Just as Cinderella's dream was set to end at midnight, The Walt Disney Company faced its own midnight hour in 1947, burdened with a $4 million debt following the financial struggles of Pinocchio, Fantasia, and Bambi, exacerbated by World War II and other challenges. However, the beloved princess and her iconic glass slippers played a pivotal role in rescuing Disney from the brink of ending its animation legacy prematurely.
As Cinderella celebrates its 75th anniversary of its wide release on March 4, we engaged with several Disney insiders who continue to draw inspiration from this timeless rags-to-riches tale. This narrative not only mirrors Walt Disney's own journey but also provided a beacon of hope for the company and a world in the process of rebuilding and seeking renewed faith.
The Right Film at the Right Time --------------------------------To understand the context, we must revisit Disney's fairy godmother moment in 1937 with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Its monumental success, holding the title of the highest-grossing film until Gone with the Wind surpassed it in 1939, enabled Disney to establish its studio in Burbank, where it remains today, and set the stage for more feature-length animated films.
Disney's next venture, Pinocchio in 1940, carried a hefty budget of $2.6 million, roughly $1 million more than Snow White, yet it resulted in a $1 million loss despite critical acclaim and Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song. This pattern continued with Fantasia and Bambi, which also underperformed due to the impact of World War II.
“Disney's European markets dried up during the war, and the films weren’t shown there, so releases like Pinocchio and Bambi struggled,” explained Eric Goldberg, co-director of Pocahontas and lead animator on Aladdin’s Genie. “The studio then shifted focus to produce training and propaganda films for the U.S. government, and throughout the 1940s, they released Package Films like Make Mine Music, Fun and Fancy Free, and Melody Time. These films were excellent but lacked a cohesive narrative.”
Package Films were essentially compilations of short cartoons assembled into feature-length movies. Disney produced six such films between Bambi in 1942 and Cinderella in 1950, including Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros, which supported the U.S.’ Good Neighbor Policy aimed at countering Nazi influence in South America. While these films managed to recoup their costs, reducing the studio’s debt from $4.2 million to $3 million by 1947, they did not fulfill the studio's ambition to produce full-length animated features.
“I wanted to get back into the feature field,” Walt Disney reflected in 1956, as quoted in The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney by Michael Barrier. “But it required significant investment and time. A quality cartoon feature demands a lot of both. My brother Roy and I had a heated discussion about it... I was adamant about moving forward, or else we'd have to liquidate or sell out.”
Facing the possibility of selling his shares and leaving the company, Walt and Roy chose to take a bold step and invest everything in their first major animated feature since Bambi. The success of this venture was crucial; failure could have spelled the end for Disney's animation studio.
"I think the world needed the idea that we can rise from the ashes and experience something beautiful."“At that time, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Cinderella were all in development, but Cinderella was chosen as the first to be produced due to its similarities to the successful Snow White. Beyond entertainment, Walt believed Cinderella could offer something more profound.
“Walt had a keen sense of the times, recognizing that post-war America craved hope and joy,” said Tori Cranner, Art Collections Manager at Walt Disney Animation Research Library. “While Pinocchio is a beautiful film, it's not as uplifting as Cinderella. The world needed a story about emerging from adversity to something beautiful, and Cinderella was perfect for that moment.”
Cinderella and Disney’s Rags to Riches Tale
Walt's connection to Cinderella dates back to 1922 when he created a Cinderella short at Laugh-O-Gram Studios, the precursor to Disney. The short was based on Charles Perrault’s 1697 version of the tale, which itself may trace back to between 7 BC and AD 23. The story of good versus evil, true love, and dreams coming true resonated deeply with Walt.
Though the Laugh-O-Gram productions, including the Cinderella short, were not financially successful, they highlighted the story's significance to Walt, mirroring his own journey of humble beginnings, failures, and relentless pursuit of a dream.
“Snow White was a kind and simple girl who believed in wishing and waiting for her Prince Charming,” Walt Disney noted, as seen in footage from Disney’s Cinderella: The Making of a Masterpiece. “Cinderella, however, was more practical. She believed in dreams but also in taking action. When Prince Charming didn’t come, she went to the palace to find him.”
Cinderella’s resilience and determination, despite being mistreated by her Evil Stepmother and Stepsisters, paralleled Walt’s own journey of overcoming challenges with an unwavering dream and work ethic.
This story remained with Walt, leading to efforts to revive it as a Silly Symphony short in 1933, which evolved into a feature film by 1938. Despite delays due to the war, the project transformed over a decade into the beloved film we know today.
Disney's success with Cinderella was partly due to its ability to enhance traditional fairy tales with universal appeal.
“Disney excelled at taking these age-old fairytales and infusing them with his unique touch,” Goldberg said. “He brought his taste, entertainment sense, heart, and passion, making the characters and stories more engaging than their original versions. These tales were often grim, serving as cautionary lessons, but Disney made them accessible and enjoyable for all audiences, ensuring their enduring popularity.”
"She believed in dreams all right, but she also believed in doing something about them."“Cinderella's animal friends, including Jaq, Gus, and the birds, added humor and companionship to her challenging life, allowing audiences to connect with her emotions. The Fairy Godmother, reimagined as a bumbling, grandmotherly figure by animator Milt Kahl, further enhanced the film's charm and relatability.
The iconic transformation scene, where Cinderella's belief in herself and her dreams materializes into the Fairy Godmother's magic, is a testament to Disney's animation mastery. Marc Davis and George Rowley's meticulous work on the dress transformation, with hand-drawn and painted sparkles, captures the magic of the moment perfectly.
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
“Each sparkle was meticulously drawn and painted on every frame,” Cranner remarked with enthusiasm. “There's a subtle moment during the transformation where the magic pauses for a fraction of a second before completing, adding to the scene's enchanting effect.”
The addition of the glass slipper breaking at the film's end, a Disney innovation, underscores Cinderella's agency and strength. When the slipper breaks, Cinderella's foresight in keeping the other slipper highlights her proactive nature.
“I think Cinderella's often underestimated as a character,” Goldberg noted. “She's not just a passive protagonist but someone with personality and strength. Her response to the broken slipper showcases her cleverness and control over her destiny.”
Cinderella's determination to stand up for herself throughout the story is both inspiring and empowering, contributing to the film's global appeal and success.
Cinderella premiered in Boston on February 15, 1950, and had its wide release on March 4, earning $7 million on a $2.2 million budget, making it Disney's most successful film since Snow White. It was the sixth-highest grossing film of 1950 and received three Academy Award nominations.
“When Cinderella was released, critics hailed it as a return to form for Walt Disney,” Goldberg said. “It was a huge success, rekindling the studio's passion for narrative features. Following Cinderella, Disney went on to create classics like Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians, and The Jungle Book, all thanks to Cinderella’s revival.”
75 Years Later, Cinderella’s Magic Lives On
Seventy-five years later, Cinderella's legacy continues to grow in significance for Disney and beyond. Her iconic castle remains a central feature at Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland, and her influence is evident in modern Disney films, such as the dress transformation scene in Frozen.
“When animating Elsa’s dress transformation in Frozen, we wanted to pay homage to Cinderella,” said Becky Bresee, lead animator on Frozen 2 and Wish. “The sparkles and effects in Elsa’s scene directly reference Cinderella, honoring her impact and the legacy of Disney’s earlier films.”
While many more individuals and stories contributed to Cinderella's success, including the legendary Nine Old Men and Mary Blair, Eric Goldberg's reflection captures the essence of why Cinderella was the perfect film and princess at the right time to save Disney.
“I think the key message of Cinderella is hope,” Goldberg concluded. “It shows that with perseverance and strength, dreams can come true, offering hope no matter the era.”
