Cinderella (1957) (TV)

Director:

Ralph Nelson

Writer:

Oscar Hammerstein II (writer)

Release Date:

31 March 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Family | Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Plot:

The first of three TV-versions of the classic fairy tale that featured a Rodgers and Hammerstein score. |

Plot Keywords:

Fairy Tale | Beautiful Woman | Cinderella | Live Broadcast | Character Name In Title

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Julie Andrews	...	Cinderella
Howard Lindsay	...	King
Dorothy Stickney	...	The Queen
Ilka Chase	...	The Stepmother
Kaye Ballard	...	Stepsister Portia
Alice Ghostley	...	Stepsister Joy
Edie Adams	...	Fairy Godmother (as Edith Adams)
Jon Cypher	...	Prince Christopher
Robert Penn	...	Town Crier
Alexander Clark	...	The Captain of the Guard
Iggie Wolfington	...	The Chef
David F. Perkins	...	The Court Tailor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charles Aschmann	...	Ensemble
Herb Banke	...	Ensemble
Donald Barton	...	Ensemble
Julius J. Bloom	...	Ensemble
Hank Brunjes	...	Ensemble
Robert Burland	...	Ensemble
John Call	...	Ensemble
Jean Caples	...	Ensemble
Jean Coates	...	Ensemble
Jerome Collamore	...	Ensemble
Sally Crane	...	Ensemble
Richard Crowley	...	Ensemble
William Damian	...	Ensemble
Grace Dorian	...	Ensemble
Debbie Douglas	...	Ensemble
Jose Falcion	...	Ensemble
Pat Finch	...	Ensemble
Marvin Goodis	...	Ensemble
Martha Greenhouse	...	Ensemble
George Hall	...	The King's Steward
Gloria Hamilton	...	Ensemble
Dorothy Hill	...	Ensemble
Stuart Hodes	...	Ensemble
Diana Hunter	...	Ensemble
Kathy Kelly	...	Ensemble
Joseph Layton	...	Ensemble
Karen Lock	...	Ensemble
Leland Mayforth	...	Ensemble
Margot Moser	...	Ensemble
Giselle Orkin	...	Ensemble
Jacquelyn Paige	...	Ensemble
Hazel Patterson	...	Ensemble
Eleanor Phelps	...	Ensemble
Alex Polermo	...	Ensemble
Earl Rogers	...	Ensemble
John Smolko	...	Ensemble
Tao Strong	...	Ensemble
Johnny Towsen	...	Ensemble
Jayne Turner	...	Ensemble
Karen Waters	...	Ensemble

Also Known As:

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

76 min (dvd release) | USA:90 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (surviving Kinescope prints) | Color (original broadcast)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio 72, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Trivia:

Two ball gowns of completely different designs were worn by Julie Andrews. Early publicity stills of the production (some of which still exist today) show Andrews in a traditional, storybook-like tulle skirt gown. This gown was ultimately never used for the broadcast, dismissed as too big and heavy to utilize through all the live broadcast maneuvers. A simpler, sleeveless white sheath fitted closer to Andrews' body was used instead.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: The shadow of the boom mic visible on the right side of screen when Cinderella sings "In My Own Little Corner".

Quotes:

Cinderella: [singing] It's possible!

Movie Connections:

Edited into "Great Performances: Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'Cinderella'" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Overture

Why Bother with Comparisons

I grew up in the 60's and 70's loving the Lesley Ann Warren version of Cinderella and always will, mostly because of the wonderful score, but, I have always wanted to see this version as Julie Andrews is one of my all time favorite musical stars. She absolutely shines throughout the whole production. And to think they did it all LIVE is just amazing. Only one noticeable goof-up that I noticed (when the prince stepped on the queens lines-but he was a newcomer and probably scared to death) This version is more tongue in cheek than the later version- which Rogers admitted he re-wrote to be more fairy tale like (Disney-like is more like it) But as I said don't bother with comparisons, just be glad to see a new Julie Andrews performance (new to most of us anyway) in an original musical written especially for her. What's especially great is that you get to see what Julie was like during the run of "My Fair Lady" and to see why there was such a buzz about her at the time (Jack Warner sure made a goof not putting her in the film of "Lady").All the cast are wonderful in their parts, especially Kaye Ballard and Alice Ghostley as the bickering stepsisters. All in all a lovely night with a loverly lady.