Cinderella (1899)

A fairy godmother magically turns Cinderella's rags to a beautiful dress, and a pumpkin into a coach. Cinderella goes to the ball, where she meets the Prince - but will she remember to leave before the magic runs out?

Director:

Georges Méliès (uncredited)

Stars:

Mlle Barral, Bleuette Bernon, Carmelli

Cast

Credited cast:
Mlle Barral	...	Cinderella
Bleuette Bernon	...	The Fairy Godmother
Carmelli	...	Prince Charming (as Carmely)
Jehanne d'Alcy	...	Fairy Godmother (as Jeanne d'Alcy)
Dupeyron	...	Party Guest (as Depeyrou)

Storyline

This George Méliès' extraordinary fairy-tale film adaptation of author Charles Perrault's "Cendrillon", is considered to be the first film to use a dissolve transition in-between scenes. With the use of twenty masterly coloured engravings by Gustave Doré to illustrate the storyline's interchanging scenes, the director portrays Cinderella's well-known story, as the Fairy Godmother works her magic, transforming a poor and ragged girl to a fine aristocratic Lady at the King's Ball. In less than seven minutes, everything is here: from the magnificent magical carriage and the jealous sisters, to the noble Prince Charming and the dainty slipper. Of course, here too, time is of the essence.

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Plot Keywords:

lost shoe | shoe | dancing | ballroom dancing | rags to riches | 

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Genres:

Short | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1904, the price per copy made from the original negatives in Paris - 61 dollars 50 cents, the price for a copy of the New York dupe - 53 dollars 50 cents.

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Connections

Version of Cinderella (1947)

User Reviews

Bibbety Bobbety Boo

This is the earliest surviving of Melies super-productions -- the best known one, of course, is his Trip to the Moon -- and the story begins right where Melies can strut his stuff with the appearance of the Fairy Godmother. Some of the earliest sequences are beautifully hand-tinted.

Of greater technical interest is Melies' experimentation with film grammar: he uses a fade to get from Cinderella's garret to the ball. And of course, there are lots of his combinations of stage and film magic, as mice are transformed into footmen, pumpkins appear out of nowhere and the fairy godmother leaves by being lowered into the stage. Tremendous fun and far more watchable than any other version through the 1920s.

This is one of the many previously lost or infrequently seen Melies pictures that have been made available by Serge Bromberg, David Shepherd and a myriad of other hands in the newly issued DVD set GEORGES MELIES: FIRST WIZARD OF CINEMA. Required viewing for anyone interested in the history of movies ..... and a lot of fun.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

None

Release Date:

25 December 1899 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cinderella

Filming Locations:

Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Georges Méliès, Star-Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

6 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Color (hand-colored) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1