The Glass Slipper (1955)

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.

Disappointing rendition of the faithful classic. It appeared to me that they were taking the express in this film.Leslie Caron, as Cinderella, comes off as an embittered waif. The parts of her wicked stepmother and step-sisters are grossly under- written. The latter three hardly say anything.The real life of the film is the performance of veteran pro Estelle Winwood, who portrays the fairy godmother with a delightful touch. Kind as they come, she is also into stealing items.Caron, as always, sings beautifully, but there is an almost- like contempt in all her actions. The Cinderella we came to love was anything but this.

During the 50s when one needed a waif one either called for Audrey Hepburn or Leslie Caron for a film. It was Caron's good fortune to be cast as the ultimate waif in history. In The Glass Slipper Caron gets to play Cinderella with a slightly old Michael Wilding as her Prince.In this version it is mentioned that the prince has been away at college for so many years few in the realm would recognize him. Wilding must have been taking post doctoral classes for years because he was 44 when he made The Glass Slipper and looks it. A prince closer to Caron's age should have been cast. But like his fellow Britisher David Niven, Michael Wilding has charm in abundance and carries the part off somewhat.In this version the two meet earlier by a stream and Wilding says he's the cook in the palace of Duke Barry Jones where a great ball is to be held and he invites her. Caron's own natural beauty shines through all the dirt she's covered with doing all the work in her household while the stepmother and stepsisters frolic and play.A slightly dotty Estelle Winwood is the fairy godmother and she's a treat. All in all the Cinderella story is a timeless tale and The Glass Slipper is in that tradition. Still great for family audiences.

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!