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Cinderella: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Cinderella
In the year 7 BC, a Greek courtesan named Rhodopis was bathing in the colony of Naucratis when an eagle snatched one of her sandals from her maid and carried it to Memphis. The king of Egypt, Psammetichus, was administering justice in the open air when the eagle arrived above his head and flung the sandal into his lap. Stirred by the beautiful shape of the sandal and the strangeness of the occurrence, the king sent men in all directions to find the woman who wore it. When she was found in the city of Naucratis, she was brought up to Memphis and became the wife of the king. This story, recorded by the Greek geographer Strabo in his Geographica, is the earliest known variant of the Cinderella tale, predating all other European versions by centuries. The resemblance of the shoe-testing of Rhodopis with Cinderella's slipper was noted in the 19th century by Edgar Taylor and Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould, establishing a direct lineage from ancient Egypt to modern folklore. The story remained popular throughout antiquity, with the Roman orator Aelian later reporting it in his Miscellaneous History, adding that the pharaoh's name was Psammetichus. Herodotus, five centuries before Strabo, recorded a similar legend about a courtesan named Rhodopis who came from Thrace, was the slave of Iadmon of Samos, and was a fellow-slave of the story-teller Aesop. She was taken to Egypt in the time of Pharaoh Amasis and freed there for a large sum by Charaxus of Mytilene, brother of Sappho the lyric poet. The ancient Greek story of Rhodopis serves as the foundational myth for thousands of variants told throughout the world, establishing the core archetype of a young girl in unfortunate circumstances who is suddenly blessed with remarkable fortune and ascends to the throne through marriage.
The Ash Tree And The Hazel
The first literary European version of the story was published in Italy by Giambattista Basile in his Pentamerone in 1634, titled La gatta Cenerentola. Basile, a writer, soldier, and government official, assembled a set of oral folk tales into a written collection titled Lo cunto de li cunti, or Pentamerone. The story itself was set in the Kingdom of Naples, at that time the most important political and cultural center of Southern Italy and among the most influential capitals in Europe, and written in the Neapolitan dialect. The name Cenerentola derives from the Italian word cenere, meaning ash, cinder, an allusion to the fact that servants and scullions of the time were usually soiled with ash, partly as a result of their cleaning duties and partly because they lived in cold basements and so tended to huddle close to fireplaces for warmth. The plot follows a prince who has a daughter, Zezolla, who is tended by a beloved governess. The governess, with Zezolla's help, persuades the prince to marry her. The governess then brings forward six daughters of her own, who abuse Zezolla and send her into the kitchen to work as a servant. The prince goes to the island of Sardinia, meets a fairy who gives presents to his daughter, and brings back for her a golden spade, a golden bucket, a silken napkin, and a date seedling. The girl cultivates the tree, and when the king hosts a ball, Zezolla appears dressed richly by a fairy living in the date tree. The king falls in love with her, but Zezolla runs away before he can find out who she is. Twice Zezolla escapes the king and his servants. The third time, the king's servant captures one of her pattens. The king invites all of the maidens in the land to a ball with a patten-test, identifies Zezolla after the patten jumps from his hand to her foot, and eventually marries her. This version established the core elements of the wicked stepmother, the magical transformation, and the missing slipper that would define the genre for centuries to come.
Common questions
Who was the Greek courtesan named Rhodopis in the earliest known variant of Cinderella?
The Greek courtesan named Rhodopis was the subject of the earliest known variant of the Cinderella tale, recorded by the Greek geographer Strabo in his Geographica. She was bathing in the colony of Naucratis when an eagle snatched one of her sandals and carried it to Memphis, where the king of Egypt, Psammetichus, found it. This story predates all other European versions by centuries and established the core archetype of a young girl in unfortunate circumstances who ascends to the throne through marriage.
When was the first literary European version of Cinderella published and by whom?
The first literary European version of the story was published in Italy by Giambattista Basile in his Pentamerone in 1634. Basile, a writer, soldier, and government official, assembled a set of oral folk tales into a written collection titled Lo cunto de li cunti, or Pentamerone. The story itself was set in the Kingdom of Naples and written in the Neapolitan dialect, establishing the core elements of the wicked stepmother, the magical transformation, and the missing slipper that would define the genre for centuries to come.
What year did Charles Perrault publish his famous version of Cinderella named Cendrillon?
One of the most popular versions of Cinderella was written in French by Charles Perrault in 1697, under the name Cendrillon ou la petite pantoufle de verre. The popularity of his tale was due to his additions to the story, including the pumpkin, the fairy-godmother, and the introduction of glass slippers. A modern edition of the original French text by Perrault is found in Charles Perrault, Contes, edited by Marc Soriano.
When did the Brothers Grimm publish their second edition of the Cinderella tale Aschenputtel?
In the second edition of their collection in 1819, the Brothers Grimm supplemented the original 1812 version with a coda in which the two stepsisters suffer a terrible punishment by the princess Cinderella for their cruelty. The tale is called Aschenputtel or Ashputtle, meaning The Little Ash Girl, and is much more violent than that of Charles Perrault and Disney. In this version, the stepsisters mutilate their feet to fit in the golden slipper, and magic doves from heaven declare Aschenputtel as the true bride of the prince.
What is the name of the Chinese version of Cinderella that appeared around 860?
The tale of Ye Xian first appeared in Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang written by Duan Chengshi around 860. In this version, Ye Xian is the daughter of the local tribal leader whose mother died when she was young, and she befriends a fish which is the reincarnation of her deceased mother. Her stepmother and half-sister kill the fish, but Ye Xian finds the bones, which are magical, and they help her dress appropriately for a local Festival, including a very light golden shoe.
When was the first animated film adaptation of Cinderella released by Walt Disney?
Cinderella 1950, a Walt Disney animated feature released on the 15th of February 1950, is now considered one of Disney's Classics and the most well-known film adaptation. This film incorporates the titular character as a Disney Princess and its franchise. Earlier in the film, the Duke warns that the slipper could fit any number of women, but Cinderella then produces the beautiful matching slipper, proving beyond all doubt that she is the one from the ball.
One of the most popular versions of Cinderella was written in French by Charles Perrault in 1697, under the name Cendrillon ou la petite pantoufle de verre. The popularity of his tale was due to his additions to the story, including the pumpkin, the fairy-godmother, and the introduction of glass slippers. A modern edition of the original French text by Perrault is found in Charles Perrault, Contes, edited by Marc Soriano. The plot follows a wealthy widower who marries a proud and haughty woman as his second wife. She has two daughters, who are equally vain and selfish. But the man also has a beautiful young daughter from his first wife, a girl of unparalleled kindness and sweet temper. The stepmother, jealous of the young girl because her good graces show up her own two daughters' faults, forces her into servitude, where the girl is made to work day and night doing menial chores. After her chores are done for the day, she curls up near the fireplace in an effort to stay warm. She often arises covered in ashes, giving rise to the mocking nickname Cendrillon by her stepsisters. Cinderella bears the abuse patiently and does not tell her father, who would have scolded her. One day, the prince invites all the people in the land to a royal ball. The two stepsisters gleefully plan their wardrobes for the ball, and taunt Cinderella by telling her that maids are not invited to the ball. As the two stepsisters and the stepmother depart to the ball, Cinderella cries in despair. Her fairy godmother magically appears and immediately begins to transform Cinderella from house servant to the young lady she was by birth, all in the effort to get Cinderella to the ball. She turns a pumpkin into a golden carriage, mice into horses, a rat into a coachman, and lizards into footmen. She then turns Cinderella's rags into a beautiful jeweled gown, complete with a delicate pair of glass slippers. The Fairy Godmother tells her to enjoy the ball, but warns her that she must return before midnight, when the spells will be broken. At the ball, the entire court is entranced by Cinderella, especially the Prince. At this first ball, Cinderella remembers to leave before midnight. Back home, Cinderella graciously thanks her Fairy Godmother. She then innocently greets the two stepsisters, who had not recognized her earlier, and talk of nothing but the beautiful girl at the ball. Another ball is held the next evening, and Cinderella again attends with her Fairy Godmother's help. The prince has become even more infatuated with the mysterious woman at the ball, and Cinderella in turn becomes so enchanted by him she loses track of time and leaves only at the final stroke of midnight, losing one of her glass slippers on the steps of the palace in her haste. The Prince chases her, but outside the palace, the guards see only a simple country girl leave. The prince pockets the slipper and vows to find and marry the girl to whom it belongs. Meanwhile, Cinderella keeps the other slipper, which does not disappear when the spell is broken. The prince's herald tries the slipper on all the women in the kingdom. When the herald arrives at Cinderella's home, the two stepsisters try in vain to win him over. Cinderella asks if she may try, but the two stepsisters taunt her. Naturally, the slipper fits perfectly, and Cinderella produces the other slipper for good measure. Cinderella's stepfamily pleads for forgiveness, and Cinderella agrees. Cinderella had hoped her step-family would love her always. Cinderella marries the prince and forgives her two stepsisters, then marrying them off to two wealthy noblemen of the court. They all lived happily ever after. The first moral of the story is that beauty is a treasure, but graciousness is priceless. Without it, nothing is possible; with it, one can do anything. However, the second moral of the story mitigates the first one and reveals the criticism that Perrault is aiming at: That without doubt it is a great advantage to have intelligence, courage, good breeding, and common sense. These, and similar talents come only from heaven, and it is good to have them. However, even these may fail to bring you success, without the blessing of a godfather or a godmother. Cinderella's father is alive in this version, but is only briefly mentioned in two sentences at the beginning of the tale. It is explained that he does not prevent the abuse of his daughter because his wife controls him and the household entirely.
The Blood And The Blindness
Another well-known version was recorded by the German brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm in the 19th century. The tale is called Aschenputtel or Ashputtle or Ashputtle, meaning The Little Ash Girl. This version is much more violent than that of Charles Perrault and Disney, in that Cinderella's father has not died and the two stepsisters mutilate their feet to fit in the golden slipper. There is no fairy godmother in this version of the Brothers Grimm, but rather help comes from a wishing tree, which the heroine had planted on her deceased mother's grave, when she recites a certain chant. In the second edition of their collection in 1819, the Brothers Grimm supplemented the original 1812 version with a coda in which the two stepsisters suffer a terrible punishment by the princess Cinderella for their cruelty. A fairy tale very similar to the Grimm one, Aschenbrödel, was published by Ludwig Bechstein in 1845 in Deutsches Märchenbuch. The plot follows a wealthy gentleman's wife who falls gravely ill, and as she lies on her deathbed, she calls for her only daughter, and tells her to remain good and kind, as God would protect her. She then dies and is buried. The child visits her mother's grave every day to grieve and a year goes by. The gentleman marries another woman with two older daughters from a previous marriage. They have beautiful faces and fair skin, but their hearts are cruel and wicked. The stepsisters steal the girl's fine clothes and jewels and force her to wear rags. They banish her into the kitchen, and give her the nickname Aschenputtel, meaning Ashfool. She is forced to do all kinds of hard work from dawn to dusk for the sisters. The cruel sisters do nothing but mock her and make her chores harder by creating messes. However, despite all of it, the girl remains good and kind, and regularly visits her mother's grave to cry and pray to God that she will see her circumstances improve. One day the gentleman visits a fair, promising his stepdaughters gifts of luxury. The elder one asks for beautiful dresses, while the younger for pearls and diamonds. His own daughter merely begs for the first twig to knock his hat off on the way. The gentleman goes on the way, and acquires presents for his stepdaughters. While passing a forest he gets a hazel twig, and gives it to his daughter. She plants the twig over her mother's grave, waters it with her tears and over the years, it grows into a glowing hazel tree. The girl prays under it three times a day, and a white bird always comes to her as she prays. She tells her wishes to the bird, and every time the bird throws down to her what she has wished for. The king decides to proclaim a festival that will last for three days and invites all the beautiful maidens in that country to attend so that the prince can select one of them for his bride. The two sisters are also invited, but when Aschenputtel begs them to allow her to go with them into the celebration, the stepmother refuses because she has no decent dress nor shoes to wear. When the girl insists, the woman throws a dish of lentils into the ashes for her to pick up, guaranteeing her permission to attend the festival if she can clean up the lentils in two hours. When the girl accomplished the task in less than an hour with the help of a flock of white doves that came when she sang a certain chant, the stepmother only redoubles the task and throws down even a greater quantity of lentils. When Aschenputtel is able to accomplish it in a greater speed, not wanting to spoil her daughters' chances, the stepmother hastens away with her husband and daughters to the celebration and leaves the crying stepdaughter behind. The girl goes back to the graveyard and asks to be clothed in silver and gold. The white bird drops a gold and silver gown and silk shoes, which she wears to the feast. The prince dances with her all evening, claiming her as his dance partner whenever a gentleman asks for her hand, and when sunset comes she asks to leave. The prince escorts her home, but she eludes him and jumps inside the estate's pigeon coop. When the father arrives home the prince asks him to chop down the pigeon coop, by which time Aschenputtel has already escaped to the graveyard and the hazel tree to return her fine clothes. The father finds Aschenputtel asleep in the kitchen hearth, and suspects nothing. The next day, the girl appears in grander apparel. The prince again dances with her the whole day, and when the sun sets the prince accompanies her home. However, this time she climbs a pear tree in the back garden to escape him. The prince calls her father who chops down the tree, wondering if it could be Aschenputtel, but she was only to be found in the kitchen when the father arrives home. The third day, she appears dressed in the grandest finery, with slippers of gold. Now the prince is determined to keep her, and has the entire stairway smeared with pitch so that he may prevent her escape. Aschenputtel, in her haste to elude the prince, loses one of her golden slippers in the pitch. The prince retrieves the slipper and proclaims that he will marry the maiden whose foot fits the golden slipper. The next morning, the prince goes to Aschenputtel's house and tries the slipper on the elder stepsister. Since she will have no more need to go on foot when she will be queen, the sister was advised by her mother to cut off her toes to fit the slipper. The prince is fooled into believing the stepsister is the anonymous woman he has been dancing with. However, while riding with the stepsister, two magic doves from heaven tell the prince that blood drips from her foot. Appalled by her treachery, the prince goes back again and tries the slipper on the other stepsister. She has cut off part of her heel to get her foot to fit the slipper, and again the prince is fooled. While riding with her to the king's castle, the doves alert him again about her bleeding foot. The prince returns again to inquire about another girl. The gentleman tells him that his dead wife left a dirty little Cinderella in the house, omitting to mention that she is his own daughter, and that she is too filthy to be seen, but the prince asks him to let her try on the slipper. Aschenputtel appears after washing clean her face and hands, and when she puts on the slipper, which fits her like a glove, the prince recognizes Aschenputtel as the stranger with whom he danced at the festival. To the horror of the stepmother and the two limping sisters, their mere servant-girl has won the prince's heart. The prince puts Aschenputtel before him on his horse and rides off to the palace. While passing the hazel tree the two magic doves from Heaven declare Aschenputtel as the true bride of the prince, and remain on her shoulders, one on the left and the other on the right. In a coda added in the second edition of 1819, during Aschenputtel's royal wedding, the stepsisters had hoped to worm their way into her favour as the future queen. As she walks down the aisle with her stepsisters as her bridesmaids, Aschenputtel's doves strike the two stepsisters' eyes, one in the left and the other in the right. It is their last chance of redemption, but since they are desperate to win the new princess' affections, they don't give up and go through the ceremony, so when the wedding comes to an end, and Aschenputtel and her beloved prince march out of the church, her doves fly again, promptly striking the remaining eyes of the two evil stepsisters blind, a truly awful comeuppance they have to endure. In addition to the absence of the punishment of the stepsisters, there are other minor differences in the first edition of 1812, some of which are reminiscent of Perrault's version. In the first edition, Cinderella's mother herself tells her to plant a tree on her grave. No bird perches on the tree but the tree itself gives the girl what she wants. The birds appear only when they help Cinderella collect lentils, a task that is assigned to her by her stepsisters rather than her stepmother, and they are not a flock but just two pigeons. On the evening of the first ball, Cinderella does not participate but she watches her stepsisters dance with the prince from the pigeon coop. Later Cinderella tells the sisters she saw them dancing, and they destroy the pigeon coop out of jealousy. In the 1812 version the tree also gives Cinderella a carriage with six horses to go to the ball and the pigeons tell her to return before midnight. The episodes in which Cinderella hides in the pigeon coop and on the pear tree were added in the 1819 version. Furthermore, not knowing Cinderella's home, the prince makes other girls in the kingdom try on the slipper before her.
The Fish And The Bones
The tale of Ye Xian first appeared in Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang written by Duan Chengshi around 860. In this version, Ye Xian is the daughter of the local tribal leader whose mother died when she was young. Because her mother died early, she is now under the care of her father's second wife, who abused her. She befriends a fish, which is the reincarnation of her deceased mother. Her stepmother and half-sister kill the fish, but Ye Xian finds the bones, which are magical, and they help her dress appropriately for a local Festival, including a very light golden shoe. Her stepfamily recognizes her at the festival, causing her to flee and accidentally lose the shoe. Afterwards, the king of another island obtains the shoe and is curious about it as no one has feet that can fit the shoe. The King searches everywhere and finally reaches Ye's house, where she tries on the shoe. The king realises she is the one and takes her back to his kingdom. Her cruel stepmother and half-sister are killed by flying rocks. Variants of the story are also found in many ethnic groups in China. The Story of Tam and Cam, from Vietnam, is similar to the Chinese version. The heroine Tam also had a fish that was killed by the stepmother and the half-sister Cam, and its bones also give her clothes. Later after marrying the king, Tam was killed by her stepmother and sister, and reincarnated several times in form of a bird, a loom and a gold apple. She finally reunited with the king and lived happily ever after. Cam asked her about her beauty secret. Tam led her to a hole and told her to jump inside. She then commanded the royal guards to pour boiling water on Cam. Her corpse was used to make a fermented sauce, to which she sent to the stepmother. The stepmother ate it with every single meal. After she reached the bottom of the jar, she looked down only to see her daughter's skull. She died of shock. There are many variations for the ending of this story, with the family friendly version one usually ending with the stepmother and Cam being exiled, and then struck by lightning, killing them both. Other versions either have a different ending for the story or simply omit the revenge part entirely. The Korean version, Kongjwi and Patjwi, is similar to Disney's Cinderella, with two distinguishing characteristics: the degree of violence and the plot's continuance past the marriage to the prince. The protagonist, Kongjwi, loses her mother when she was a child and her father remarries a widow. The widow also has a daughter, named Patjwi. After her father passes, the stepmother and Patjwi abuse Kongjwi by starving, beating, and working her brutally. Kongjwi is aided by animals and supernatural helpers, like a cow, a toad, a flock of birds, and a fairy. These helpers aid Kongjwi in attending a dance in honor of a magistrate. On her way back from the dance, Kongjwi loses one of her shoes, and the magistrate searches the towns to find the one who can fit the shoe. When he finds Kongjwi, he marries her. Where the story usually ends, Kongjwi's hardships continue into the marriage. Patjwi, envious of this marriage, pretends to ask for Kongjwi's forgiveness and then drowns Kongjwi in a pond. Patjwi then pretends to be Kongjwi and marries the magistrate. Kongjwi is then reincarnated into a lotus flower, burned by Patjwi, and reincarnated once more into a marble. With help from additional characters, Kongjwi is able to inform her husband of Patjwi's doings. As punishment, Patjwi is ripped apart alive, her body made into jeotgal, and sent to her mother. She eats it in ignorance, and when told that it is Patjwi's flesh, she dies out of shock. There are 17 variants of this tale known in South Korea. A notable difference from other versions of Cinderella is that Kongjwi avenges her death with her own determination and willpower. Unlike Perrault's version of Cinderella, named Cendrillon, who forgives her stepfamily when they plead for forgiveness, Kongjwi takes ownership of the principle of retribution and accomplishes her vengeance herself. The violent degree of the punishments stems from the increased violence, starvation, beating, betrayal, and ultimately murder that Kongjwi suffered compared to the abuses other versions went through. Other East and Southeast Asian versions include a Cambodian version called Néang Kantoc, collected by Adhémard Leclère and Léon Feer in 1895. Another version was collected from the Cham people of Southeast Asia, with the name The Golden Sandal or The tale of the ladies Hulek and Kjong. In Indonesian and Malay folklore there is a similar story with the name Bawang Merah dan Bawang Putih, meaning The tale of Shallot and Garlic. 20th century folktale collector Kenichi Mizusawa published an analysis of Japanese variants of Cinderella, separating them into two types: Nukabuku, Komebuku about rival step-sisters and Ubagawa about the heroine's disguise.
The Opera And The Ball
The glass slipper is unique to Charles Perrault's version and its derivatives; in other versions of the tale it may be made of other materials, in the version recorded by the Brothers Grimm, German: Aschenbroedel and Aschenputtel, for instance, it is gold and in still other tellings, it is not a slipper but an anklet, a ring, or a bracelet that gives the prince the key to Cinderella's identity. What matters to the story is that the identifying item will fit only one woman. In Rossini's opera La Cenerentola, Cinderella, the slipper is replaced by twin bracelets to prove her identity. In the Finnish variant The Wonderful Birch, the prince uses tar to gain something every ball, and so has a ring, a circlet, and a pair of slippers. Some interpreters, perhaps troubled by sartorial impracticalities, have suggested that Perrault's glass slipper, pantoufle de verre, had been a squirrel fur slipper, pantoufle de vair, in some unidentified earlier version of the tale, and that Perrault or one of his sources confused the words. Genevieve Warwick, Cinderella's Glass Sipper, Cambridge University Press, 2022, p. 23, However, most scholars believe the glass slipper was a deliberate piece of poetic invention on Perrault's part. Maria Tatar, p 28, The Annotated Classic Fairy Tales, Nabokov has Professor Timofey Pnin assert as fact that Cendrillon's shoes were not made of glass but of Russian squirrel fur, vair, in French. The 1950 Disney adaptation takes advantage of the slipper being made of glass to add a twist whereby the slipper is shattered by the spiteful stepmother just before Cinderella has the chance to try it on. Earlier in the film the Duke warns that the slipper could fit any number of women, but Cinderella then produces the beautiful matching slipper, proving beyond all doubt that she is the one from the ball. In many variants of the tale, the prince is told that Cinderella can not possibly be the one, as she is too dirty and ragged. Often, this is said by the stepmother or stepsisters. In the Grimms' version, both the stepmother and the father urge it. Maria Tatar, The Annotated Brothers Grimm, p. 126-8, W. W. Norton & company, London, New York, 2004. The prince nevertheless insists on her trying. Cinderella arrives and proves her identity by fitting into the slipper or other item, in some cases she has kept the other. In many variants of the tale, the prince is told that Cinderella can not possibly be the one, as she is too dirty and ragged. Often, this is said by the stepmother or stepsisters. In the Grimms' version, both the stepmother and the father urge it. Maria Tatar, The Annotated Brothers Grimm, p. 126-8, W. W. Norton & company, London, New York, 2004. The prince nevertheless insists on her trying. Cinderella arrives and proves her identity by fitting into the slipper or other item, in some cases she has kept the other.
Over the decades, hundreds of films have been made that are either direct adaptations from Cinderella or have plots loosely based on the story. Animation - English Language Cinderella 1922, an animated Laugh-O-Gram produced by Walt Disney, first released on the 6th of December 1922. This film was about seven and half minutes long. Cinderella 1925, an animated short film directed by Walter Lantz, produced by Bray Studios Inc. A Kick for Cinderella 1925, an animated short film directed by Bud Fisher, in the Mutt and Jeff series of comic strip adaptations. Cinderella Blues 1931, a Van Beuren animated short film featuring a feline version of the Cinderella character. Poor Cinderella 1934, Fleischer Studios' first color cartoon and only appearance of Betty Boop in color during the Fleischer era. A Coach for Cinderella 1937, Jam Handy, Chevrolet advert. A Ride for Cinderella 1937, Jam Handy, Chevrolet advert. Cinderella Meets Fella 1938, a Merrie Melodies animated short film featuring Egghead, the character who would eventually evolve into Elmer Fudd, as Prince Charming. Cinderella 1950, a Walt Disney animated feature released on the 15th of February 1950, now considered one of Disney's Classics, as well as the most well-known film adaptation, including incorporating the titular character as a Disney Princess and its franchise. Cinderella II: Dreams Come True 2002, a direct-to-video sequel to the 1950 film. Cinderella III: A Twist in Time 2007, another direct-to-video sequel to the previous film. Ancient Fistory 1953, a Popeye parody animated short film. Señorella and the Glass Huarache 1964, a Looney Tunes animated short film that transplants the story to a Mexican setting. Festival of Family Classics 1972, 73, episode Cinderella,
The Glass And The Fur
produced by Rankin/Bass and animated by Mushi Production. Cinderella? Cinderella! 1986, an episode of Alvin & the Chipmunks. With Brittany of The Chipettes playing the role of Cinderella and Alvin playing the role of Prince Charming. Britannica's Tales Around the World 1990, 91, features Perrault's Cinderella along with two other variants of the story. Shrek 2 2004 by William Steig. It features one of the ugly stepsisters, Doris, which returns along with Cinderella in Shrek the Third 2007. Animated series Ever After High features Ashlynn Ella, daughter of Cinderella. Cinderella and the Secret Prince 2018, American animated film directed by Lynne Southerland. Animation - Non-English Language Aschenputtel 1922, a silhouette shadow play short by Lotte Reiniger. The short silent film uses exaggerated figures and has no background, which creates a stark look. The film shows Aschenputtel's step-sisters graphically hacking their feet off to fit into the glass slipper. Érase una vez... 1950, a Spanish animated film directed by Alejandro Cirici-Pellicer based on the character of Cinderella, although it could not have that title because Disney released their version the same year. It received an honorable mention at the XI Mostra Cinematográfica della Biennale di Venezia and was declared of national interest by the Sindicato Nacional del Espectáculo National Entertainment Union. World Famous Fairy Tale Series Sekai meisaku dōwa 1975, 83 has a 9-minute adaptation. Manga Fairy Tales of the World 1976, 79, 10-minute adaptation. Cinderella 1979, an animated short film based on Charles Perrault's version of the fairy tale. It was produced by the Soyuzmultfilm studio. My Favorite Fairy Tales Sekai Dōwa Anime Zenshū 1986, an anime television anthology, has a 12-minute adaptation. Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics 1987, 89 an anime television series based on Grimm's stories, as two half-hour episodes. Funky Fables Ponkikki Meisaku World 1988, 90, features an adaptation of Cinderella. Cinderella 1994, a Japanese-American direct-to-video film by Jetlag Productions. World Fairy Tale Series Anime sekai no dōwa 1995, anime television anthology produced by Toei Animation, has half-hour adaptation. Cinderella Monogatari The Story of Cinderella 1996, anime television series produced by Tatsunoko Production. In 2000, Simsala Grimm adapted this story and it is revealed that Cinderella's stepsisters Agatha and Beata in this version have burned the dresses Cinderella is wearing. On the second day of the ball, the stepmother gave the prince a potion that made him faint, so she can blame her stepdaughter on the third day. Also, the stepmother tricks Cinderella into saying that Agatha is in the chicken coop so she can lock her in, but Yoyo and Doc Croc free her and help the prince recognize Cinderella, whom he has danced with. Cendrillon au Far West 2012, French/Belgian film set in the wild western age, written and directed by Pascal Hérold. Cinderella the Cat 2017, Italian animated film directed by Alessandro Rak. The Grimm Variations 2024, a Japanese anime Netflix anthology, features an episode retells the story, with the Cinderella character portrayed as a
The Screen And The Stage
sinister girl called Kiyoko, who likes to treat those around her as dolls. Non-English language live-action films and TV Cinderella 1899, the first film version, produced in France by Georges Méliès, as Cendrillon. Cinderella 1916, German film by Urban Gad. The Lost Shoe 1923, German film by Ludwig Berger. Mamele 1938 a Molly Picon vehicle made by the prewar Warsaw Yiddish film industry taking place in contemporary Łódź. Cinderella 1947, a Soviet film based on the screenplay by Evgeny Schwartz, with Yanina Zhejmo in the leading role. Shot in black-and-white, it was colorized in 2009. Cinderella 1955, German film starring Rita-Maria Nowotny as Cinderella and Renée Stobrawa as the Fairy. Sandalyas ni Zafira 1965, a Filipino fantasy film partially based on Cinderella and starring Lyn D'Amour as Princess Zafira. Popelka 1969, a Czechoslovak television film starring Eva Hrusková as Cinderlla and Jirí Stedron as Prince. Sinderella Kül Kedisi 1971, a Turkish fantasy film based on Cinderella and starring Zeynep Değirmencioğlu as Cinderella. Three Wishes for Cinderella Tři oříšky pro Popelku 1973, a Czechoslovak/East German fairy tale film starring Libuše Šafránková as Cinderella and Pavel Trávníček as Prince. Frequently shown, especially at Christmas time, in several European countries. Rani Aur Lalpari 1975, an Indian children's fantasy film by Ravikant Nagaich features Cinderella as one of the characters - where she is portrayed by Neetu Singh. Rani Aur Lalpari. iTunes. a German adaptation starring Petra Vigna as the titular character Lua de Cristal 1990, romantic comedy film starring Xuxa Meneghel being a modernized version with original characters, but playing reference to Cinderella's story. Floricienta 2004, a modern retelling of the story in a telenovela format. Cinderelica 2008, an episode of the children's puppet series Cocoricó. Turma do Cocoricó revive fábulas clássicas em nova coleção Cinderella 4×4. Everything starts with desire Zolushka 4x4. Vsyo nachayetsya s zhelaniy 2008, a Russian modernization featuring Darya Melnikova. Cinderella 2006, a Korean horror film. Cinderella's Stepsister 2010, a Korean television series, a German film, another German film. Aik Nayee Cinderella 2013, a Pakistani modernization serial aired on Geo TV featuring Maya Ali and Osman Khalid Butt. The Ugly Stepsister 2025, a Norwegian body horror film written and directed by Emilie Blichfeldt. The story centers around Elvira, the stepsister to this film's Cinderella named Agnes, and focuses on Elvira's journey as she subjects herself to various painful methods of becoming beautiful to win the heart of the prince. English language live-action feature films Cinderella 1911 silent film starring Florence La Badie. Cinderella 1914, a silent film starring Mary Pickford. A Kiss for Cinderella 1925, in 1925 it was made into a silent feature film, by Paramount, directed by Herbert Brenon and starring Betty Bronson. The Glass Slipper 1955, feature film with Leslie Caron and Michael Wilding. The Slipper and the Rose 1976, a British Sherman Brothers musical film starring Gemma Craven and Richard Chamberlain. Into the Woods 2014, a live-action fairy-tale-themed adaptation of the above-mentioned homonymous musical, in which Anna Kendrick's Cinderella is a central character. Cinderella 2015, a live-action retelling of the 1950 animated Disney film starring Lily James as Cinderella, Cate Blanchett as Lady Tremaine, Cinderella's stepmother, Richard Madden as Kit/Prince Charming and Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother. It is essentially a live-action reimagining of the 1950 animated film. Cinderella 2021, a live-action film musical starring Camila Cabello as Cinderella, Idina Menzel as Cinderella's stepmother, Nicholas Galitzine as the Prince, and Billy Porter as the Fairy Godmother. Cinderella's Revenge 2024, a live-action horror film starring Natasha Henstridge as the Fairy Godmother who assists Cinderella in seeking a bloody revenge on her stepmother and stepsisters after they've pushed her too far. Modernizations and parodies Ella Cinders 1926, a modern tale starring Colleen Moore, based on a comic strip by William M. Conselman and Charles Plumb, inspired by Charles Perrault's version. First Love 1939, a musical modernization with Deanna Durbin and Robert Stack. Cinderfella 1960, Cinderfella's Jerry Lewis fairy godfather Ed Wynn helps him escape from his wicked stepmother Judith Anderson and stepbrothers. Ever After 1998, starring Drew Barrymore, a post-feminist, historical fiction take on the Cinderella story. Ella Enchanted 2004, a fantasy retelling featuring Anne Hathaway, which is based on the 1997 novel of the same name. A Cinderella Story 2004, a modernization featuring Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray. Another Cinderella Story 2008, a modernization featuring Selena Gomez and Drew Seeley. A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song 2011, a modernization featuring Lucy Hale and Freddie Stroma. A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits 2016, a modernization featuring Sofia Carson and Thomas Law. A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish 2019, a modernization featuring Laura Marano and Gregg Sulkin. A Cinderella Story: Starstruck 2021, a modernization featuring Bailee Madison and Michael Evans Behling. Elle: A Modern Cinderella Tale 2010, a modernization featuring Ashlee Hewitt and Sterling Knight. Sneakerella 2022, a modernization featuring Chosen Jacobs and Lexi Underwood. English language live-action TV films and series Cinderella 1957, a musical adaptation by Rodgers and Hammerstein written for television and starring Julie Andrews as Cinderella, featuring Jon Cypher, Kaye Ballard, Alice Ghostley, and Edie Adams originally broadcast in color, but only black-and-white kinescopes survive. Cinderella 1958, a British BBC adaptation broadcast on BBC Television on the 26th of December 1958 starring June Thorburn as Cinderella, John Fabian as Prince Florizel, Peter Sallis as Baron Aristide de Pennilac, Joan Benham as Araminta, Edna Petrie as Arabella, Frazer Hines as Buttons, Kynaston Reeves as The Grand Chamberlain, Mary Mackenzie as The Godmother, James Sharkey as Dandini, Patrick Cargill as 1st Broker's Man, Colin Douglas as 2nd Broker's Man, John Barrard as Count Grumblekin, Dennis Ramsden as Major Domo, Balbina as Mademoiselle JoJo and Bernard Horsfall as Signor Benvenuto. Cinderella 1965, a second production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, starring 18-year-old Lesley Ann Warren in the leading role, and featuring Stuart Damon as the Prince, with Ginger Rogers, Walter Pidgeon, and Celeste Holm filmed in color and broadcast annually for 10 years. Hey, Cinderella! 1969, a television adaptation featuring The Muppets. Cindy 1978, This version of the Cinderella tale with an all-black cast has Cinderella, who wants to marry a dashing army officer, finding out that her father, who she thought had an important job at a big hotel, is actually the men's room attendant. Her wicked stepmother finds out, too, and complications ensue. Starred Charlayne Woodard. In 1985, Shelley Duvall produced a version of the story for Faerie Tale Theatre. The Charmings 1987, a spoof of Cinderella appears in the episode Cindy's Back In Town where Cinderella, portrayed by Kim Johnston Ulrich, makes a play for Snow White's husband Prince Charming. Into the Woods 1989, a film of the original 1987 Broadway production of the Stephen Sondheim musical. Cinderella 1997, third production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, this time starring Brandy as Cinderella, Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother, Bernadette Peters as Cinderella's evil stepmother, Jason Alexander as Lionel the valet and Whoopi Goldberg as the Queen. Remake of the 1957 and 1965 TV films. Cinderella, a British TV modernization featuring Marcella Plunkett as Cinderella, Kathleen Turner as the stepmother and Jane Birkin as the fairy godmother. The 10th Kingdom 2000 is a TV miniseries featuring Cinderella as a major character. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister 2002, TV movie for The Wonderful World of Disney by writer Gene Quintano and director Gavin Millar, based on the book of the same name, focusing on the point of view of one of the step-sister. Once Upon a Time 2011, features Cinderella as a recurring character, played by Jessy Schram who made a deal with Rumplestiltskin who killed her fairy godmother right in front of her. In 2016, more of the story is shown in which Ashley, Cinderella's real-world counterpart, discovers her stepsister wanted to marry the footman rather than the prince. A different Cinderella in season 7, played by Dania Ramirez, went to the ball to kill the prince, not meet him. Television parodies and modernizations The story was retold as part of the episode Grimm Job of the American animated TV series Family Guy season 12, episode 10, with Lois as Cinderella, Peter as Prince Charming, Mayor West as the fairy godmother, Lois's mother as the wicked step-mother, and Meg and Stewie as the step-sisters. Rags 2012, a TV musical gender switched inversion of the Cinderella story that stars Keke Palmer and Max Schneider. Sesame Street special CinderElmo and the Magic Adventures of Mumfie episode Scarecrowella both feature a male protagonist playing the Cinderella role. The My Little Pony first-season finale The Best Night Ever parodies several key parts of the Cinderella story. In Carry On Christmas 1969, which was one of the Carry On Christmas Specials on TV, there is a sketch spoofing the Cinderella story. Barbara Windsor plays Cinderella.