Thursday, February 9, 2023

Thursday Movie Picks- Cinderella Plot Movies

 


The Cinderella theme is very popular in books and film all over the world. I, personally, love the original name of the Grimm Fairy Tale...Cinderslut. I’m not kidding...isn’t that great!? Wandering Through The Shelves has chosen a really good theme and I hope you like my 3 choices.

1.  SABRINA-1954

I spoke about this film before but I can’t pass this theme by without choosing this film and, besides, Audrey Hepburn just seemed to be a Cinderella. She is a chauffeur’s daughter who is sent away to Paris and comes back a swan. She catches the eye of playboy William Holden( who caught her eye off screen as they both had a torrid affair but when she found out he had a vasectomy, she stopped the affair because she really wanted children) who picks her up in town not knowing that is his family’s chauffeur’s daughter. He invites her to a fancy shindig his family is having still not realizing who she is but older brother, Humphrey Bogart does and prevents anything from happening much to Will and Audrey’s chagrin. Bogart decides to "woo” her because he feels she is after their money...wrong!  Little does he know that he is falling for this doe-eyed beauty. A great comedy romance even though Bogie was a disagreeable lout during filming who didn’t care for his co-stars. This was the beginning of a lifelong friendship and pairing of Hepburn and Hubert De Givenchy who designed most of her iconic gowns( not Edith Head).

2. THREE LITTLE NUTS FOR CINDERELLA-1973


This is a Czech film that is shown annually at Christmas in Europe because it takes place during winter. I saw it, repeatedly, on Sunday mornings, when I was young, on our CBC station and loved it. Cinderella is bullied by her stepmother but the stepmother only has one ugly daughter. Cinderella is a tomboy who can speak to the animals and when the stepmom tells her to separate lentils from the corn she has the help of white doves. This frees her up to enjoy riding her dad's stallion  especially when she meets up with the prince and his entourage. A worker, who is kind, tells Cinderella he will get her the first thing that hits him on the head and sure enough, 3 hazelnuts drop onto his head and he gives them to Cinderella. When the ball happens she talks to an owl and out from the nut comes a beautiful gown. Anyhoo, it is a really unique and different take on the theme. Actually, it's closer to the original than the Disney version.

3. EVER AFTER-1998

This is a charming take on the classic fairy tale tgat stars Drew Barrymore in the lead role and she never looked lovelier. Angelica Huston plays the wicked stepmother and there are 2 step sisters but one is not as mean as one would think. Drew meets up with the Prince but keeps her identity secret. There is nothing in the way of magic, just meeting Leonardo Da Vinci. It all comes to a head at the masquerade ball. The costumes are excellent and so is this story with a strong Cinderella just like in the 2nd film I spoke about. These 2 Cindersluts are anything but demure.

So, which 3 can you think of?

26 comments:

  1. Haven't seen your second pick, but it sounds interesting. Since you mentioned 'slut', my first thought was Pretty Woman.
    Have a great day.

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    1. Yes, Pretty Womn is a good pick too.

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  2. Hi, Birgit!

    I hope you and my buddy Harley are well and in good spirits, dear friend. Happy Thursday!

    Yessum, I remember seeing Cinderslut back in the 1970s. I watched the 8 mm film in a coin-operated movie booth in Times Square. :) I laughed... I cried. :) Harry Reems shines in the role of the handsome prince. :)

    Billy Wilder's Sabrina is a great choice for this category. It's simply a wonderful movie with chemistry galore. I also appreciated the 1995 remake starring Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond and Talk Soup alumnus Greg Kinnear in his first starring film role.

    Three Wishes For Cinderella does look like a refreshing spin on the traditional tale, "Cinderella freed from traits of sentimentality" and "a modern feminist take on the traditional fairy tale," as critics opined. IMDB offers this teaser: "Join Cinderella in snow-heavy forests and up on the sparkling Norwegian high mountains in her battle against the evil stepmother." Any film, animated or live action, that deviates from the Disney model is one that would attract me. I'd want to watch it for the breathtaking winter scenery alone. I can see why you loved to watch this movie over and over again as a girl. I like fictional characters and real people who talk to animals, establish effective communication and build genuine rapport.

    Ever After: A Cinderella Story looks like a delightful, well produced adventure with Drew Barrymore in the lead role and Anjelica Huston as the meanie. I also admire Melanie Lynskey, one of the busiest actresses in the industry, who first wowed me as scene-stealer Rose in Two And A Half Men. Mel has turned up in many other TV series and films I have watched in the 20 years since, including Don't Look Up, a 2021 Leo DiCaprio - Jennifer Lawrence - Cate Blanchett - Meryl Streep film that I forgot to list when you asked what I watched in January. (SPOILER ALERT: Meryl Streep blows her nose for 90 minutes and wins an Oscar.) Melanie Lynskey also appears in the 2020 Cate Blanchett mini series I recently mentioned entitled Mrs. America, the true story of conservative, antifeminist powerhouse and ERA opponent Phyllis Schlafly.

    I did all that tapdancing because I can't think of any Cinderella stories that I have actually watched since childhood. One that I'd like to see is Cinderella (2015) starring Lily James of Downton Abbey fame. I am a great admirer of Lily who also played Ellie in the Beatles film Yesterday and is a presenter who hosts the Shady's Place series Yesterday Once More. Busy actress Cate Blanchett is also in that film in the role of the evil stepmother.

    Enjoy the rest of your week and have a safe and happy weekend, dear friend BB!

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    1. You would love the 2nd movie because it is so well done and enchanting. Harley is sleeping beside me and I need to move f the couch! Ever After is also quite good as is Sabrina but I like the original much more than the remake. Yes, I love Melanie from 2 1/2 Men…she is. Great character actress and shines in this role. I have seen the recent one with Lily James who is good in this film as is Cate Blanchett who reminds me of 40s actress Joan Crawford. The costumes are just amazing! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and looking forward to you next round of fun musical escapes.

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  3. Birgit,

    Right now, nuthin' comes to mind. I know I've seen films that made me think of Cinderella but my brain isn't working. Other than the more recent non-animated remakes of Cinderella movies. I can't think of the name but we did a flick that fits this category that takes place at Christmas time. Actually, there have been a few except there's not an evil step-mother and sisters but an evil boss or girlfriend trying to sabotage the modern day Cinderella's love.

    We watched "Sabrina" many years ago. I know we liked it but that's about all I can say. It seems we watched the remake with Harrison Ford, too.

    Thanks for sharing your movie picks!

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    1. I bet, once you watch some movies, you will see the Cinderella theme in the plot.

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  4. I love Sabrina! I guess Pretty Woman is a Cinderella story. Although the plot is ridiculous, I still love it. Ella Enchanted is a sweet movie. My all-time favorite mini-series is Pride & Prejudice--the version with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. Mr. Darcy falls in love with Elizabeth Bennett, who is of a lower social class. I love the book and I've watched the mini-series multiple times. Maybe I'll watch it again for Valentine's Day.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. I still have to see that mini series that brought Colin Firth into the limelight. That book and the films made are so good, overall.

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  5. Nope, not seen any of these films Birgit, although I do love the story, Kate x

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  6. Hi Birgit!

    Your second choice is unknown to me but the other two are wonderful takes on the story!

    Sabrina would be a sweet film even without Audrey but she really makes it something special. Bogie isn’t an ideal fit as Linus, not awful but missing the ease that first choice Cary Grant would have brought to the part. The Julia Ormond remake is a good illustration of why some remakes are unnecessary, it’s an okay movie but missing this one’s gossamer charm.

    Drew carries Ever After well but she’s surrounded by so many wonderful performers and performances it eases her load. Anjelica is perfection but so are Judy Parfitt and Timothy West as the querulous King and Queen and Melanie Lynskey makes the most out of her role as the pushed aside second stepsister.

    To say this story is well used is an understatement but it made coming up with three easy. My first two are straight takes off the original and the third a reworking into screwball comedy.

    I saw The Slipper and the Rose (1976) at Radio City Music Hall when it first came out as part of their Christmas show followed up by the Rockettes!! A nice movie and a great memory!

    The Glass Slipper (1955) is a beautifully filmed studio version with Leslie Caron as “Cinder” Ella with a fantastic cast of character actresses-Elsa Lanchester, Estelle Winwood & Lurene Tuttle-backing her up.

    Lastly Midnight (1939) stars Claudette Colbert as a down on her luck actress/chorus girl in Paris with only a gold lamé evening gown to her name taken under the wing of a cab driver (Don Ameche) and a lovesick, obscenely wealthy, and wily man (John Barrymore-who steals every single second of his screen time) who takes on the job of Fairy Godfather. It’s a bit daft but a charmer.

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    1. Hi Joel….I hope you see the 2nd film one day because it’s just a real charmer. I agree about the remake of Sabrina and Harrison Ford seems pissed off and bored throughout. Car Granite would have been a better choice…too bad he couldn’t do it.
      I love Melanie in Ever After and I loved the guy playing Da Vinci.
      I have yet to see ng of the films you chose but they have been on my radar especially Midnight and The Leslie Caron film. John Barrymore knew how to take the scene away from others.

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  7. Ever After was the first one that came to my mind.

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  8. I haven't seen the 2nd, but I've, of course, seen the other two. I'm quite the fan of the Cinderella trope, so I have many favorites. I see that Joel already mentioned the first film that came to mind, though. Midnight. I love the reference in the film: even Cinderella had her midnight. I'm sure you've seen it.

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    1. This is one film I still have to see! Yes, I have not seen it but it is my mission to see it this year

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  9. I loved Sabrina. Bummer about Bougie being nasty.

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    1. Bogie apologized to Billy Wilder(the director) after filming wrapped. He said he was going through some personal issues and unfairly took it out on everyone else. Too bad he didn’t apologize to everyone.

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  10. Sabrina is popular today! I adore Ever After, it's one of my favorite "bad" movies because I know it has problems but I LOVE IT ANYWAYS, DAMNIT!

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    1. There are problems with Ever After?? It’s not great film but I think it’s quite good.

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  11. I steered away from actual Cinderella adaptations/reimaginings...but yeah I love Ever After, its my favourite Cinderella movie.

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    1. Yes, you picked unique films. I’m glad you like Ever After

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  12. I have never heard of any of these, but I enjoyed reading what you thought of them and why.

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    1. I’m glad you enjoyed the read. I love Grimm Fairy Tales

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  13. EverAfter was another good one. Happy Valentine's Day.

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