Hubbry Logo
CinderfellaCinderfellaMain
Open search
Cinderfella
Community hub
Cinderfella
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Cinderfella
Cinderfella
Cinderfella
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Cinderfella
Theatrical release poster by Norman Rockwell
Directed byFrank Tashlin
Written byFrank Tashlin
Produced byJerry Lewis
StarringJerry Lewis
Ed Wynn
Judith Anderson
Anna Maria Alberghetti
CinematographyHaskell B. Boggs
Edited byArthur P. Schmidt
Music byWalter Scharf
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • November 22, 1960 (1960-11-22)
[1]
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$2.9 million (US)[2]
936,799 admissions (France)[3]
Jerry Lewis and Anna Maria Alberghetti.

Cinderfella is a 1960 American semi-musical comedy film adaptation of the classic Cinderella story, with most characters changed in gender from female to male and starring Jerry Lewis as Fella. It was released on November 22, 1960, by Paramount Pictures.

Plot

[edit]

When Fella's father dies, he continues to live with his wicked stepmother Emily and her two sons, Maximilian and Rupert. His stepfamily takes over the family mansion, while Fella is reduced to living in an unfinished room at the end of a long hallway. He has essentially become their butler, catering to their every whim.

Fella dreams nightly that his father is trying to relay a message to him about where he has hidden his fortune, but he always awakens before he learns the hiding place. His stepfamily knows of this secret fortune and some go to great lengths to discover its whereabouts, while others pretend to befriend him in order to wrangle Fella's fortune away once it is found.

Princess Charming of the Grand Duchy of Morovia is in town, so the stepmother decides to throw her a lavish ball in order to get her to marry Rupert. Fella is not allowed to go to the ball, but his fairy godfather says he will not remain a "people" much longer, but will blossom into a "person."

Before the ball, Fella is turned into a handsome prince. Count Basie's orchestra is playing at the ball when Fella makes his grand entrance. Fella quickly gains the attention of the princess and they dance. The night is cut short when midnight strikes and Fella flees, losing his shoe along the way.

Back home, one of Fella's stepbrothers realizes that Fella is the supposed "prince." They wind up in a struggle under a tree and discover that the fortune is hidden there. Fella, who had always known where the money was, gives it to his stepfamily, saying that he never needed money to be happy; he only wanted a family. Shamed, his stepmother orders her sons to return the money to Fella.

The princess arrives with Fella's lost shoe, but Fella explains that they could never be together because she is a "person" and he is a "people." She tells him that, underneath the fancy clothes, she is a "people" too.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Cinderfella was filmed from October 19 through December 15, 1959.

While rehearsing for the scene in which he makes his entrance to the ball, Lewis realized that the movement of his pants was distracting. On the day of filming, he asked the wardrobe staff to attach elastic bands (stirrups) to the hems of his pant legs that would go under his shoes, keeping the pants straight. In the DVD commentary to the film, Lewis called this "an old dancer's trick." The scene was shot with one take of Lewis descending the stairs and another as he ascended. After running up the stairs in less than nine seconds and collapsing at the top, Lewis was taken to the hospital and spent four days in an oxygen tent, having suffered his second cardiac event. This delayed filming for two weeks.

The exterior shots of the mansion are those of Chartwell Mansion in Bel Air, which would later be used in The Beverly Hillbillies.

The film's budget has been estimated at $3,000,000, which was very high for a Lewis film.[4]

Box-office returns were $4,700,000.

Studio cast recording

[edit]

A studio cast album for the film, featuring Lewis with a different supporting cast, was released by DOT Records (DLP 38001). Most of the songs included on the album were not in the final release of the film. The album featured a condensed version of the story as well.

Track listing
  1. Overture (Arranged and Conducted by Walter Scharf)
  2. Let Me Be a People (Jerry Lewis)
  3. Ticka-Dee (Jerry Lewis)
  4. I'm Part of a Family (Jerry Lewis)
  5. Turn It On (Jerry Lewis & Choir)
  6. We're Going to the Ball (Salli Terri, Bill Lee & Max Smith)
  7. Somebody (Jerry Lewis)
  8. The Princess Waltz (Jerry Lewis, Loulie Jean Norman & Choir)
  9. Turn It On (Jerry Lewis, Del Moore & Choir)

Release

[edit]

Paramount wanted to release Cinderfella during the summer, but Lewis considered it a holiday film and wanted to hold it back for a Christmas release. To delay the release, Paramount demanded another film in its place for the summer. Lewis agreed and wrote, produced and directed The Bellboy in four weeks in February 1960 while he was performing at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. The Bellboy was released on July 20, 1960.

Cinderfella opened at the Woods Theatre in Chicago on November 22, 1960,[1] grossing $41,000 in its first week.[5] It opened in Los Angeles on December 14 and New York on December 16[1] before opening nationally on December 18,[6] becoming the top-grossing film for the week.[7]

In 1967, Cinderfella was rereleased on a double bill with another Lewis film, The Errand Boy.

Home media

[edit]

The film was released on DVD on October 12, 2004,[8] and March 15, 2021.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Cinderfella

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Cinderfella is a American musical fantasy comedy film directed by and starring in the titular role of Fella, a downtrodden young man in a gender-swapped fractured fairy tale retelling of the classic Cinderella. In the story, Fella lives with his cruel Emily (played by ) and her two greedy stepbrothers after the death of his father, performing menial chores while they exploit his labor and inheritance. A magical fairy godfather () intervenes, granting Fella a glamorous transformation—including and a horse-drawn carriage—to attend a grand ball hosted by the king in search of a suitable match for his daughter, Charming (Anna Maria ). The film blends humor, musical numbers, and Lewis's signature , culminating in Fella revealing his true identity and claiming his happy ending. Produced by and Ernest D. Glucksman for , Cinderfella features a by Tashlin that incorporates original songs with music by and lyrics by Jack Brooks, including "Let Me Be a People" and "The Princess Waltz." Released on December 22, 1960, it received mixed reviews for its inventive premise and Lewis's performance but was noted for its visual effects and elaborate sets, grossing approximately $4.7 million at the . The movie stands as one of Lewis's notable vehicles from the early , showcasing his transition from partnership with to solo stardom in family-oriented comedies.

Plot

Fella is a good-natured but awkward young man living in a luxurious with his loving father. After his father's sudden death, his father's second wife, the cruel and manipulative , and her two lazy, greedy sons Rupert and take over the estate. They force Fella to serve as their and , relegating him to a small room in the attic while they enjoy the opulence. Unbeknownst to the , Fella's father hid the bulk of the family fortune somewhere on the grounds before his death, and Fella receives vague hints about its location through dreams in which his father's appears. The King of the Grand Duchy of arrives seeking a suitable husband for his daughter, Charming, and Emily schemes to host a lavish at the mansion so that one of her sons can court the princess. Fella is explicitly forbidden from attending the event. As Fella laments his situation, a comical godfather named Shad suddenly appears and, with magic, transforms Fella's shabby clothes into an elegant tuxedo, provides him with a pair of , and conjures a grand horse-drawn carriage from household items. Shad warns Fella that the spell will break at midnight. At the ball, the transformed Fella arrives and immediately catches Princess Charming's eye. They share a romantic duet and dance, falling in love. As midnight strikes, Fella flees the mansion, losing one of his on the way out. The princess, smitten, vows to marry only the man whose foot fits the slipper and sets out to find him. Emily presents the slipper to her sons, but it does not fit either of them. When Fella tries it on, it fits perfectly, exposing his identity as the mystery prince. In the , the digs up the hidden fortune from beneath a in the , as indicated by Fella's dreams. Overcome with remorse for their mistreatment, and her sons return the mansion and fortune to Fella. The princess confesses that she, too, feels like an outsider in her royal life, and the two declare their love. Fella and Princess Charming marry, and the film ends with the reconciled and Fella finding his place.

Cast

ActorRole
Fella
Fairy Godfather
Emily
Princess Charming
Maximilian
Robert HuttonRupert
King
Count BasieHimself

Production

Development

Frank Tashlin penned the original screenplay for Cinderfella as a gender-reversed parody of the classic Cinderella fairy tale, crafting the story specifically for Jerry Lewis in the titular role of Fella, a downtrodden young man aided by a fairy godfather. This concept flipped traditional elements, with Lewis's character enduring mistreatment from a wicked stepmother and stepsons while pursuing romance with a princess, allowing Tashlin to blend slapstick comedy with musical sequences tailored to Lewis's physical and vocal talents. Jerry Lewis took on producing duties, alongside Ernest D. Glucksman, through his newly established Jerry Lewis Productions, marking an early step in his transition to independent filmmaking after parting ways with in 1956. greenlit the project with a substantial budget of $3 million, reflecting the studio's confidence in Lewis's star power and the film's potential as a holiday release. Casting emphasized complementary performers to balance Lewis's antics: was selected for the whimsical fairy godfather role to provide veteran , brought dramatic intensity as the villainous stepmother Emily, and was chosen as Princess Charming to highlight the film's musical aspects through her operatic background. These choices, aligned with Tashlin's vision from his prior collaborations with Lewis, aimed to create a dynamic ensemble that amplified the parody's satirical edge.

Filming

Principal photography for Cinderfella took place from October 19 to December 15, 1959, primarily at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, with additional exterior shots filmed on location. The film's key exterior location was the at 750 Bel Air Road in Bel-Air, , which served as the opulent family home of the stepmother and her sons. was handled by Haskell Boggs, who captured the production , contributing to its vibrant and whimsical aesthetic through bright, saturated visuals that evoked a storybook atmosphere. During the filming of the climactic finale, , who starred as Fella and also served as producer, suffered his first heart attack in early 1960 after performing an intense stair-running sequence in one take—rushing up 63 steps in just seven seconds—which required immediate hospitalization and necessitated adjustments during to complete the film. Editing was overseen by Arthur P. Schmidt, who assembled the footage into a final runtime of 91 minutes. Special effects for the film's magical transformations, such as Fella's wardrobe change facilitated by the fairy godfather, were crafted by John P. Fulton using practical techniques typical of the era, including optical and in-camera tricks to achieve the enchanted illusions without reliance on emerging electronic methods.

Music

Songs

The musical score for Cinderfella was composed by , who also conducted the orchestra, while the original songs featured music by and lyrics by Jack Brooks. The film adopts a semi-musical format, incorporating a limited number of songs to underscore key emotional and narrative moments, though not all planned musical sequences were retained in the final edit; several production numbers staged by choreographer were shortened or excised to maintain pacing. The songs primarily advance the plot by highlighting Fella's isolation, longing for connection, and romantic awakening, while integrating Jerry Lewis's signature —particularly in non-vocal sequences where he mimes or dances rather than sings. Tashlin's direction emphasizes visual humor in these moments, blending with the musical elements. Key examples include Fella's mime routine to an invisible during a kitchen , which punctuates his daily drudgery without . The featured songs and their contexts are as follows:
  • Let Me Be a People (Plain Old Me): Performed as a duet by (as Fella) and (as the Fairy Godfather). This opening number occurs shortly after the godfather's arrival, where Fella laments his lowly status and dreams of belonging, setting up the transformation.
  • The Other Fella (A ): Sung solo by (as Fella). Delivered as an introspective monologue in Fella's bedroom, it reflects his self-doubt and of others' lives amid his stepfamily's , deepening the character's .
  • Somebody: Performed solo by (as Fella). This tender plays during a moment of quiet yearning as Fella contemplates while preparing for the , bridging his comedic with romantic .
  • The Princess Waltz (): An instrumental piece led by the under Scharf's conduction, with Lewis providing a spoken overlay. It accompanies Fella's grand entrance at the royal , evoking enchantment as he descends the staircase in one continuous take.
  • Cute: Performed by Count Basie and his . This uptempo number energizes the sequence, where Lewis mimes percussion and dances exuberantly with the princess (), showcasing his athletic physicality without vocals and drawing the crowd's attention to Fella's charm.
A planned ensemble number, "I'm Going to the Ball," was among those cut during to streamline the runtime. Overall, the songs balance Lewis's vocal efforts with orchestral and interludes, prioritizing humor and romance over elaborate production values.

Cast recording

The cast recording for Cinderfella was released by in 1960, shortly following the film's premiere, under the title Jerry Lewis Sings and Tells the Story of Cinderfella (stereo catalog DLP 38001; mono catalog DLP 8001). The album serves as a standalone studio production, featuring in the dual role of narrator and lead vocalist, supported by performers such as , Salli Terri, Bill Lee, , Max Smith, and , with choral ensembles. provided the orchestral arrangements and conduction, drawing from the film's musical score by and lyrics by Jack Brooks. The recording condenses the movie's narrative into a dialogue-driven retelling interspersed with , emphasizing Lewis's comedic delivery and vocal performances. Key tracks include "" (orchestral), "Let Me Be a People" (sung by ), "Ticka-Dee" (), "I'm Part of a Family" (), "Turn It On" ( with choir; with and choir), "We're Going to the Ball" (Salli Terri, Bill Lee, and Max Smith), "Somebody" (), and "The Princess " (, , and choir). Certain selections, such as extended renditions of "Turn It On" and "The Princess ," incorporate elements not featured in the film's integrated . Issued in LP format with a gatefold sleeve, the appeared in both black and multi-colored vinyl pressings, running approximately 30 minutes in total. Special editions included promotional tie-ins like the "Cinderfella Race to the Castle" , complete with spinner, markers, booklet, tiara pieces, and a plastic wand, positioning it as family-oriented merchandise for fans and children.

Release

Theatrical release

The world premiere of Cinderfella took place on November 22, 1960, at the Woods Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, as a benefit event for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, an organization closely associated with star Jerry Lewis. The premiere grossed $41,000 in its first week. Paramount Pictures handled distribution for the film's wide release in the United States on December 18, 1960, following earlier openings in select markets such as Los Angeles on December 14 and New York City on December 16. The film carried the Motion Picture Production Code seal, approving it for general audiences, and had a runtime of 91 minutes. Internationally, Cinderfella rolled out in beginning in 1961, with releases in countries including on September 1, on August 31, and on September 29, where it achieved 936,799 admissions. The film was re-released theatrically in 1967 as a double bill with another Jerry Lewis film, The Errand Boy, capitalizing on Lewis's established popularity. Marketing efforts positioned Cinderfella as a family-oriented picture with a whimsical gender-reversed twist on the classic , featuring promotional posters illustrated by renowned artist that highlighted Lewis's comedic persona and the story's magical elements.

Box office

Cinderfella was produced on a of $3 million. The film earned $2.9 million in U.S. and Canadian theatrical rentals. Released on December 18, 1960, the picture capitalized on holiday timing to attract family audiences, though it encountered competition from other comedies of the era. Overall, Cinderfella represented a moderate success for a comedy, with an estimated worldwide gross of approximately $8 million, proving profitable but falling short of the box office heights achieved by his earlier hit The Bellboy (1960). The film's financial outcome bolstered Lewis's series of solid early 1960s performers prior to his commercial downturn later in the decade.

Reception

Contemporary reviews

Upon its release in late , Cinderfella received a largely negative review from of , who described it as "one of the dullest comedies of the season—make that the year," criticizing the "stale" gags, "pure molasses" pacing, and Jerry Lewis's "feeble prancing," which he claimed would bore even children. Crowther noted that the film's gender-swapped take on the offered little novelty beyond its premise, with supporting players like and largely wasted in underdeveloped roles. Variety's review was more mixed, acknowledging the film's visual gloss and the charm of as the fairy godfather, while praising Anna Maria Alberghetti's "dazzling" performance as the princess and Walter Scharf's score for brightening the proceedings, particularly in the Count Basie-led ballroom sequence. However, the trade publication faulted the one-joke premise for wearing thin, with uneven humor, overextended funny moments, and a deliberately slow pace exacerbated by the musical interludes. Overall press response to Cinderfella was divided, with some outlets lauding Lewis's and the fairy-tale's family-friendly charm as a refreshing twist on the classic story, while others dismissed it as formulaic and reliant on Lewis's familiar antics without innovation. Audience previews generated positive word-of-mouth among Lewis's dedicated fans, who appreciated its whimsical, accessible appeal for all ages despite the critical ambivalence. With no formal aggregate score available for the era, the 's reception indicated a middling response, polarized between detractors and supporters of Lewis's style.

Modern assessments

In the 21st century, Cinderfella has garnered a modest but dedicated following, evidenced by its IMDb user rating of 5.9 out of 10 based on nearly 4,000 votes, which underscores its cult appeal among fans of Jerry Lewis's and whimsical storytelling. Audience reviews often highlight the film's endearing mix of and , positioning it as a niche favorite for those who appreciate Lewis's unique brand of humor. Critic aggregators reflect a similarly tempered reevaluation. On , the film holds a 50% approval rating from six reviews, with positive assessments praising the creative gender reversal of the narrative and Lewis's sincere portrayal of vulnerability amid farce. Later critiques have expanded on these elements; for instance, a 2002 review from Moria describes Cinderfella as strictly average within Lewis's oeuvre—an due to his exaggerated mannerisms—but acknowledges amusing sequences that capture his signature style. More recently, a 2020 analysis by Screen Goblin lauds the film's touching romance between Fella and the princess, interpreting it as an effective morality tale where decency prevails over greed and status. Scholarly discussions place Cinderfella within broader examinations of Hollywood fairy-tale adaptations, noting its innovative inversion of roles as a commentary on and in mid-century American cinema. Film studies also reference the production as a pivotal moment in Lewis's career, marking his debut as an independent producer through Jerry Lewis Pictures Corp., which signaled his growing control over creative and directorial aspects of his projects. Such analyses, including those in works on fairy-tale cinema, explore how the film blends Perrault's classic with Lewis's comedic deformation, contributing to discourses on and auteurism. Fan-oriented retrospectives further affirm its enduring charm. A 2016 spotlight on A Vintage Nerd celebrates Cinderfella as refreshing and fun, emphasizing the silliness of its premise and Lewis's heartfelt performance as a highlight for classic comedy enthusiasts.

Home media

Cinderfella was first released on DVD by on October 12, 2004. It was later included in the 10-disc Jerry Lewis Collection DVD set, released on June 12, 2018, alongside nine other Lewis films. A remastered edition under the Paramount Presents line was issued on DVD on March 30, 2021. As of November 2025, no Blu-ray edition has been released. The film is available for digital purchase and download on platforms including and .

Legacy

Cinderfella is recognized as an early Hollywood example of reversal in fractured fairy tale adaptations, transforming the traditional female protagonist into a male character, Fella, to critique the narrative's impact on societal expectations for both genders. Scholarly analysis highlights how the film uses to address the "wrongs" of the original story, promoting a masculist perspective on romance and stereotypes while maintaining the classic "happily ever after" resolution. The movie solidified Jerry Lewis's transition to solo stardom, showcasing his and musical talents in a family-oriented format that influenced subsequent comedic reinterpretations of classic tales. The title Cinderfella has been used in subsequent fractured fairy tale adaptations and parodies, including children's literature such as a 2018 picture book by Malachy Doyle. Despite mixed contemporary reviews, it has developed a , with modern audiences praising its whimsical charm and timeless humor. As of 2021, the film remains available on DVD, reflecting sustained interest among fans of 1960s comedy and Lewis's work.

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053716/
  2. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/70941/cinderfella
  3. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dvd-cinderfella-frank-tashlin/3861723
  4. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cinderfella
  5. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053716/fullcredits
  6. https://variety.com/1959/film/reviews/cinderfella-1200419724/
  7. https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2003/great-directors/tashlin/
  8. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053716/locations/
  9. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053716/trivia/
  10. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053716/fullcredits/
  11. https://www.nytimes.com/1960/12/17/archives/cinderfella-opens.html
  12. https://letterboxd.com/film/cinderfella/
  13. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/18973-cinderfella/cast?language=en-US
  14. https://www.moriareviews.com/fantasy/cinderfella-1960.htm
  15. https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/53113
  16. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053716/soundtrack/
  17. https://www.derekwinnert.com/cinderfella-1960-jerry-lewis-ed-wynn-judith-anderson-henry-silva-robert-hutton-classic-movie-review-5951/
  18. https://goldenthroats.fandom.com/wiki/Cinderfella
  19. https://goldenthroats.fandom.com/wiki/Jerry_Lewis
  20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuVVvEig2ic
  21. https://castalbums.org/recordings/CinderFella-1960-Jerry-Lewis-Sings-and-Tells-The-Story-Of/11925
  22. https://www.soundtrackcollector.com/title/36659/Cinderfella
  23. https://www.discogs.com/release/3873265-Jerry-Lewis-Cinderfella
  24. https://hometownstohollywood.com/film-reflections/films-of-the-1960s/cinderfella-1960/
  25. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053716/releaseinfo/
  26. https://boxofficestar2.eklablog.com/jerry-lewis-box-office-a92285619
  27. https://posteritati.com/poster/6008/cinderfella-original-r1967-us-one-sheet-movie-poster
  28. https://intelligentcollector.com/rockwells-cinderfella/
  29. https://archive.org/details/variety221-1961-01
  30. https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/film-and-television-biographies/jerry-lewis
  31. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053716/reviews/
  32. https://screengoblin.com/2020/06/15/cinderfella/
  33. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/499147/
  34. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt4cgn37.9
  35. http://www.avintagenerd.net/2016/05/classic-cinema-spotlight-cinderfella.html
  36. https://www.ebay.com/itm/285694101832
  37. https://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Jerry-Lewis-10-Films-DVD/158682/
  38. https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=325920
  39. https://www.paramountmovies.com/movies/cinderfella
  40. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341217717_Little_Glass_Slippers_on_the_American_Silver_Screen_An_Inquiry_into_Hollywood_Adaptations_of_Charles_Perrault%27s_Cinderella
  41. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41058550-cinderfella
  42. https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/movies/22darg.html
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.