Worry not, Disney fans--this special edition DVD of the beloved Cinderella won't turn into a pumpkin at the strike of midnight. One of the most enduring animated films of all time, the Disney-fied adaptation of the gory Brothers Grimm fairy tale became a classic in its own right, thanks to some memorable tunes (including "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes," "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo," and the title song) and some endearingly cute comic relief.

The famous slipper (click for larger image)

We all know the story--the wicked stepmother and stepsisters simply won't have it, this uppity Cinderella thinking she's going to a ball designed to find the handsome prince an appropriate sweetheart, but perseverance, animal buddies, and a well-timed entrance by a fairy godmother make sure things turn out all right. There are a few striking sequences of pure animation--for example, Cinderella is reflected in bubbles drifting through the air--and the design is rich and evocative throughout. It's a simple story padded here agreeably with comic business, particularly Cinderella's rodent pals (dressed up conspicuously like the dwarf sidekicks of another famous Disney heroine) and their misadventures with a wretched cat named Lucifer. There's also much harrumphing and exposition spouting by the King and the Grand Duke. It's a much simpler and more graceful work than the more frenetically paced animated films of today, which makes it simultaneously quaint and highly gratifying. --David Kronke

DVD Features

For another of its classic films, Disney delivers another dazzling DVD with a gorgeous, razor-sharp picture and 5.1 sound. (Note: the 1949 film is properly presented in full-screen format, 1.33 aspect ratio, because widescreen films weren't made until the '50s.) The best part of the supplemental features is the archival material, the absolute highlight of which is two unused songs, "Cinderella's Work Song" (in which Cinderella imagines multiplying herself à la the Sorcerer's Apprentice) and "Dancing on a Cloud."

Bippity-boppity-boo! (click for larger image)

Because these numbers were never animated, they're accompanied by stylish illustrations from the Disney artists, and they're simply marvelous to look at. The artist of much of that material, Mary Blair, gets her due in a 15-minute featurette, while the better known "Nine Old Men" are the subject of a round-table discussion among some of today's top animators. In addition, a 38-minute documentary covers their contributions to specific characters of Cinderella as well as the film in general and the vocal cast. Also on the historical side is "The Cinderella That Almost Was," tracking the development of the project through decades of original Disney concepts, characters, and songs, including the 1922 silent "Laugh-o-Gram," which is also included in its entirety.

The pumpkin transformed (click for larger image)

Additional musical material includes three radio programs and a short promo of the movie by Perry Como, in which he summarizes the plot amid some songs by the Fontaine Sisters, star Ilene Woods, and the host himself. Seven other unused songs (17 minutes total) are available in audio-only. The material for kids is on the sparse side, consisting of two music videos, Disney Channel personality Sally (from "Mike's Super Short Show") learning how to become a princess with the help of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition crew and others, a minor dancing-princess feature, and a DVD-ROM design studio. Oddest extra: ESPN's "top Cinderella stories," including the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team and Joe Namath's New York Jets, although stories on Mia Hamm and tennis's Williams sisters should appeal to the film's primary target audience of young girls. --David Horiuchi

Cinderella Throughout the Years

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1957 Television Production)	Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1965)	The Slipper and the Rose (1976)
Faerie Tale Theatre - Cinderella (1982)	Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997)	Ever After - A Cinderella Story(1998)

One of my all-time favorites, and now my daughter's favorite

I received the LP storybook of this when I was five with a chip, so I never got to play the very first of the story, but I loved it and envisioned the movie in my head over and over and over again as the record played and I read the story book.

When it came out on DVD MANY years later, I was excited to purchase it even though I did not have children at the time, figuring at least my niece would enjoy it. Since then, I have had the pleasure of having two daughters. My older daughter has watched this movie from the time she was two and LOVES it. She has it as memorized as I did when I was younger and loves playing at going to the ball and having to leave early and so forth. She even pretends to tell Anastasia and Drizella that they are not nice for the way they treat Cinderella in her play. (She used to adamantly tell that to them when they came on screen.) She is also introducing the storyline to her baby sister as they play together - nicely.

It is a wonderfully told fairy tell that young girls have enjoyed for decades and will continue to share with their daughters. I love the music and the sweetness of it.

Wonderful movie

As a dad of a little girl, this is a wonderful movie. While based on a Grimms fairy tale, this story does not end up with anyone trying to kill anyone else. (Both Sleeping Beauty and Snow White do talk about killing the heroine, Snow White is graphic in how the Queen wants Snow White killed).

The picture and sound quality of this DVD are fantastic. Disney has either cleaned and remastered especially well, or kept the originals very pristine over the past 50 years.

naomis revew of cindrela

hi my names naomi iam sure christian has menchind my name in his revews right! right! christian and joe fit the bill there both my boyfriends right now as i know of maney the handyst guy around just walked in to fix a loud speaker on my computer you see i dont go on the computer that much as such as bella my sisters daugtherand winter my daugther are sleeping well let me tell you about this video i have got to love this video about cindrela bella and winnter too and christian naomi and joe do wow! disney did such a grait job i am a new subsatute for christian thanks disney naomi ps i am not relly a kid iam an adult