Cinderella (2005, DVD)

This rags to riches tale has been told in its own way in practically every country around the world. It has been made into many movies as well, and while my favorite will always be the Rodgers and Hammerstein version, Disney s Cinderella is certainly a delight.

Cinderella is a sweet teenager who lives with her unfeeling stepmother and two nasty stepsisters. She uncomplainingly does all of their dirty work, finding reprieve as she sings to her friends, the animals. All the farm animals adore her, and the house mice provide comfort and amusement in her darkest hours. Only Lucifer, her stepsisters cat, is not fond of Cinderella.

One day, the mundane daily life of the household is interrupted when a telegram arrives, inviting all ladies in the kingdom to attend a royal ball, at which the prince will choose his bride. The stepsisters are thrown into a tizzy, and Cinderella begs to be allowed to go. Her stepmother agrees, if she finishes all her chores and can find something suitable to wear. Of course, the three women pile on the work for Cinderella so that she has no time to fix her mother s dress. But her diminutive friends, the mice and birds, decide to take that task on for themselves. When the time comes to leave, Cinderella is surprised with a gorgeous dress. Ecstatic, she runs down to join the others, only to have her garment ripped to shreds by her jealous stepsisters.

But hope is not gone for Cinderella, for moments later she gets a visit from her fairy godmother, a rather absentminded elderly fairy determined to make Cinderella s wish come true. With the magical words Bibbity Bobbity Boo, a pumpkin is changed into a fine coach, the mice are turned into horses, the dog is turned into a doorman, and Cinderella s rags become an elegant gown. She is whisked off to the ball with the strict reminder that the magic will end precisely at midnight.

When the smitten prince dejectedly watches his newfound love rush out on the stroke of midnight, he is left with only a glass slipper as a clue to her identity. A search throughout the land is instigated, and each maiden must try on the slipper. Though scores of high-class women try on the shoe with no success, the prince is more than happy to allow the ragged Cinderella to try on the slipper.

Several great songs and entertaining characters, most especially the mice who sing A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes, help to make this one of the most enduring versions of this fairy tale ever produced. Little girls will cheer as they discover that it doesn t matter what kind of clothes you wear or what sort of title you possess...it s the kindness in your heart that truly makes you a princess.