Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997)

[ajmrowland]

I've seen the tv version a few times on Disney Channel and ABC Family, and more recently saw a local university production of the show. I must say that even though the show was very good, I was too used to the Brandy one to actually accept the differences. I don't recall the Brandy movie opening on "The Prince is Giving a Ball!".

[my chicken is infected]

The 1957 version opened with The Prince Is Giving A Ball, but like the 1997 version, the 1965 version didn't open with it either. The 1965 version actually opened with Loneliness Of Evening, which was actually written for South Pacific but dropped. (A rare occurence in which Rodgers and/or Hammerstein ever recycled a deleted tune from one of their musicals and used it in another.)

[MadasaHatter]

Sending an e-mail...


-Sky

COULD YOU SEND ME ONE TOO!!! I love that song and Bernadette and haven't been able to find it anywhere. Also if anyone has any mp3s of any of the other songs PLEASE send them to me. It's a shame there's no soundtrack to this movie (that I'm aware of) - I just love it. I remember videotaping it the night it came on.

[Cordy_Biddle]

A soundtrack was never made because of legal issues. Several performers were attached to different music labels and the parties were unable to arrange an agreement. The only answer is to rip the songs directly from DVD, etc.

[MadasaHatter]

A soundtrack was never made because of legal issues. Several performers were attached to different music labels and the parties were unable to arrange an agreement. The only answer is to rip the songs directly from DVD, etc.

WOW! - All these years and I NEVER knew that! Well that just stinks. I wish I was skilled enough to rip the songs. I have the dvd - I just have no idea how to "extract" them.

[blackcauldron85]

^ Google "Total Recorder". It's a program and you can record anything.

[JiminyCrick91]

Sending an e-mail...


-Sky

COULD YOU SEND ME ONE TOO!!! I love that song and Bernadette and haven't been able to find it anywhere. Also if anyone has any mp3s of any of the other songs PLEASE send them to me. It's a shame there's no soundtrack to this movie (that I'm aware of) - I just love it. I remember videotaping it the night it came on.

I'd do it if I still had the files... sorry.

-Sky

[merlinjones]

The 1965 production with Lesley Ann Warren is the best one. When do we ever see such direct charm and sincerity these days? Still makes me cry.

[Disney Duster]

Here's a great article on the history and making of the 1997 Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella!

Click here!

Thank you to whoever moved this to the right place.

[Disney's Divinity]

I always thought the ending with Whitney green-screened over everything was stupid. At least we know why that happened now. And hopefully they’re right that the soundtrack will one day see the light of day; I can't believe it was all because of Brandy's label. Of course, this article was written a year ago and still nothing… Midler as the stepmother would've been interesting, but I'm glad it was Bernadette Peters.

With all the live musicals the past few years, I'm really surprised another version of R&H's Cinderella hasn't happened yet.

[JeanGreyForever]

Thanks for posting that! I actually read it a while before but I'm glad to see it again. Always feel like this film could use more attention.

[Disney Duster]

Wow, I couldn't agree more with everything you said, Divinity, except even though I wish Houston had actually been at the wedding in person, I do like that she magically floats around, too. I guess her being there in person just would have been even better. Interestingly, the fairy gdomother also floated in sky in the ending in the 1965 version! And yes, I actually expect a "Cinderella Live!" to happen in like the next ten years.

I had no idea you read this before, JeanGrey! Hope you don't mind I nicknamed ya! But yes, this film should get great attention. It was racially progressive and even feministly progressive as Cinderella leaves the house...just before the Prince puts the foot on her slipper, lol.

[Disney's Divinity]

Thanks for posting that! I actually read it a while before but I'm glad to see it again. Always feel like this film could use more attention.

I agree. Sometimes I feel this Cinderella has been forgotten. It's far from perfect, but I'm glad it exists. I was listening to the music again earlier and I was thinking how glad I am Whitney had enough graciousness to realize she shouldn't be playing Cinderella. The fact that her voice is almost inhumanly perfect fits the Fairy Godmother, especially when contrasted with Brandy's. It's sort of like an angel versus a mere mortal ( ), and I always consider the Fairy Godmother like an angel. I still consider Brandy the weak link of this thing. Whoopi can't sing, but at least she's funny as the Queen.

It's too bad Jordin Sparks wasn't around (or old enough and well-known, rather) a decade sooner. She would've been better as Cinderella than Brandy. I think the only reason I had that thought is because Whitney plays a similar mentor figure in the Sparkle remake.

[Disney Duster]

I like the angel and mere mortal idea! And yes thank God she knew to be the Fairy Godmother instead!

Is Jordin Sparks really known as being good at acting? What about Jennifer Hudson?

[Disney's Divinity]

I just read that Natalie Desselle Reid, who played Minerva, one of the ugly stepsisters in this (among many other roles), has passed away at 53. Rest in peace.

[tsom]

I just read that Natalie Desselle Reid, who played Minerva, one of the ugly stepsisters in this (among many other roles), has passed away at 53. Rest in peace.

I saw! So sad! RIP.

[Disney Duster]

How young! How said! Rest in peace Natalie and thanks for giving us such a great stepsister!

[UmbrellaFish]

I saw the news on social media. She and Veanne Cox make up one of my favorite Stepsister Duos ever. May she rest in peace.

[Disney's Divinity]

I saw! So sad! RIP.

Yeah, I know she did more than just this film, but this featured my favorite version of the stepsisters. They are just hilarious. I've never seen anything else Desselle was in (I might've seen an episode of Eve and the Madea films she was in, I just don't remember her in them), but I have seen Veanne Cox in Erin Brockovitch and Big Eden.

I like the angel and mere mortal idea! And yes thank God she knew to be the Fairy Godmother instead!

Is Jordin Sparks really known as being good at acting? What about Jennifer Hudson?

This is old, but, no, I wouldn't say Jordin Sparks is a great actress or anything. I think she would've been better than Brandy at least, although that's not saying much. I just think she would've sounded much prettier. I can't really imagine JHUD in the role even though she is a good actress / great singer. I guess because Cinderella comes across very childish here, and JHUD on the other hand has a very tough vibe. I just wouldn't find it believable for her to be taking the stepmother's crap.

[Disney Duster]

I think I agree Jennifer Hudson as Cinderella may be a little hard to be believable taking orders and abuse, but I don't think it's impossible she could have acted it well enough to be believable. Impossible! For a Jennifer Hudson to become a Cinderella! Lol. And Jordin Sparks probably would sing better than Brandy. When I watched the film again recently I was like, "Oh...she doesn't really sing that great..." When I used to think she did. I still like her in the film though!