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98 of 105 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just another masterpiece from peerless Rodgers & Hammerstein, October 11, 2002
Simply stated, Richard Rodgers is America's finest composer. No other composer in our history equals the consistent quality, innovativeness, range, and sublime beauty of his compositions. Rodgers' exquisite, unforgettable melodies are crafted with such subtle ingenuity and sophistication that they never lose their freshness or their appeal. Rodgers' musical genius was brilliantly matched in two legendary partnerships, the first with lyricist Lorenz Hart, and the second with librettist-lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II. Rodgers' collaboration with these two gifted men elevated and transformed musical theater into a true and distinctive American art form. The magic of the Rodgers & Hammerstein partnership is beautifully realized in their definitive version of "Cinderella". No other composer was more adept than Rodgers in translating character and plot into music. And in "Cinderella" as in all of his compositions, he does so with perfect clarity, inventiveness and irresistibility. Hammerstein's ever elegant lyrics are alternately and appropriately wise, witty, rapturous, and heartbreaking. Hammerstein had an unerring understanding of the human heart which is why he is able to consistently evoke profound empathy for his characters and their predicaments. Rodgers' graceful and exceptionally beautiful score is infectious and exhilarating. And those Rodgers waltzes- perfection, as always! "Cinderella" is blessed with a sterling cast including a young and very handsome Stuart Damon as the Prince. Damon has a beautiful voice and is quite appealing. Newcomer Lesley Anne Warren, who sounds like an angel singing, is captivating and lovely. The maturity, intensity, and poise of her performance as Cinderella belie her tender age of 18 when this production was mounted. Celeste Holme as the Fairy Godmother, Ginger Rogers as the Queen, and Walter Pidgeon as the King add gravity and warmth to the proceedings. And the comedic performances of Pat Carroll, Barbara Ruick, and Jo Van Fleet as Cinderella's nasty stepsisters and stepmother, respectively, sparkle, amuse, and delight. What more can I say? Don't miss this!
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48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Do I love you because you're beautiful?, December 15, 2003
As a lover of the fairy tale "Cinderella," I have watched this over and over again since I was a child. I can't remember a time when I didn't know the songs in this musical. I used to go around singing "Impossible" all the time as a young girl. The story is simple and straighforward, we all know it, so there's no need to go into any plot details. This story does not deviate from the story we all know and love. What makes this particular rendition a bit unique is simply that it's filmed as a play, rather than as a movie. The sets are very stage-y, and the acting is overdone and a bit cheesy for a movie -- but you'll find that it works well on the stage. The reason it works in this is because they didn't TRY to film it like an ordinary movie -- because it wouldn't have worked. They filmed it as though they were just video-taping a play, and it was charming. Leslie Ann Warren is positively adorable in the role of Cinderella. The rest of the cast is wonderful as well; the stepsisters can be a riot sometimes, I can't help laughing at "The Stepsisters' Lament." This is a movie any fairy tale lover will enjoy.
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42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely The Best !!!, February 8, 2002
This is the definitive version of Cinderella. Heart warming, delightful and that's an understatement! Leslie Ann Warren makes it come alive. She made a BEAUTIFUL Cinderella. The feeling she put into it makes it seem real rather than fantasy. The best scene is at the end when the Prince tries the slipper on Cinderella's foot. The emotion that both Leslie and Stuart Damon put into it is simply beautiful. The feeling given by all the main cast is amazing. I'm 46 and I've loved this version ever since I first saw it as a kid. If you have no heart, you won't enjoy it. If you do, you won't go wrong buying it. : ) My ONLY problem with the DVD is the claim that the recording was remastered. In my several years old VHS tape, there is a color shift in an early scene. It's also on the DVD. Towards the end there is a slight glitch in the soundtrack on my tape. Same glitch on the DVD. One wonders what it was remastered from? In spite of those 2 minor problems, the quality is excellent and the added tracks are a plus. Especially the mini documentary including interviews with Miss Warren, Stuart Damon and Celeste Holm. Over all a great DVD. The story alone makes it worth the money! Regarding some of the other reviews, I take exception to the poor quality claim. Mine is excellent. I can only assume there is a bad batch of them out there that should have been returned. The over all picture quality of my DVD is BETTER than my VHS. I have only heard the sound over my PC speakers but they are quality speakers and the sound is excellent. Thank you Leslie Ann Warren, Stuart Damon and the rest. Thank you Rodgers and Hammerstein. And Thank you Amazon.com for helping to make it available.
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