A classic animation from Disney that is still charming after almost seventy years

Rating: 9/10 (30 May 2019)

This classic animation from Disney is based on one of the best known fairy tales. It tells the story of Cinderella; the daughter of wealthy landowner whose life is turned upside down. First her mother dies then her father marries a woman with two daughters of her own. Shortly afterwards her father dies and her step mother shows her true colours. Cinderella is now treated like a servant at the beck and call of her step family. Her only friends are the local animals; in particular the mice who live in the chateau. The king of the country wants his only son to marry so arranges a ball to which every eligible young woman in the kingdom is invited. Her step mother tells her she can go but places impossible conditions... she doesn't count on the help of Cinderella's fairy godmother though.
This film is a delightful retelling of the classic fairy-tale... unsurprisingly it omits the gory details in some versions of the story. While the ball and search for the girl who the glass slipper fits are the most remembered elements they account for a relatively small part of the film. More time is spent introducing with the mice, in particular Jaq and Gus, as they try to get past Lucifer, the cat, first to get food and later to help Cinderella. These scenes are funny in a way familiar to any fan of 'Tom and Jerry' if not quite as manic. While the early part of the film provides the laughs things get more exciting towards the end as Cinderella first tries to get to the ball then as it look as though her stepmother will prevent her trying on the glass slipper which will identify the woman the prince fell in love with. The characters are good, most notably the fun mice and the genuinely mean spirited stepmother. Cinderella herself is a good lead but as the 'nice girl' she is perhaps a little less interesting. As one would expect the animation and character designs are really good and the film features some charming songs. Overall a charming film will that entertain young and old alike; a must see for fans of classic animation.