Cinderella (1997 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella |
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Home video promotional poster, featuring Houston and Brandy as their respective characters.
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| Genre | Musical Fantasy |
| Based on | Cinderella by Oscar Hammerstein II |
| Written by | Robert L. Freedman |
| Directed by | Robert Iscove |
| Starring | Whitney Houston Brandy Jason Alexander Whoopi Goldberg Bernadette Peters Veanne Cox Natalie Desselle Victor Garber Paolo Montalban |
| Composer(s) | Richard Rodgers |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Whitney Houston Debra Martin Chase Craig Zadan Neil Meron David R. Ginsburg |
| Producer(s) | Mike Moder Chris Montan Robyn Crawford (associate producer ) Paula S. Warner (associate producer) |
| Cinematography | Ralf D. Bode |
| Editor(s) | Casey O. Rohrs Tanya M. Swerling |
| Running time | 88 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Walt Disney Television BrownHouse Productions Storyline Entertainment |
| Distributor | Buena Vista Television |
| Budget | $12 million |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | November 2, 1997 |
Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella is a magical musical fantasy TV movie from 1997. It was made by Walt Disney Television and directed by Robert Iscove. The story was written by Robert L. Freedman.
This film is based on the classic fairy tale by Charles Perrault. It's also a new version of the famous Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, which first aired on TV in 1957. The script was updated to feel more modern and make Cinderella a stronger character.
The movie was co-produced by and stars Whitney Houston as the amazing Fairy Godmother. Brandy plays Cinderella. The cast is very diverse, featuring stars like Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg, Bernadette Peters, Veanne Cox, Natalie Desselle, Victor Garber, and Paolo Montalban.
Cinderella was a huge success when it first aired on November 2, 1997. About 60 million people watched it! This made it one of the most-watched TV musicals in many years. It's remembered today for its diverse cast and for being a groundbreaking film.
Contents
What is Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella About?
The Story of Cinderella
The movie tells the familiar story of Cinderella. She is a kind young woman who lives with her mean Stepmother and two stepsisters. They treat her like a servant.
One day, Cinderella meets a charming young man in the marketplace. They talk about how they both feel stuck in their lives. Cinderella later finds out this young man is actually Prince Christopher!
The Royal Ball
Prince Christopher's parents, the King and Queen, want him to find a bride. So, they decide to host a grand ball. The Prince isn't happy about this. He wants to marry for love, not just because his parents tell him to.
Cinderella dreams of going to the ball, but her stepmother laughs at the idea. The stepfamily leaves for the ball, hoping one of the stepsisters will marry the Prince. Cinderella is left all alone at home.
A Magical Transformation
Suddenly, Cinderella's Fairy Godmother appears! She encourages Cinderella to go to the ball. With a wave of her wand, the Fairy Godmother works magic.
- A pumpkin turns into a fancy carriage.
- Rats become footmen and a coachman.
- Mice transform into beautiful horses.
- Cinderella's old rags become a stunning ballgown.
- She also gets a special pair of glass slippers.
The Fairy Godmother warns Cinderella that the magic will only last until midnight.
The Ball and the Slipper
At the ball, Prince Christopher hasn't found anyone he likes. But then Cinderella arrives, looking beautiful. They instantly start dancing. Cinderella's stepfamily doesn't recognize her, but they feel like she looks familiar.
As midnight approaches, Cinderella and the Prince share their first kiss. But Cinderella remembers the warning and runs away as the clock strikes twelve. The magic spell breaks, and she leaves behind one glass slipper.
The Prince declares he will marry the person whose foot fits the slipper. He will search the entire kingdom to find her.
Finding True Love
When Cinderella's stepfamily returns home, they talk about the ball. Cinderella pretends she can only imagine what it was like. But her stepmother soon realizes Cinderella was the mysterious princess. She tries to keep Cinderella hidden.
The Prince and his valet, Lionel, arrive at Cinderella's house. They are trying the slipper on every maiden. Cinderella's stepfamily tries it on, but it doesn't fit them. Lionel insists on searching the kitchen, where Cinderella is hiding.
The Prince finds Cinderella and recognizes her from the marketplace. He tries the slipper on her foot, and it fits perfectly! In the end, Cinderella and Prince Christopher get married in a grand ceremony. Her stepfamily is left watching from outside the palace gates.
Who Are the Main Characters?
The movie features a talented and diverse cast. Here are some of the main actors and their roles:
- Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother
- Brandy as Cinderella
- Jason Alexander as Lionel, the Prince's valet
- Whoopi Goldberg as Queen Constantina, the Prince's mother
- Bernadette Peters as the Stepmother
- Veanne Cox as Calliope, one of the stepsisters
- Natalie Desselle as Minerva, the other stepsister
- Victor Garber as King Maximillian, the Prince's father
- Paolo Montalbán as Prince Christopher
How Was the Movie Made?
A New Kind of Cinderella
After a successful TV musical in 1993, Whitney Houston wanted to star in a new Cinderella movie. She first talked to producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.
It took a few years for the movie to get made. By the time Disney decided to produce it for ABC, Whitney Houston felt she was too old to play Cinderella. So, she offered the role to Brandy instead.
A Diverse Cast
The filmmakers decided to use a "color-blind casting" approach. This means they chose actors based on their talent, not their race. This was a big deal in the 1990s. Brandy became the first Black actress to play Cinderella on screen. This made the movie very special and groundbreaking.
Music and Budget
The movie's music includes songs from the original Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella musical. They also added songs from other Rodgers and Hammerstein shows to make the score even richer.
Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella cost about $12 million to make. This made it one of the most expensive TV movies ever at the time.
Why Was It Important?
Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella was a huge hit. It helped bring back the The Wonderful World of Disney show.
Critics had mixed feelings about the movie. Many loved the costumes, sets, and the performances of the supporting cast, especially Bernadette Peters, Jason Alexander, and Whoopi Goldberg. Some critics had different opinions on Brandy and Whitney Houston's performances. They also discussed how Disney made Cinderella a more feminist character.
The movie was nominated for many awards, including seven Primetime Emmy Awards. It won one for its amazing art direction. The success of Cinderella encouraged Disney and ABC to create more musical projects for TV. Today, the movie is celebrated for its diverse cast and for changing how classic stories can be told.
