woman's name as an artist on this film, Mary Blair.  Her credit is Color and Styling, which I understand is being a concept artist.  Perhaps THE concept artist.  She was masterful, I'm learning.  Apparently she had a very troubled personal life, but in the midst of her own personal demons, she also designed all the costumes, sets and locations for the It's a Small World attraction.  Go Mary!!

One thing that surprised and delighted me was when I watched the credits and realized that Prince Charming was completely uncredited  In fact, he doesn't even have an actual name in the film.  Just "the prince".  Apparently his underdeveloped character in the film was an early issue for critics.  Not so much for me.

(My drink pairing for this is a Cinderella, a fruity non-alcoholic drink.  C'mon, you're watching animation!)

Cinderella - released in 2015

Scholars say that Cinderella is the story of unjust oppression.  It is that, but what stands out to me in all versions is that it's also, maybe more so, a story about jealousy and how incredibly mean and spiteful women can be to each other.

I think in the end, that should be what parents object to, not that she becomes a princess. 

I actually really like this version.  It's a Disney film, so they use the French story like the 1950 version.  Kenneth Branagh directs.  I'm not always a huge fan of him as an actor (I feel like you can always see his ego peeking out...which is why he was actually perfect for Gilderoy Lockhart in the Potter film), but I do like him as a director (I still think he made a mistake leaving Emma, but whatever...I could do a whole blog just on my thoughts about Hollywood couples...don't even get me started on the Blake Shelton/Gwen Stefani rumor). 

Branagh's version uses an element that many don't, which is that we see her as a child with her parents.  They are a very happy family and Cinderella's mother is nice and loving and beautiful.  She teaches our young heroine that the most important thing in life is to have courage and be kind.  This is where you find the magic. It's a theme through the movie.  Then Cinderella gets saddled with the stepfamily/horror show because her dad wants one last chance at being happy many years after the mom dies.  I don't fault him for this.  I do fault him on his terrible taste in second wives.  As soon as the dad goes away on a business trip, Cinderella is thrown out of her nice room to live in the attic.  With the mice.  Gus Gus is there, but is mercifully silent and doesn't do much more than eat.  

This film has a lot of heart, and the girl who plays Cinderella, Lily James, is perfect. (My former Blogguest, Linda Moore, might be a bit interested to know she's dating Matt Smith.  Hmph.)

The important part of the new versions of Cinderella (and Disney has jumped on the bandwagon with this film) is that we see the Prince and Cinderella meet and have a connection long before the ball. They talk, he falls in love with HER.  Her beauty, sure, but also her opinions, her kindness.  Her.  This is a big element of my favorite adaptation, Ever After.  The heroine is spunkier in Ever After.  She's also educated (her favorite place to be is a library).  I love this version.

Cate Blanchett plays the evil stepmother.  She is REALLY evil.  She does this one strident, braying laugh after she has humiliated Cinderella in front of her daughters and it's so mean and real.  It made me almost not like her for a second.  But she's Cate Blanchett which means she's pretty much All The Time Awesome.

Helena Bonham Carter is the Fairy Godmother.  This is a perfect role for her.  She looks great and she employs her usual "crazy, hot mess" acting style that served her well as Bellatrix Lestrange too.  At least in this, she uses her magic for good.

One thing about this film, whether you're a Cinderella fan or not, the costumes are A-FUCKING-MAZING.  Cate Blanchett gets some incredible outfits and Cinderella's ball gown is layer upon layer of fabric (apparently in blues and lavenders) that is just exquisite.  In fact, when she and the Prince dance, Branagh has added "swish" sound effects.  Like it's a character of it's own, singing with the music.  And the glass slippers were made by Swarovski!  Even if you never want to see this film, do yourself a favor and check out this article about the costume designer Sandy Powell.  Some great photos:   http://www.vogue.com/4463911/cinderella-movie-2015-sandy-powell-costume-designer/

One thing has stumped me, however...Cinderella and her mom sing a song called Lavender Blue.  I recognized it immediately and remember hearing it when I was young.  I thought someone like Hayley Mills sang it but I can't find it anywhere on the interwebz.  Now it's bugging me.  Anyone?

(My drink pairing for this film is multiple glasses of pink champagne.  Then sing Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo at the top of your lungs.)

My takeaways:

#1 - I apologize for the explosion of parentheses above. (not sure what got into me)

#2 - I thought this was interesting:  in the animated version, Cinderella's original ball gown - the dress the stepsisters rip to shreds - is thought to be based on a Salvador Dali look and her eventual ball gown is based on a Christian Dior design.  Nice.

#3 - Ever After, with Drew Barrymore, is one of my favorite movies.   Mireille Soria is the producer.  She also produced all 3 Madagascar films.  When I finally put that together (I had seen Ever After long before I became a Dreamworker) I shyly (for me) told her that I really loved the film.  She was like "Oh. Thanks."  Not the reaction I was expecting.

#34- Much like I learned valuable life lessons from Scarlett O'Hara (Tomorrow is another day!), perhaps I got my love of fabulous shoes from the Cinderella fable.  And I do LOVE fabulous shoes.

xoxo...hashtagSueslife