Cinderella (1965)

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

I know that I run the risk of upsetting some fans here, but I just have to be honest. I have watched this one with my 7 yr old daughter several times and although I must admit I've grown to like one or two things here, it really is a very bad movie. Some of the songs are not too nauseating and one or two are actually cute like the "Christopher Rupert" part. Just because it seems to appeal to young people so much I took it easy on it rating wise, but it may well be the overall worst performance of a cast in its entirety of all time. I've never seen a movie where every single performance is terrible with this many talented people. That tells me something else was wrong, maybe the director? Ms. Warren looks and sings OK I suppose, but her acting is pretty stiff to put it nicely. The rest of the cast is actually much worse with Stuart Damon giving an unbelievably uncharismatic and stilted rendition of the prince. Even the king and queen are just awful and I love Ginger Rogers! Walter Pidgeon looked asleep as did just about everyone else. The stepmother and stepsisters get an A for effort here, but the acting was from the land of the zombies or mummies or something. Very strange. I can't quite figure out what people like about this and of course I'm talking about adults. No, I'm sorry, but the Disney animated version is absolutely superior in every single way.

Out of the Cinderella films I have seen, that includes the timeless Disney film, the delightful Ever After and the overlong but lavish Slipper and the Rose, this 1965 made for TV movie gets my vote as the most overlooked. At merely less than an hour and a half, it is perhaps too short, which is the only real problem I had with it, as I was genuinely enchanted by this. I completely forgive the fact that it is a TV movie, for the production values in consideration are simply fantastic. The scenery is colourful and the costumes lavish, Lesley Ann Warren's dress at the ball was gorgeous.And then there are the songs and score. In my opinion, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II are fantastic musical composers, and penned some of the best songs in musical history. Their credits include King and I, State Fair, Oklahoma and Carousel, and the film versions of their musicals range from decent(South Pacific) to outstanding(The Sound of Music). Their contribution here is no exception, the score is just breathtaking, especially Instrumental Waltz. And the songs are stunning, standouts are In My Own Little Corner, Do I love You Because You're Beautiful and Ten Minutes Ago. The others aren't quite as good, but are definitely memorable.I had little to complain about the performances either, for Lesley Ann Warren is enchanting as Cinderella. I thought she looked sexy in the comedy Clue, but especially in the ballroom scene she is even lovelier here, and I thought she sang very well.Perhaps lacking the angelic quality of Julie Andrews but she seriously wasn't bad, not to the extent that she couldn't sing. Stuart Damon is very dashing and charming as the Prince with a very beautiful baritone voice, and Celeste Holm is splendid as the Fairy Godmother. And while dancing legend Ginger Rogers does well as the queen, there is also scene-stealing support from Barbara Bruick and Pat Caroll(the voice of Ursula in The Little Mermaid) as the stepsisters. And I just want to add that I love the simplicity of the highly romantic story. All in all, very overlooked and I think magical. 9.5/10 Bethany Cox

I agree, the classic Cinderella movie is the essence of dreams for many young women. I saw this movie with my Big Mama and Little Mama, in 1965 until it stopped appearing for they both passed away. The Wizard of Oz would show first, then came Cinderella. This movie provided me hope for ten years later, I was crowned the high school queen of my entire school. My life was similar to ashes, but I watched Cinderella each year with my two grannies and that day came when I was crowned a Queen. I finally purchased it on DVD, and every year I watch Cinderella and the Wizard of Oz to celebrate those precious moment shared with both my grannies (mother and daughter)

This excellent version of Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella is a class act. This is a far better version than the 1957 original television production which was awful.Lesley Ann Warren and Stuart Damon are just wonderful and elegant as Cinderella and her prince respectively. Their voices ring true to happiness.Jo Van Fleet again proves her adeptness at being a difficult mother. This time, she does it in a comedic way. Her scene with the prince at the ball is a riot. Looking at herself in the mirror, she knows what she is.Celeste Holm should be everyone's fairy god-mother. She has always been a voice for toleration from her scenes in "Gentleman's Agreement," and she shows it again in this fine production.Get to your video stores and have the kiddies see this wonderful movie. They'll yell for more.