Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Portia Hilton Blistering performances.

Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

chelseacduran They tried to do a rendition of classic and didn't come out too well. The ballet is pretty. Caron, as usual, is strikingly beautiful. However those are the highest points. They make the Ella (Cinderella) character seem like she has developmental or mental issues.. She doesn't seem to understand normal day to day interactions or behaviors, throws tantrums and they made her talk in a deeper slow cadence. Somewhat disappointed. This Ella character just wasn't up to snuff especially for Caron. Also, Wilding seems too old to be the prince. I guess my expectations were just too high. If I was 10 I may have liked it but as an adult it's not my favorite.

moonspinner55 Leslie Caron was the perfect choice to play Cinderella, a scruffy, rebellious girl living with her step-mother and step-sisters, "not quite a servant and not quite a member of the family". Caron reunites here with much of the team from her best movie "Lili", and if the results are not quite as memorable it may be because the story has been exhausted. Still, director Charles Walters paces it carefully (some may say sluggishly) and keeps the outré magic of the tale to a minimum. The droll observation/narration is dryly amusing and the step-family isn't overly nasty to Caron (they treat her more like a black sheep than a housemaid). The MGM production is modest, but the cast is all quite colorful and the musical direction and balletic fantasy sequences are very good. Lovely, a bit tepid, but sweet and simple. **1/2 from ****

phillindholm "The Glass Slipper" is a modern interpretation of the classic fairy tale. And it's a good one. Leslie Caron is cast as Ella, a girl almost destroyed by the death of her mother and the lack of understanding shown her by her insensitive stepmother (Elsa Lanchester) and haughty stepsisters ("Gunsmoke's" Amanda Blake, and Lisa Daniels.) The local villagers are likewise indifferent to her, and (as narrator Walter Pigeon dryly observes), her spirit is in danger of being broken as a result. Enter local "madwoman/kleptomaniac" Estelle Winwood, who, simply by reaching out to the defiant girl, gives her confidence and hope. Yes, she's the film's equivalent of the fairy godmother, and she is wonderful in the part. Although the prince (a mature Michael Wilding) leaves a bit to be desired in the ''Charming''department, he is perfectly all right otherwise. Keenan Wynn is wasted as his companion, but Barry Jones is amusing as the prince's father, and Miss Lanchester makes a suitably nasty stepmother. what of Leslie Caron? Well, she goes from neglected little spitfire to luminous princess effortlessly, and her appearance at the ball is a treat. The ballet sequences do tend to slow the film down, but Miss Caron did begin her career as a dancer, and she has a grace few others could match. The music by Bronislau Kaper perfectly enhances the mood, as does the modest but tasteful production. Strangely enough, this could be called the original "Ever After", because, except for a delightful twist at the end, the tale is told as if it could have happened. All in all, a captivating version of "Cinderella", and one which will linger in your memory.

caircair Granted, Leslie Caron is NOT Cinderella, but I did like Michael Wilding (even though he seemed a bit old for the part), and Estelle Winwood was fantastic. I did like some of the twists, especially the use of subterfuge vs. magic (Ella "Borrows" a dress, rather than having her godmother "Create" one for her). But mostly, I agree with dinky-4, the song "Climbing Rose" is what I remember most about the movie. I'm hoping the score has been released on CD, but haven't found it so far.By the way, if anyone knows where I can get the sheet music and/or CD for that song, please let me know! I've been looking for the music for what seems like forever!