DbcultAccessing Vault...
5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Cinderella remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you come into this expecting a fancy blue dress or a talking pumpkin that actually looks like a pumpkin, you are going to be very confused. This is a Paul Terry cartoon from 1933, which means everything is bouncing for absolutely no reason at all.
Is it worth watching today? Honestly, yeah, if you have seven minutes to kill and you like seeing how people used to draw before everything got so polished and corporate. Kids might find it creepy because the faces are a bit... off, but animation nerds will probably dig the janky charm of it all.
Most people will probably hate it because there is barely a plot. It’s just a series of things happening in rhythm to the music until it stops.
The first thing I noticed is how Cinderella doesn't even look like a person half the time. Her arms move like they are made of noodles, which was the style back then, but it’s still disturbing if you look at it too long.
It reminds me a bit of the stuff in Accordion Joe where the physics just don't exist. One second she’s scrubbing a floor, and the next, the floor seems to be scrubbing her back.
The music is loud and never stops. It feels like the band was told they wouldn't get paid unless they played every single second of the runtime.
I actually found myself staring at the background more than the characters. There is a weirdly detailed window in one scene that looks like it belongs in a different movie entirely.
It’s not exactly a deep movie. It’s more like a visual snack that someone made in a basement while drinking too much coffee.
The movement is a bit smoother than Fifty Million Years Ago, but it still has that flickery quality that makes your eyes itch after a while. I love that flicker, though.
There is this one shot where the stepmother is yelling, and her mouth becomes this giant black void. It’s actually kind of scary for a cartoon that’s supposed to be for children.
I think Paul Terry just liked making things move. He didn't care if the story made sense or if the characters were likable.
It feels a bit like The Paper Hanger in terms of how much slapstick they try to cram into a tiny window of time. Just constant movement without any room to breathe.
The ending is so sudden I thought my video had cut out. It just sort of... ends because they ran out of paper, I guess.
You shouldn't watch this if you want a "profound experience" or whatever. It’s a 1933 short about a girl and a shoe.
But if you want to see what people thought was funny before the world went to hell, it’s a neat little time capsule. It’s got more personality in its pinky finger than some of the big CGI movies we get now.
It’s a bit like His Royal Slyness where the energy is just high for the sake of being high. I kind of respect that.
The animation isn't perfect, and the sound is scratchy. But that’s the point, isn't it?
I spilled some water on my desk while watching the ballroom scene. The way the characters were spinning made me feel a bit dizzy too.
Anyway, it’s short. Just watch it. Or don't. It won't change your life, but it might make you blink a lot. 🐭👠
IMDb —
1918
Community
Log in to comment.
