Powerful

How sad is this?

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

In this oft-repeated fairy tale, Lesley Ann Warren plays the part of "Cinderella" who has to contend with a mean "Stepmother" (played by Jo Van Fleet) and two equally hateful stepsisters named "Prunella" (Pat Carroll) and "Esmerelda" (Barbara Ruick). The other main characters of this story include the charming "Prince" portrayed by Stuart Damon along with Walter Pidgeon as "the King" and the always lovely Ginger Rogers as "the Queen". Now, since this story is so familiar to just about everybody there really isn't much I can say about it that isn't already known. However, as far as this particular film is concerned I will add that this movie was a made-for-television remake of a musical produced in 1956. On that note, while I haven't seen the earlier film, what I really liked about this movie was was the performance of Lesley Ann Warren who seemed tailor made for this part. She was truly excellent. Likewise, the acting of Stuart Damon and the music provided by Rodgers and Hammerstein was equally top-notch. That being said, while this film certainly wasn't perfect in every detail, I found it to be extremely enjoyable and I have rated it accordingly.

A word of advice for those contemplating rewriting Oscar Hammerstein II: If you're not Oscar Hammerstein II, _don't_. People will still be ridiculing you a half century later. The original 1957 Rodgers & Hammerstein Cinderella, even in a awkward black and white kinescope print, is still worth watching, and created quite a fuss when it was rediscovered early in this millennium. This rewrite (including the importation of unrelated songs) by Joseph Schrank, even though in an excellent print with a mostly stellar cast, lacks all the wit, charm, and (dare I say it?) sense of genuine Rodgers & Hammerstein. Even if you can't bear to watch a primitive kinescope, instead of watching this, close your eyes and listen to the CD of the original–you'll get a far better sense of a charming tale.

This is a most memorable production of the beloved "Cinderella" story. I can say from personal experience that it has held up over the years. I remember that it was shown every year on television from 1967 to 1971.Leslie Ann Warren essays the title character expertly with keen insight into the story's many nuances. It is noteworthy that Cinderella is a brunette in this production.Pat Caroll delights the audience as one of the step-sisters with a fun personality and a squeaky knee.The step-mother is played by the brilliant Jo Van Fleet whose character performances ("Cool Hand Luke") continue to live on in movies and television.The score was written by the most talented Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein.John Martin, 45

I grew up watching this 1966 version of the Broadway musical Cinderella, which was shown on an annual basis for several years after its initial premiere. This musical version of the classic fairy tale features some wonderful songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein and originally premiered on Broadway with Julie Andrews in the title role. Lesley Ann Warren plays the role here and 40 years later, no matter what else she does, Lesley Ann Warren will always, first and foremost, be Cinderella to me. She is utterly enchanting in the role and her rendition of "In My Own Little Corner" is charming. Celeste Holm made a delightful fairy godmother, Walter Piedgon and Ginger Rogers added a touch of class as the king and queen, and Stuart Damon made a handsome and elegant Prince Charming. Jo Van Fleet was a memorable evil stepmother and Pat Carroll and Barbara Ruick score as the stepsisters and they stop the show with "Stepsisters' Lament", one of musical comedy's funniest songs. Well mounted with lavish sets and breathtaking costumes, Cinderella, like THE WIZARD OF OZ, should continue to be shown on an annual basis in order to renew our faith in miracles, love, and fantasies coming true. If this show is not available on DVD, it should be. A winner for children of all ages.