Just as Cinderella's dream was set to end at midnight, The Walt Disney Company faced its own critical moment in 1947, grappling with a debt of roughly $4 million following the financial struggles of Pinocchio, Fantasia, and Bambi, largely due to the impact of World War II. However, the iconic glass slippers of Cinderella not only saved the princess's dreams but also rescued Disney from potentially closing its animation chapter prematurely.
As Cinderella celebrates its 75th anniversary of its wide release on March 4, we engaged with several Disney associates who continue to draw inspiration from this timeless tale of transformation from rags to riches. This story resonates deeply with Walt Disney's own journey and provided a beacon of hope not just for the company but for a post-war world seeking inspiration and renewal.
The Right Film at the Right Time --------------------------------To understand the context, let's revisit Disney's fairy godmother moment in 1937 with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This film's unprecedented success, holding the title of the highest-grossing film until surpassed by Gone with the Wind, enabled Disney to establish its Burbank studio and embark on a new era of feature-length animated films.
Disney's subsequent release, Pinocchio in 1940, despite its critical acclaim and Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song, was a financial disappointment, losing around $1 million on a $2.6 million budget. This trend continued with Fantasia and Bambi, compounding the studio's financial woes. The outbreak of World War II, with Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939, played a significant role in these challenges.
"Disney's European markets dried up during the war, and films like Pinocchio and Bambi couldn't reach their audiences," explained Eric Goldberg, co-director of Pocahontas and lead animator on Aladdin's Genie. "The studio was then enlisted by the U.S. government to produce training and propaganda films, leading to the creation of Package Films such as Make Mine Music and Melody Time throughout the 1940s. While these projects were of high quality, they lacked a cohesive narrative from start to finish."
Package Films were essentially compilations of short cartoons assembled into feature films. Disney produced six of these between Bambi in 1942 and Cinderella in 1950, including Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros, which supported the U.S.'s Good Neighbor Policy to counter Nazism in South America. Although these films covered their costs and slightly reduced Disney's debt, they were not the full-length animated stories that Disney aspired to create.
"I wanted to return to feature films, but it required significant investment and time," Walt Disney expressed in 1956, as quoted in The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney by Michael Barrier. "My brother Roy and I had a heated discussion about it. It was one of my biggest upsets. We decided to either move forward or liquidate the company."
Faced with the possibility of selling his shares and leaving the company, Walt, along with Roy, chose to stake everything on their first major animated feature since Bambi. If this gamble failed, it could have spelled the end for Disney's animation studio.
"At that time, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Cinderella were all in development, but Cinderella was chosen first because of its similarities to Snow White," said Tori Cranner, Art Collections Manager at Walt Disney Animation Research Library. "Walt recognized that post-war America needed hope and joy, which Cinderella provided in a way that Pinocchio, despite its beauty, did not. The world needed a story of rising from the ashes to something beautiful."
Cinderella and Disney’s Rags to Riches Tale
Walt Disney's connection to Cinderella predates the late 1940s; he created a Cinderella short in 1922 while at Laugh-O-Gram Studios, which he founded before Disney. This short, along with the eventual feature film, was inspired by Charles Perrault's 1697 version of the tale, a story of good versus evil, true love, and dreams coming true that deeply influenced Walt.
"Snow White was a kind, simple girl who believed in wishes and waiting for her Prince Charming," Walt Disney remarked, as seen in Disney's Cinderella: The Making of a Masterpiece special DVD feature. "Cinderella, on the other hand, was more practical. She believed in dreams, but she also took action to make them happen. When Prince Charming didn't come to her, she went to the palace to find him."
Cinderella's resilience and determination in the face of adversity mirrored Walt's own journey from humble beginnings through failures to success driven by unwavering dreams and hard work. This story resonated with Walt throughout Disney's early years, leading to a Silly Symphony short in 1933 that evolved into a feature film project by 1938. Despite delays due to the war, the film that emerged in 1950 captured the essence of the tale and the spirit of its time.
"Disney excelled at taking these age-old fairy tales and infusing them with his unique style and passion," Goldberg noted. "He transformed them into universally appealing stories, softening the often grim elements of the originals to create timeless narratives that resonated with audiences of all ages."
Cinderella's animal friends, including Jaq, Gus, and the birds, provided comic relief and a deeper connection to her character. The Fairy Godmother, reimagined as a bumbling, grandmotherly figure by animator Milt Kahl, added a relatable charm to the story. The iconic transformation scene, where Cinderella's belief in herself and her dreams culminates in a magical night, remains a highlight of Disney's legacy, with the dress transformation often cited as Walt's favorite animation.
Thanks so much for all your questions about Cinderella! Before we sign off, enjoy this pencil test footage of original animation drawings of the transformation scene, animated by Marc Davis and George Rowley. Thanks for joining us! #AskDisneyAnimation pic.twitter.com/2LquCBHX6F
— Disney Animation (@DisneyAnimation) February 15, 2020
"Every sparkle in that scene was hand-drawn and painted, which is astonishing," Cranner said. "There's a moment during the transformation where the magic pauses for a fraction of a second before completing, adding to the scene's enchantment."
The addition of the breaking glass slipper at the film's end further emphasized Cinderella's agency and strength, showcasing her as a proactive heroine. "Cinderella isn't just a passive character; she's strong and resourceful," Goldberg emphasized. "When the slipper breaks, she presents the other one she's kept, demonstrating her control over her destiny."
Cinderella premiered in Boston on February 15, 1950, and its wide release on March 4 that year was a resounding success, earning $7 million on a $2.2 million budget. It became the sixth-highest grossing film of 1950 and received three Academy Award nominations. "Cinderella's success signaled Disney's return to narrative feature films," Goldberg said. "It revitalized the studio, leading to classics like Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, and many more."
75 Years Later, Cinderella’s Magic Lives On
Seventy-five years later, Cinderella's influence continues to grow, evident in the iconic castles at Disney parks and the opening sequences of Disney films. Her legacy also resonates in modern Disney classics, such as the dress transformation scene in Frozen, which pays homage to Cinderella's magic.
"When animating Elsa's dress transformation in Frozen, we wanted to connect it directly to Cinderella," said Becky Bresee, lead animator on Frozen 2 and Wish. "The sparkles and effects around Elsa's dress echo Cinderella's transformation, honoring the impact of earlier Disney films."
Cinderella's enduring appeal is a testament to the contributions of Disney's legendary animators, including the Nine Old Men and Mary Blair, whose work brought the film to life. As Eric Goldberg aptly summarized, "Cinderella's biggest message is hope. It shows that perseverance and strength can lead to dreams coming true, no matter the era."
