Lady Tremaine

[Lars Vermundsberget]

Possibly stimulated by a 1980's story in a small animation magazine (editor, John Cawley, writer, yours truly), the use of Lady Tremaines' real name has grown over recent years.

Was she even referred to as "Lady Tremaine" many times in the movie, if at all...?

[Disneykid]

Was she even referred to as "Lady Tremaine" many times in the movie, if at all...?

Yes, though only once. When Anastasia and Drizella are introduced at the ball, they're referred to as the daughters of "Lady Tremaine." One thing I've wondered is if Tremaine is her maiden name or married name. I never thought about it until the bus driver at Walt Disney World asked the trivia question, "What's Cinderella's last name?" I thought about it and said, "It's not something stupid like Charming, is it?" When I was told no, I asked, "Wait...you don't mean Tremaine?" which in fact was the answer. Personally, I would find Lady Tremaine too proud to change her last name (or keep it after her husband's death), so I consider it to be her maiden name. Besides, since we never find out her first name, isn't it sort of creepy to have your protagonist's last name be the same as the villain's main name?

[SpringHeelJack]

Personally, I would find Lady Tremaine too proud to change her last name (or keep it after her husband's death), so I consider it to be her maiden name.

Yeah, I can see that, but I can also see like her trying to capitalize as much as possible on the fact that she remarried a well-to-do husband by, like, taking and flaunting Cinderella's father's last name, as if to make sure everyone knew how well off she now was.

Besides, since we never find out her first name, isn't it sort of creepy to have your protagonist's last name be the same as the villain's main name?

Mmm, I guess no more creepy than having the villain be related to the main character at all, like Scar. It comes with the territory.

[Lars Vermundsberget]

All right, I'll write what no one else has written so far:

Cinderella Tremaine!

[kurtadisneyite]

Was she even referred to as "Lady Tremaine" many times in the movie, if at all...?

Yes. At the grand ball, the off-camera major domino voice introduces Antastasia and Drizella with their Tremaine suffix, followed by ".....daughters of Lady Tremaine".

To my knowledge, I've never heard "Tremaine" attached to Cinderella herself. It begs the trivial question (I suspect most of the viewing audience could care less !!!!! ) of whether she would have her Father's last name, or assume her Stepmother's last name.
As this Cindy's REAL father is Walt Disney, that would give her the name Cinderella Disney.

For that matter, what is Lady Tremaine's FIRST name ??

[tsom]

I don't think Cinderella's last name is Tremaine. I also think "Tremaine" was the last name of Lady Tremaine's first husband, and father of Drizella & Anastasia.

Lady Tremaine is a great villian. She is a master manipulator and schemer. I truly think she loved her daughters and did everything she could to make them presentable. During the time period of "Cinderella," it was a parent's job to secure their children's future by marrying them of to wealthy families, and that's what Lady Tremaine was trying to do.

For reasons Lady Tremaine married Cinderella's father, I don't think she married him for his money. She was already from a Good (wealthy) family, and I'm sure Lord Tremaine (her first husband) was already wealthy. I think it was a marriage of convenience. She married him because her daughters needed a father, and it was sort of unfortunate back then for a woman to remain a widow at a young age. Also maybe she lived in a different town before marrying Cinderella's father, and decided that if she married him, then she'd be closer to the Royal Palace, therefore she would be invited to balls & such. He also married her not for love, but because he felt Cinderella needed a mother, and Lady Tremiane seemed like the perfect candidate because she was a noblewoman, and was already a widow raising two daughters who were just Cinderella's age. I also think she didn't kill Cinderella's father. I think he just died unexpectedly, probably from a heart attack or such. I wish they would have shown more of Cindy's early life. Does anyone else feel the same way?

As for why Lady Tremaine hated Cinderella, it's because Cindy was more beautiful than Anastasia & Drizella, and her beauty made them appear even more odious.

I personally think Lady Tremaine, although a "good" mother to her daughters, was born cruel. I picture her growing up in a wealthy household, and being raised like a spoiled brat, therefore she grew up haughty, proud, selfish, mean, and cold. I also personally think that she did love her first husband, even though he isn't mentioned. That's just me.

While we are on the topic of Lady Tremaine and Cinderella, I would like to ask these questions, and I'll please like to know some of your answers:

1. Are Anastasia & Drizella twins?

2. Are Cindy and her stepsisters the same age?

3. Where does Cinderella take place?

4. What time period does it take place in?

I have my theories for these questions, but I'll share them after I read some of your thoughts.

[DisneyFreak5282]

1. Are Anastasia & Drizella twins?

I would think not. It may be just me, but I think Drizella looks older in the beginning of the movie when they show the clip of them as kids (standing next to Lady Tremaine).

2. Are Cindy and her stepsisters the same age?

I think they might be. I will refer to the beginning of the movie again - I think that she looks younger than her stepsisters, but Disney could've made them look older in order to make them look more evil - if that made any sense at all.

3. Where does Cinderella take place?

Many people say they think it takes place in Europe.

4. What time period does it take place in?

My guess would be 1800s? At earliest, the late 1700s? I could be totally wrong about that one, but that's what I think.

I have my theories for these questions, but I'll share them after I read some of your thoughts.

C'mon! Don't be shy! Tell us what you think.

[SpringHeelJack]

1. Are Anastasia & Drizella twins?

2. Are Cindy and her stepsisters the same age?

3. Where does Cinderella take place?

4. What time period does it take place in?

I have my theories for these questions, but I'll share them after I read some of your thoughts.

1. Hmm. They might just well be. I guess I never thought too hard about it before. It would make sense.

2. I think they're close to it, if anything, I'd guess Cinderella is maybe older, but maybe that's just a maturity thing.

3. I think France, personally. Some of the names, the look, and the fact that the Perrault version is the most well known make me think this...

4. As for time period...I'm not good at this. I won't really even venture a good guess, but 1700's...ish? History is not my strong suit.

[kurtadisneyite]

My answers are based on memories of lunchtime reading the Cinderella 1 (original) script while working for Disney (thanks again, Disney Archives!):

1. Are Anastasia & Drizella twins?

unknown - never mentioned in script. Most likely not.

2. Are Cindy and her stepsisters the same age?

unknown - never mentioned in script. However, various articles written around Cindy's release time suggest she was 16 - 18 years old.
(by comparison, Princess Aurora is specifically described as being 16 when she pricks the spindel).

3. Where does Cinderella take place?

France (ala Perrault story Cindy 1 was based on).

4. What time period does it take place in?

Rococo era (18 century) - that is what backgrounds and general style were based on.

[Disney Duster]

But it does say in the script that Drizella and Anastasia are the same age as Cinderella! The narrator: "And so he married again, choosing for his second wife a woman of good family, with two daughters just Cinderella's age." Or, they are almost Cinderella's age, but I have a feeling they mean the same age

Tsom, how could you miss that? For shame! Ah, I'm kidding.

And I had heard of Rococo period being what the backgrounds were based on, but I thought it was an art style, like art deco. So I thought the architecture was based on some Rococo art. Well, we were right, tsom, 1800's!

[Prudence]

But it does say in the script that Drizella and Anastasia are the same age as Cinderella! The narrator: "And so he married again, choosing for his second wife a woman of good family, with two daughters just Cinderella's age."

Exactly. If they are not fraternal twins, they were at least born in the same year. (Ow!)

[Disney's Divinity]

To my knowledge, I've never heard "Tremaine" attached to Cinderella herself. It begs the trivial question (I suspect most of the viewing audience could care less !!!!! ) of whether she would have her Father's last name, or assume her Stepmother's last name.

I'm sure Cinderella would certainly not assume her stepmother's name. Most likely, the whole stepfamily just assumed her father's surname. Besides, at the end of the movie, Cinderella becomes a "Charming" anyway.

Besides, I consider Cinderella Tremaine to be quite a beautiful name. I think a better question is: was Cinderella's name decided by her original parents or was it a nickname given by the stepfamily? There's nothing to suggest this in the movie, but wasn't it a cruel name given to her in the original tales?

And, though I've never thought about it before, it would be somewhat strange for both of the Stepmother's husbands to have died. Maybe she was involved, although I never would've imagined it. But murder doesn't seem to be above her, considering she finds satisfaction in the prospect of the Duke being beheaded at the end of the movie.

[PeterPanfan]

In the beginning the stepsisters see her cleanig the fireplace and called her Cinderella. That's where the name formed. ^_^

[Prudence]

And, though I've never thought about it before, it would be somewhat strange for both of the Stepmother's husbands to have died. Maybe she was involved, although I never would've imagined it. But murder doesn't seem to be above her, considering she finds satisfaction in the prospect of the Duke being beheaded at the end of the movie.

Agreed, but would she have killed the father of her children, as well as Cinderella's father? For her to kill the father of her own daughters seems unlikely, though it's obvious she married him for his money.

PeterPanFan, that is the origin of Cinderella's name in the European fairy tale. It's not necessarily how she got her name in the Disney version, especially since she was called Cinderella in the narration and is always called Cinderella.

[kurtadisneyite]

"it does say in the script that Drizella and Anastasia are the same age as Cinderella! The narrator: "And so he married again, choosing for his second wife a woman of good family, with two daughters just Cinderella's age."

Sometimes this old Disneyite sees the forest but not the trees ... good catch!

[Disney Duster]

And, though I've never thought about it before, it would be somewhat strange for both of the Stepmother's husbands to have died. Maybe she was involved, although I never would've imagined it. But murder doesn't seem to be above her, considering she finds satisfaction in the prospect of the Duke being beheaded at the end of the movie.

I always thought she was still smiling over the fact that Cinderella has lost and she had won, but I guess it could be over some disliking of the Duke and her glee at the thought of him getting executed. Wow. Maybe she didn't like the Duke because he failed to get the slipper on her girls? And then he made his way past her to put it on Cinderella.

Wow, I can't believe I actually got something kurt forgot! Because kurt knows so much about Disney and animation. Is it okay if I call you Kurt, kurtadisneyite? Is that your real first name?

[Prudence]

And, though I've never thought about it before, it would be somewhat strange for both of the Stepmother's husbands to have died. Maybe she was involved, although I never would've imagined it. But murder doesn't seem to be above her, considering she finds satisfaction in the prospect of the Duke being beheaded at the end of the movie.

I always thought she was still smiling over the fact that Cinderella has lost and she had won, but I guess it could be over some disliking of the Duke and her glee at the thought of him getting executed. Wow. Maybe she didn't like the Duke because he failed to get the slipper on her girls? And then he made his way past her to put it on Cinderella.

That would do it. Besides, she's a shallow person who enjoys stepping over everyone that stands in the way of her goals.

[tsom]

I always thought she was smiling because she felt she had won and Cinderella had lost.

Honestly, I don't think it's wierd that both Lady Tremaine's husbands died. It could happen to anyone (I guess...). In fact, in the very beginning, I felt the reason she was smiling viciously is because it's a symbol that her true nature was finally revealed, and she was nothing but wicked.

As for my answers to the questions I posted:

1. I think they are faternal twins, but I think Drizella might be the older twin because in the movie, she is a little bit taller in some scenes, she is introduced first at the Ball, Cinderella goes to her room first in the beginning, etc. Also, if you watch Cinderella, Cinderella II, and Cinderella III in French, Drizella's name is Javotte, and that's the name of one of the stepsisters in Perrault's original tale. In the original tale, Javotte is the older stepsister and she is meaner than the younger. Also, in the book Javotte wears yellow, and in the movie, that is the color Drizella wore. Drizella appears meaner than Anastasia too.

2. I think they are the same age because in the movie, the narrator said that the stepsister were "just Cinderella's age." I personally think Cindy might be a few months younger, even though she acted more mature than them. Oh and in a Disney fact book I read, it said that Cinderella was 18, and now that I think about it, that was the age of the actress who was the live-action model for Cinderella when the film was being made.

3. As for the setting, it could be France, because of the French names, the Chateau, the architecture, etc. But what always gets me is that in the beginning, it is said that the Kingdom was tiny, and France was never a tiny kingdom. This makes me believe that it might have taken place in a French-speaking region. A country that comes to mind is Belgium, which is still a kingdom to this day, and it's tiny, and has a large Frenchspeaking area.

Did the script actually say France?

4. As for the time period, I say it's the 19th century (1800s), based on the costumes. I know the style of architecture was rococo, but based on the costumes, it couldn't have taken place in the 18th century. If so, then the costumes would have been like the ones in "Marie Antoinette" for example.

I hate how some movies, we have a specific time period, but not a definite locale. Like in The Little Mermaid, we can assume that the story takes place in the 19th century, but the location doesn't look Danish at all, but has a more French/Mediterranean feel to it. There are some exceptions like "Sleeping Beauty," because in the movie, Prince Philip says that they are in the 14th century, and I can say a definite locale could be France because not only was the movie taken from the Charles Perrault version,in the movie, the narrator said that "All of High or Low Estate came to pay homage to the child" and the Estate class system was used in France only.

[myr_heille]

1. I think they are faternal twins, but I think Drizella might be the older twin because in the movie, she is a little bit taller in some scenes, she is introduced first at the Ball, Cinderella goes to her room first in the beginning, etc. Also, if you watch Cinderella, Cinderella II, and Cinderella III in French, Drizella's name is Javotte, and that's the name of one of the stepsisters in Perrault's original tale. In the original tale, Javotte is the older stepsister and she is meaner than the younger. Also, in the book Javotte wears yellow, and in the movie, that is the color Drizella wore. Drizella appears meaner than Anastasia too.

What I am going to say is a little OT but your post reminded me of it. I am playing every month a trivia-game with friends based on an old TV-show (Génies en Herbe for you French people!) and yesterday one of the questions was "What are the names of Cinderella's stepsisters?" to which I answered "Anastasia and Drizella" ... but it was refused since I was supposed to say "Anastasie and Javotte", the French names (it's a French game!). I knew their French names but UD set my thoughts astray. Anyway, the other team was so amazed I knew it that I finally got the points anyway, hehe.

[pap64]

I thought she was an excellent character in the original movie. You could tell she was clearly vile, but was very subtle about it (I mean, she didn't directly tell Anastasia and Drizella to tear Cindy's dress apart. She KNEW that the girls would go crazy go nuts the minute they learned that Cindy was using their stuff). The scene where she locks Cindy up always made me mad as a kid. I mean, here I am, thinking that her dreams will finally come true when out of nowhere the Stepmother appears and closes the door. ANGER!!

She was a bit too over the top in Cinderella 3, though.