The weakest of the Walt-era princess films

Rating: 8/10 (15 May 2014)

Cinderella (1950) was my favorite movie as a child. I would re-enact scenes as I watched it, dressed up like the titular character, and almost wore the VHS out. Watching it as an adult, I still get warm feelings of nostalgia; however, it is certainly the most bland of the Walt-era princess films.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Sleeping Beauty (1959) are both more ambitious and visually interesting. Cinderella was made at a time when the studio was (not for the first nor last time) on the verge of bankruptcy and they were starving for a hit film. As a result, Cinderella was made in the Snow White model and feels much safer. The songs are memorable and the characters are fine, though not terribly interesting. Unlike many, I find the mice grating comic relief. Fortunately, they are balanced out by the cold-hearted stepmother, among the greatest Disney villains.
In conclusion, an entertaining film, but not entirely deserving of the amount of celebration it receives.