As one of the most iconic and well-known fairy tales in history,Cinderellais a story that has been adapted so many times over, which means picking the best can be a tall task. The most famous take is likely theWalt Disney Animation Studios versionfrom 1950, which a lot of people grew up on.
2015 sawCinderellaremade into a live-action Disney projectstarring Lily James, which was met with solid acclaim from fans and critics. However, other live-action adaptations, like the 2021 Prime Video one starring Camila Cabello,received negative reviews.
There are also modern adaptations, like the popularA Cinderella Storyseries, with the most notable being the first from 2004, which teens from the era still love decades later. That said, there are a handful of reasons why the made-for-television version from Rodgers and Hammerstein is actually the bestCinderellamovie ever made.
1997’s Cinderella Is The Best Take On The Classic Story
This Version Has It All
The bestCinderellamovie is the 1997 one that initially aired on the Disney Channel. Right from the start, this stood out as a fresh take on the fairy tale, given the diverse cast. People grew up with the animated Cinderella where all the characters are white but this version was led by a Black actress, Brandy.
Brandy was a star of the era thanks to a popular R&B career and her hit showMoesha, so she was a great choice for the film. It also featured a supporting cast of Black and Asian actors, providing the kind of representation that wasn’t all that common in the era.
The film pays homage to the fairy tale, remaining mostly faithful for anyone who appreciates that kind of thing.
Rodgers and Hammerstein’sCinderella’ssuccess goes far beyond the talented cast, though. The film pays homage to the fairy tale, remaining mostly faithful for anyone who appreciates that kind of thing. It also features talented singers, big musical numbers, remarkable costumes and production, and more.
The Singers In Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella Are Perfect
Casting Brandy & Whitney Houston Was Perfect
MostCinderellaadaptations are musicals, meaning that the person playing the titular character has to be able to sing. That’s why casting Brandy was a stroke of genius, because the whole world knew she could sing with the best of them. Whenever she had to step up and sing, she delivered in spades.
The biggest singer included in the cast was certainly Whitney Houston. The talented performer was known for her impressive pipes, belting out ballads that remain unmatched to this day. Her singing of the “Star Spangled Banner” is still considered the best version of the song all these years later.
When Houston and Brandy partner up for “Impossible,” it becomes one of the greatest scenes in anyCinderellaever crafted.
Houston was alsothe incredible voice behind “I Will Always Love You” fromThe Bodyguard, which was a massive hit a few years earlier. When Houston and Brandy partner up for “Impossible,” it becomes one of the greatest scenes in anyCinderellaever crafted. The two are special together and it’s the kind of scene fans keep going back to.
Anotherstandout musical performer who joined the cast was Bernadette Peters, a legend on the stage. She plays the Wicked Stepmother and, while she brings the level of evil needed for the character, she’s also incredible whenever she has to sing, proving that it was another great bit of casting.
This Cinderella’s Musical Numbers Are Memorable
They Are A Blast From Start To Finish
With musical movies, it’s not just about the ballads that great singers can deliver.There’s an expectation to produce some major musical numbers that feature large groups of people and some choreography. This is in all great musicals fromGreasetoLa La LandtoWicked, and more. 1997’sCinderelladid just that.
Even the numbers that don’t feature a ton of dancing are memorable. For example, “The Sweetest Sounds” is a powerful duet on its own but it also features beautiful staging and the kind of production you don’t usually get in a made-for-TV project. Meanwhile, “The Prince is Giving a Ball” is a big number with plenty of moving parts.
“Ten Minutes Ago” puts Cinderella and Prince Christopher together for something truly epic, while “Impossible - It’s Possible” has Brandy and Whitney Houston stealing the showas they go back and forth. Even “Stepsisters' Lament” stands out as it blends the music with comedy in a really cool way.
The Supporting Cast Of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella Is Fantastic
There Are Stars Up And Down The Cast
As mentioned, casting phenomenal singers like Brandy, Whitney Houston, and Bernadette Peters ensured that this take onCinderellawas going to have some great songs. Their performances outside of the musical numbers were also great but they were far from alone in that department.
This cast is loaded, especially when compared to other made-for-TV films that don’t have big budgets (thoughCinderella’s $12 million budget was large for this kind of project). For starters,EGOT winner Whoopi Goldberg plays Queen Constantina while the incredible Victor Garber plays King Maximillian.
Jason Alexander as Lionel was a smart choice, while Pablo Montalban has brilliant chemistry with Brandy as Prince Christopher. In fact, Montalban actually reprised the role for the stage version several years later. When you combine the cast, the musical numbers, and the cultural impact, 1997’sCinderellastands out as the best take on the story.
