Nonureva Really Surprised!

UnowPriceless hyped garbage

filippaberry84 I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Freeman This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

PamelaShort Who better to play Cinderella than the most beloved star of the time, Mary Pickford. This adaptation of the popular fairy tale was long considered lost, until the film was discovered in the Nederlands Film Museum. Famous Players production of the story is straightforward as they had hoped it would appeal as much to adults as to children, and planned it's release for Christmas 1914. Beautifully filmed on impressive locations in Greenwich, Connecticut, permission was obtained to shot at some wealthy homes, very effectively creating the Royal Palace and it's grounds. They incorporated some trick photography that is considered standard for the time when compared to the highly advanced work of French filmmaker George Melies. The strong lighting and tinting of this film gives it a dreamy watercolor effect. But as always, it is the charms of Mary Pickford that makes this film extremely delightful. With her unique naturalness, she adds such lovely little touches, such as tickling the footman to see if he is real after being transformed from a rat. With her expressions and gestures, Pickford is able to give Cinderella a personality, that is most engaging. She is even enchanting as she carries cages full of mice and rats for her fairy grandmother to change into horses and footmen, and Pickford looks exquisite in her gown as she travels to the Prince's ball. Owen Moore, Pickford's husband at the time plays the role of Prince Charming fairly well, and the stepmother and sister's are adequately performed by Isabel Vernon, Georgia Wilson, and Lucille Carney. I consider this 1914 version of Cinderella, a little masterpiece among early silent films. I was surprised how intrigued my two preteen nieces were while watching this film, and feel that is a strong testament, to the fact that this Cinderella is still able to bring delight and entertainment nearly one hundred years later. For anyone who appreciates early silent films and the art of Mary Pickford, this early film is a must see.

Cineanalyst This is fairly well made for 1914, and it's been restored and presented in a higher quality than most films from that period, including some lovely color tinting. It'd be nice if other early silent films were made available in such quality as Mary Pickford's vehicles have been, but we'll take what we can get, I suppose. In addition, the well-known fairytale narrative makes this an ideal candidate from the early phase of feature-length films to see on DVD if you're not already an avid viewer of ancient cinema.This is an early example of expert focus on filming and staging around the star. Pickford is filmed in the best lighting; her face is nearly always center stage, even if it means blocking or not showing frontal views of others; and there are a good number of close-ups mostly for her. That's for the best, by the way, as not much else here seems as appealing or talented, including Owen Moore, Pickford's real-life husband at the time, as Prince Charming. Otherwise, the film-making here is rather prosaic even for 1914; for example, notice how they return to the same camera positions for scenes in the kitchen, bedroom and ballroom. The framing for the kitchen scenes are very similar to those of the kitchen scenes in the 1911 Thanhouser version of Cinderella, which I saw recently before this.The clock dream is amusing and creative, though. It begins as a superimposed vision above sleeping Cinderella and then becomes its own shot crosscut with her sleeping. The nice added score helps, too. It's worth comparing this to the dance of the clocks nightmare in Méliès's 1899 "Cinderella", as well as the one in his 1912 version. I also like the through-the-window framing of Cinderella looking out the window at dancing fairies during her other sleeping scene; it's also one of the few times Pickford's back is to the camera.There were other stars in 1914, but I haven't seen any of them receive this good of treatment, with such classical star focus, for another year or two. Nobody, however, was bigger then in the movie world than was Mary Pickford.

wes-connors The famous fairy tale, appropriately starring Mary Pickford (as Cinderella), with Owen Moore (as Prince Charming). Ms. Pickford's performance is terrific; in many of her early films, her acting ability is most clearly evident. Mr. Moore was one of Pickford's three successful actor husbands; he is charming as her Prince. This film seems adds a lot of story which is not in later re-makes; and, most of it would have been well worth repeating. However, this version skimps on background and characterization; perhaps, the filmmakers supposed everyone knew the basic story. If you don't know "Cinderella", it is possible to figure out who's who, and what's going on. Though, you won't believe how skillfully Pickford catches rodents. Great parts: Pickford and Moore romancing before the clock strikes midnight (or, is that noon?), and Pickford's "clock dream". The accompanying soundtrack, by Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton, is exemplary. ****** Cinderella (12/28/14) James Kirkwood ~ Mary Pickford, Owen Moore, Inez Marcel, Isabel Vernon

tedg No need to seek this out. It is mundane in every way except one.You'll remember that a feature of the story is the clock. Our girl has to be home before midnight, her only rule. She disobeys because she is having such a nice time.We forgive her, because her life has been so rough, but rules is rules. She makes her escape just as the clock is striking. But in this movie, she has nightmares about the clock, and they are pretty interesting.First we have two mechanical bellringers moved into place to strike the bell. These, as it turns out are gnomes we have seen before when the evil stepsisters visited a fortune teller. Since then, Cinderella has had pleasant dreams of fairies and the bad sisters nightmares of these gnomes.Now Cinderella is visited by these two gnomes, in a sequence labelled "the consequences of disobedience." They strike the bell, then things go haywire and they hit each other. Then the hands go haywire, and the face itself starts spinning. Next the clocktower itself shakes and the gnomes fall off. Wait, thats not all. There's a fantastic sequence where the numbers on the clock face become untethered and start to roam about the face while the hands twist radically.Its very clever. I think both the clock and the gnomes are cinematic additions. And they do spice up the otherwise ordinary event.Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.