"Cinderella at 75: How the Princess and Glass Slippers Revived Disney"

Just as Cinderella's dream was set to end at midnight, The Walt Disney Company faced its own midnight hour in 1947, grappling with a debt of approximately $4 million following the financial setbacks 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 saving Disney from an untimely end to its animation legacy.

As Cinderella celebrates its 75th anniversary of its wide release on March 4, we've engaged with several Disney insiders who continue to draw inspiration from this timeless rags-to-riches tale. This story not only echoes the journey of Walt Disney himself but also provided a beacon of hope for the company and a world in the process of rebuilding and seeking inspiration.

To understand the significance of Cinderella, we must revisit Disney's fairy godmother moment in 1937 with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Its unprecedented success, holding the title of the highest-grossing film until Gone with the Wind surpassed it, enabled Disney to establish its Burbank studio, still its headquarters today, and paved the way for more feature-length animated films.

However, Disney's next venture, Pinocchio in 1940, despite its critical acclaim and Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song, incurred a loss of about $1 million on a $2.6 million budget. This trend continued with Fantasia and Bambi, further deepening the studio's financial woes. The outbreak of World War II, triggered by Germany's invasion of Poland in September 1939, played a significant role in these setbacks.

"Disney's European markets dried up during the war, and films like Pinocchio and Bambi couldn't be shown there, leading to poor performance," explained Eric Goldberg, co-director of Pocahontas and lead animator on Aladdin's Genie. "The studio was then commissioned by the U.S. government to produce training and propaganda films. Throughout the 1940s, Disney shifted to creating Package Films like Make Mine Music, Fun and Fancy Free, and Melody Time. These were excellent projects but lacked a cohesive narrative from start to finish."

Package Films were compilations of short cartoons assembled into feature films. Disney produced six such films between Bambi in 1942 and Cinderella in 1950, including Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros, which were part of the U.S.'s Good Neighbor Policy to counter Nazism in South America. While these films managed to break even and Fun and Fancy Free reduced the studio's debt from $4.2 million to $3 million by 1947, they hindered the production of true feature-length animated stories.

"I wanted to get back into the feature field," Walt Disney expressed in 1956, as quoted in The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney by Michael Barrier. "But it required significant investment and time. A good cartoon feature demands a lot of both. My brother Roy and I had a heated discussion... It was one of my big upsets... I said we're going to either move forward, get back into business, or liquidate and sell out."

Facing the possibility of selling his shares and leaving the company, Walt and Roy chose the riskier path, betting everything on their first major animated feature since Bambi. The success of this film was crucial; failure could have meant the end of Disney's animation studio.

"At this time, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Cinderella were all in development, but Cinderella was chosen first due to 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. While Pinocchio is a beautiful film, it's not as joyful as Cinderella. The world needed a story of rising from the ashes to something beautiful, and Cinderella was the perfect choice 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, just before founding Disney with Roy. This short, and later the feature film, were inspired by Charles Perrault's 1697 version of the tale, which may have originated between 7 BC and AD 23 by the Greek geographer Strabo. It's a classic narrative of good versus evil, true love, and dreams coming true, deeply resonating with Walt.

"Snow White was a kind and simple girl who believed in wishing and waiting for her Prince Charming," Walt Disney remarked, as seen in Disney's Cinderella: The Making of a Masterpiece special DVD feature. "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 character, resilient despite her hardships under her Evil Stepmother and Stepsisters, mirrored Walt's own journey from humble beginnings, marked by failures and challenges, yet driven by an unwavering dream and work ethic.

Walt's early attempt to revive Cinderella as a Silly Symphony short in 1933 evolved into a more ambitious project by 1938, eventually becoming a feature film. Despite delays due to the war and other factors, the film's development over a decade allowed it to become the beloved classic we know today.

Disney's success with Cinderella stemmed from its ability to transform traditional fairytales into universally appealing stories. "Disney took these age-old tales and infused them with his unique touch, bringing heart and passion that made audiences care deeply about the characters and story," Goldberg noted. "These tales were often grim, serving as cautionary lessons, but Disney made them enjoyable for all, modernizing them to stand the test of time."

Cinderella's animal friends, including Jaq, Gus, and the birds, provided comic relief and allowed Cinderella to express her true self, enhancing her relatability. The Fairy Godmother, reimagined as a bumbling, grandmotherly figure by animator Milt Kahl, added a layer of warmth and connection for audiences. The iconic transformation scene, where Cinderella's belief in herself and her dream culminates in a life-changing night, remains a highlight of Disney's legacy.

The animation of Cinderella's dress transformation, credited as Walt's favorite, was meticulously crafted by Disney Legends Marc Davis and George Rowley. "Every sparkle was hand-drawn and painted on every frame," Cranner marveled. "There's a moment during the transformation where the magic pauses for a fraction of a second before the dress changes, adding to the scene's enchantment."

The addition of the glass slipper breaking at the film's end, a Disney innovation, underscores Cinderella's agency and strength. "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 been holding onto, showcasing her control and resilience."

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 and the sixth-highest grossing film of 1950. It received three Academy Award nominations and revitalized Disney's narrative feature production.

"When Cinderella was released, critics hailed it as a return to form for Walt Disney," Goldberg recalled. "It was a huge success, and the studio regained its momentum. Following Cinderella, Disney produced films like Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians, and The Jungle Book, all thanks to Cinderella's success."

75 Years Later, Cinderella’s Magic Lives On

Seventy-five years later, Cinderella's influence continues to grow within Disney and beyond. Her castle stands as a symbol at Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland, and her story inspires modern Disney films, such as the iconic 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 around Elsa's dress directly reference Cinderella, honoring the legacy of the films that came before."

Cinderella's impact is also evident in the work of the Nine Old Men and Mary Blair, whose contributions brought the film its distinctive style and character. As we reflect on Cinderella's enduring legacy, Eric Goldberg's words encapsulate its significance: "Cinderella is about hope. It shows that with perseverance and strength, dreams can come true, no matter the era."