Cinderella at 75: The Princess and Glass Slippers That Saved Disney

In 1947, The Walt Disney Company faced a crippling $4 million debt, the aftermath of the financial setbacks suffered by *Pinocchio*, *Fantasia*, and *Bambi*. World War II and other factors had severely impacted the studio's financial health, threatening to end its animation legacy prematurely. However, a beloved princess and her iconic glass slipper would become the unlikely saviors.

As *Cinderella* celebrates its 75th anniversary of its wide release on March 4th, we spoke with Disney employees whose inspiration continues to be ignited by this timeless rags-to-riches tale. Its narrative surprisingly mirrors Walt Disney's own journey, offering not only hope to the company, but also to a world yearning for belief and rebuilding itself.

Disney's fairy godmother moment arrived in 1937 with *Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs*. Its phenomenal success—the highest-grossing film until *Gone with the Wind*—enabled the construction of the Burbank studio and charted a course for future feature-length animation.

Following *Snow White*, 1940's *Pinocchio*, with a budget exceeding *Snow White*'s by a million dollars, lost approximately $1 million despite critical acclaim and Academy Awards. *Fantasia* and *Bambi* further exacerbated the debt. This underperformance stemmed largely from World War II, beginning with Germany's invasion of Poland in September 1939.

“Disney's European markets dried up during the war, impacting films like *Pinocchio* and *Bambi*, which underperformed,” explained Eric Goldberg, co-director of *Pocahontas* and lead animator on Aladdin's Genie. “The studio was then involved in creating training and propaganda films for the Army and Navy. Throughout the 1940s, they produced 'Package Films' such as *Make Mine Music*, *Fun and Fancy Free*, and *Melody Time*. These were excellent but lacked a cohesive narrative structure.”

Package Films were compilations of short cartoons assembled into feature-length films. Disney created six between *Bambi* (1942) and *Cinderella* (1950), including two—*Saludos Amigos* and *The Three Caballeros*—part of the U.S.' Good Neighbor Policy. While profitable, and *Fun and Fancy Free* reducing debt from $4.2 million to $3 million in 1947, these films prevented the studio from producing full-length animated features.

“I wanted to return to feature films,” Walt Disney stated in 1956 (via *The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney* by Michael Barrier). “It required investment and time. A good cartoon feature demands significant time and money. My brother [Roy O. Disney] and I had a major disagreement… We decided to either move forward, resume business, or liquidate.”

Faced with the prospect of selling his shares and leaving the company, Walt and his brother chose a riskier path, betting everything on the studio's first major animated feature since *Bambi*. Failure could have meant the end of Disney's animation studio.

“At that time, *Alice in Wonderland*, *Peter Pan*, and *Cinderella* were in development; *Cinderella* was chosen due to its similarities to *Snow White*. Walt believed it could achieve more than mere entertainment.

“Walt effectively reflected the times, recognizing America's post-war need for hope and joy,” said Tori Cranner, Art Collections Manager at the Walt Disney Animation Research Library. “While *Pinocchio* is magnificent, it lacks the joy of *Cinderella*. The world needed to believe in beautiful things emerging from adversity. *Cinderella* was the perfect choice.”

Cinderella and Disney’s Rags to Riches Tale

Walt's connection with *Cinderella* predates the late 1940s. He created a *Cinderella* short in 1922 at Laugh-O-Gram Studios, founded two years before Disney. The short, and the feature film, adapted Charles Perrault's 1697 version, possibly originating between 7 BC and AD 23. It was a classic tale of good versus evil, true love, and dreams realized, deeply impacting Walt.

Although the seven-minute animation and other Laugh-O-Gram productions were unsuccessful, leading to bankruptcy, they highlighted *Cinderella*'s resonance with Walt—a rags-to-riches story about dreams and extra effort.

“*Snow White* was a kind girl who believed in wishing and waiting for her Prince,” Walt Disney said (from *Disney’s Cinderella: The Making of a Masterpiece* DVD). “*Cinderella* was more proactive. She believed in dreams but acted on them. When Prince Charming didn't appear, she went to the palace to find him.”

Cinderella's strength and unwavering will, despite mistreatment, resonated with Walt's own journey of humble beginnings, failures, challenges, and an unstoppable dream and work ethic. This story persisted, leading to a 1933 *Silly Symphony* short attempt, evolving into a feature film by 1938. The war and other factors delayed its release until 1950.

Several factors contributed to *Cinderella*'s success, including Disney's ability to enhance the story's global appeal.

“Disney excelled at adapting age-old fairytales, infusing his taste, entertainment sense, heart, and passion. This made audiences care more deeply about the characters and story,” Goldberg noted. “Fairytales were often grim cautionary tales with gruesome villain deaths. Disney made them universally enjoyable, modernizing them for lasting appeal.”

Disney's additions, such as Cinderella's animal friends (Jaq, Gus, the mice, and birds) provided comic relief and allowed Cinderella to express her true feelings. The Fairy Godmother, reimagined as a bumbling grandmotherly figure by animator Milt Kahl, was more relatable than a regal, mystical being.

The transformation scene, often cited as Walt's favorite, showcases the artistry of Disney Legends Marc Davis and George Rowley. The hand-drawn and hand-painted sparkles are remarkable.

“Each sparkle was hand-drawn and painted on every frame,” Cranner exclaimed. “A subtle moment occurs mid-transformation where the stardust and magic pause before the dress changes. That brief hold of breath before release makes the scene magical.”

The broken glass slipper, a Disney addition, emphasizes Cinderella's agency. Goldberg noted, “Cinderella isn't a bland protagonist; she possesses personality and strength. Her solution to the broken slipper highlights her strength and control.”

Cinderella's self-advocacy is inspiring. These choices created a captivating film, giving Disney the needed victory. Premiering in Boston on February 15, 1950, and widely released on March 4th, it was an instant success, earning $7 million on a $2.2 million budget, becoming the sixth-highest-grossing film of 1950 and receiving three Academy Award nominations.

“Critics praised *Cinderella*, declaring Walt Disney back on track,” Goldberg said. “The studio regained its momentum. They appreciated the Package Films, but this was what the studio was built for. *Cinderella* paved the way for *Peter Pan*, *Lady and the Tramp*, *Sleeping Beauty*, *101 Dalmatians*, *Jungle Book*, and many more.”

75 Years Later, Cinderella’s Magic Lives On

Cinderella's influence continues. Her castle dominates Main Street, U.S.A., and her tale inspires other Disney castles. Her impact is evident in modern films, including a pivotal scene in *Frozen*.

“When animating Elsa's dress transformation in *Frozen*, Jennifer Lee wanted a connection to *Cinderella*, ” said Becky Bresee, lead animator on *Frozen 2* and *Wish*. “Cinderella's legacy is seen in the sparkles and effects. Despite character differences, we honor the impact of *Cinderella* and earlier films.”

While many deserve recognition for their contributions to *Cinderella*, including the Nine Old Men and Mary Blair, Goldberg's summary encapsulates why *Cinderella* was the right film at the right time:

“*Cinderella*'s message is hope,” Goldberg concluded. “It shows that perseverance and strength lead to positive outcomes. Hope can be realized, and dreams can come true, regardless of the era.”