Project Disney-Cinderella

Project Disney: The plan is to tackle all of the Disney films, re-reading the classic stories and tales that inspired many of them and to look at how the changes the filmmakers made, the new elements they introduced and the essential elements they kept. We will, of course, be talking about the films as movies as well, saying why we enjoy them and what some of our favorite moments are, but our focus will be on looking at them as adaptations. For the films that are not drawn from any one work we’ll be looking at some of the possible literary influences that we see in the stories. Inspired by Project Disney at Picture Me Reading.

This week's movie and book is Cinderella. Cinderella is my all time favorite fairy tale character.. EVER!!  I have loved her since I can remember.  The book is Cinderella by Charles Perrault , and also the version by The Grimm Brothers.   So obviously as most people know the Disney versions are never anything like the original story.  And Cinderella is no exception! In the Grimm version entitled Aschenputtel there is no fairy godmother, only doves from a graveyard where her mother is buried.  There is even blood and gore in the Grimm story! After Cinderella loses her slipper the price goes looking for the girl who lost it (just like in Disney's) BUT the stepsister cuts off her toes in order to fit in the slipper.  I love it!!  The other stepsister cuts off part of her heel to fit in it!!  MAYHEM! Then.. when Cinderella gets married at the end of the story those same doves come and pluck out the eyes of the stepsisters as punishment.  It's like a Stephen King novel!

Now the story of Cinderella by the original author Perrault is much more like the Disney version.  There is a fairy godmother, she does change things into objects (pumpkin into a carriage), and she gives Cinderella a beautiful gown. Turns out in both the stories I have mentioned here that there is more then one ball, and both having her return by midnight.  She loses her slipper and the prince finds it and brings it to her house for the stepsisters to try out.  They won't fit in it and Cinderella does.  The Stepsisters ask for forgiveness and Cinderella lets bygones by bygones. Well the second story is almost exactly like the Disney version.. but I can't help but love the Grimm version.

I actually have some fun items in my house from Cinderella! I have several nice Disney items in my bedroom that I have collected.. along with other memorabilia that I will post as we talk about the different books/movies.

And here again for you Disney fans out there... if you have not checked out Annie Leibovitz photos for the Disney campaign you must do!!Here is her vision of Cinderella, I know it's hard to see on my blog because of the way it's formatted.. but that is Scarlett Johanson!   I have a whole board on Pinterest dedicated to Disney if you want to check it out!

My other Project Disney:
Treasure Planet
Snow White
Peter Pan
 Sleeping Beauty
The Great Mouse Detective
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Princess and the Frog
Pinocchio 
Fantasia 
Lady and the Tramp
Beauty and the Beast
Alice in Wonderland
The Rescuers
The Rescuers Down Under
Tangled
Oliver and Company
Mulan
The Little Mermaid
Bambi
101 Dalmatians
Frozen
Fantasia 2000
The Jungle Book
The Emperor's New Groove
The Sword in the Stone
Aladdin
Atlantis
The Aristocats
The Lion King
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Winnie the Pooh (2011)
Robin Hood
Hercules
Pocahontas
Dumbo
The Black Cauldron 
Mary Poppins
Lilo and Stitch  
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
Make Mine Music
Tarzan
Fox and the Hound 
Melody Time