Just as Cinderella’s dream was set to end at midnight, The Walt Disney Company faced a similar fate in 1947, grappling with a $4 million debt due to the financial failures of films like Pinocchio, Fantasia, and Bambi, exacerbated by World War II and other factors. However, the beloved princess and her iconic glass slippers played a pivotal role in rescuing Disney from the brink, allowing the company to continue its animation legacy well beyond what seemed like its final chapter.
As Cinderella celebrates its 75th anniversary of its wide release on March 4, we had the opportunity to speak with several Disney insiders who remain inspired by this timeless tale of rags to riches. This story not only echoes the journey of Walt Disney himself but also revitalized the company during a critical time, offering hope to a world in the process of rebuilding and yearning for inspiration.
The Right Film at the Right Time --------------------------------To understand the significance of Cinderella, we must revisit Disney's fairy godmother moment in 1937 with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The film's unprecedented success, which held the title of the highest-grossing film until Gone with the Wind surpassed it two years later, enabled Disney to establish its studio in Burbank, still its headquarters today, and paved the way for more feature-length animated films.
Disney's next venture, 1940’s Pinocchio, came with a hefty $2.6 million budget, roughly $1 million more than Snow White, yet it resulted in a $1 million loss despite critical acclaim and Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song. This was not an isolated incident; Fantasia and Bambi similarly underperformed, adding to the mounting debt. The primary reason was the outbreak of World War II, triggered by Germany's invasion of Poland in September 1939.
“Disney's European markets dried up during the war, and the films weren’t being shown there, so releases like Pinocchio and Bambi did not do well,” explained Eric Goldberg, co-director of Pocahontas and lead animator on Aladdin’s Genie. “Before long, Disney was overtaken by the U.S. government to produce training and propaganda films for the Army and Navy. Throughout the 1940s, the studio produced what they called Package Films, like Make Mine Music, Fun and Fancy Free, and Melody Time. These projects were excellent, but they lacked a cohesive narrative from start to finish.”
For those unfamiliar, Package Films were compilations of short cartoons assembled into feature films. Disney produced six of these between the releases of 1942’s Bambi and 1950’s Cinderella, including Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros, which were part of the U.S.’s Good Neighbor Policy to counter the spread of Nazism in South America. While these films managed to break even and Fun and Fancy Free reduced the studio’s debt from $4.2 million to $3 million in 1947, they also hindered the studio's ability to produce true feature-length animated stories.
“I wanted to get back into the feature field,” Walt Disney expressed in 1956, as documented in The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney by Michael Barrier. “But it was a matter of investment and time. A good cartoon feature takes a lot of time and a lot of money. My brother [Disney CEO Roy O. Disney] and I had quite a screamer… It was one of my big upsets… I said we’re going to either go forward, get back in business, or let’s liquidate or sell out.”
When it seemed Walt himself might sell his shares and leave Disney, he and Roy chose the riskier path, betting everything on the studio’s first major animated feature since 1942’s Bambi. Failure could have spelled the end of Disney's animation studio.
“At this time, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Cinderella were all in varying levels of development, but Cinderella was selected as the first film to produce because it shared many similarities with the hit that was Snow White. Beyond that, Walt believed this story could accomplish something greater than mere entertainment,” said Tori Cranner, Art Collections Manager at Walt Disney Animation Research Library. “Walt was very good at reflecting the times, and I think he recognized what America needed after the war was hope and joy. While Pinocchio is an incredibly beautiful and amazing movie, it's not a joyful movie in the way Cinderella is. The world needed the idea that we can rise from the ashes and experience something beautiful. Cinderella was the perfect choice for that moment in time.”
Cinderella and Disney’s Rags to Riches Tale
Walt’s fascination with Cinderella dates back to 1922 when he created a Cinderella short at Laugh-O-Gram Studios, the company he founded before starting Disney with Roy. The short and the subsequent feature film were adaptations of Charles Perrault’s 1697 version of the tale, which may have originated between 7 BC and AD 23 by the Greek geographer Strabo. This classic narrative of good versus evil, true love, and dreams coming true left a lasting impression on Walt.
“Snow White was a kind and simple little girl who believed in wishing and waiting for her Prince Charming to come along,” Walt Disney remarked, as seen in footage from Disney’s Cinderella: The Making of a Masterpiece special DVD feature. “On the other hand, Cinderella here was more practical. She believed in dreams all right, but she also believed in doing something about them. When Prince Charming didn’t happen to come along, she went right over to the palace and got him.”
Cinderella’s strength and resilience, despite her mistreatment by her Evil Stepmother and Stepsisters following the loss of her parents, mirrored Walt’s own journey from humble beginnings, marked by failures and challenges but driven by an unwavering dream and work ethic.
This story stayed with Walt through Disney’s early days, and he attempted to revive it in 1933 as a Silly Symphony short. However, as the project’s scope expanded, it evolved into a feature film by 1938. It took over a decade to reach the big screen, delayed by the war and other factors, but this time allowed the film to develop into the beloved classic we know today.
Cinderella’s success can be attributed to Disney’s ability to transform beloved tales into stories with global appeal.
“Disney was so adept at taking these fairytales, which had been around for many years, and infusing them with his own flair. He brought his taste, entertainment sense, heart, and passion into them, making audiences care about the characters and story even more than in the original tales,” Goldberg said. “These fairytales were often grim, serving as cautionary tales for the young. Disney modernized them, making them universally enjoyable and timeless for all audiences.”
Disney achieved this with Cinderella through the addition of her animal friends, including Jaq, Gus, and the birds, who provided comic relief amidst her hardships and allowed Cinderella to express her true feelings, deepening our connection to her character. They also played a crucial role in her dress-making endeavors.
The Fairy Godmother, reimagined from Perrault’s version, was crafted by animator Milt Kahl as a more relatable, bumbling grandmother figure, enhancing audience connection. This portrayal led to one of the most iconic scenes in Disney history: Cinderella’s transformation at her lowest point, where her unwavering belief in herself and her dreams manifests through the Fairy Godmother, turning her life around.
The animation of Cinderella’s dress transformation, often cited as Walt’s favorite, was masterfully executed by Disney Legends Marc Davis and George Rowley. The scene’s meticulous hand-drawn sparkles and seamless transition capture the essence of magic.
Thanks so much for all your questions about Cinderella! Before we sign off, enjoy this pencil test footage of original animation drawings of the transformation scene, animated by Marc Davis and George Rowley. Thanks for joining us! #AskDisneyAnimation pic.twitter.com/2LquCBHX6F
— Disney Animation (@DisneyAnimation) February 15, 2020
“First of all, you have to remember that every single one of those sparkles was hand-drawn on every frame and then hand-painted, which just blows my mind,” Cranner said with enthusiasm. “But there's also a part of it that’s so subtle, as there is a perfect moment in the middle of that transformation where all of the stardust and the magic holds for just a fraction of a second before it all falls in and her dress changes. I really think that that's part of what makes that scene so magical. It's almost a second of holding your breath and then the release comes and you know that magic just happened.”
Another unique Disney addition is the breaking of one glass slipper at the film's end, a detail not present in previous versions, which underscores Cinderella's agency and strength.
“I think something that a lot of people overlook is that Cinderella is not a cipher,” Goldberg said. “She’s not a bland female protagonist that you might see in some of the other films, but she has a personality and a strength within her. When the stepmother causes the glass slipper to break, Cinderella has the solution to it by presenting the other one she had been holding on to. It’s such a powerful moment and a clever story element to show how strong and in control she actually is.”
Cinderella’s journey of self-advocacy is inspiring and underscores the power of standing up for oneself. These narrative choices contributed to the film's global appeal and success.
Cinderella premiered in Boston on February 15, 1950, and had its wide release on March 4 later that year. It became an instant hit, earning $7 million on a $2.2 million budget, making it the sixth-highest grossing film of 1950 and securing three Academy Award nominations.
“When Cinderella came out, all the critics went, ‘Oh, this is great! Walt Disney's back on track again!’ It was hugely successful because he was back to producing narrative features like Snow White, and people loved it,” Goldberg said. “I think the studio also regained its mojo. They appreciated the Package Films and their work during the war, but this is what the studio was built for. Following Cinderella, Disney continued to develop films like Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians, Jungle Book, and many more, all thanks to Cinderella.”
75 Years Later, Cinderella’s Magic Lives On
Seventy-five years later, Cinderella’s influence continues to grow, evident in the iconic castles that grace Main Street, U.S.A. at Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland, and in the opening sequences of Disney films inspired by her tale and that of Sleeping Beauty.
Her impact is also seen in modern Disney classics, such as a scene in Frozen that has become one of the most watched of all time.
“When we were doing Elsa’s dress transformation moment in Frozen, which I animated along with effects artist Dan Lund, co-director Jennifer Lee wanted it to have a direct connection to Cinderella,” Frozen 2 and Wish lead animator Becky Bresee shared. “Cinderella’s legacy is particularly evident in the sparkles and effects surrounding Elsa’s dress. Although she is a different character, we bring forward many elements to honor the impact of Cinderella and other influential films.”
There are countless other stories and individuals worthy of recognition for their contributions to Cinderella, including the famous Nine Old Men, who brought life to the characters, and Mary Blair, whose artwork gave the film its distinctive and stunning style. Eric Goldberg succinctly captured why Cinderella was the perfect film and princess at the perfect time to save Disney when it needed it most.
“I think the big thing about Cinderella is hope,” Goldberg said. “It gives people hope that things will work out when you have perseverance and when you are a strong person. I think that's its biggest message… is that hope can actually be realized and dreams can come true, no matter what time you are living in.”
