MovieChat Forums > Cinderella (1965) Discussion > 9 minutes of nothing

9 minutes of nothing

posted 17 years ago by happy_gurl_2003
26 replies | jump to latest

Does anyone remember on the VHS at the very, very beginning there was like 9 minutes where there was no movie, just the fake scenery in the movie? I remember watching the movie with my family and waiting and waiting and waiting for the movie to start. We have a really old copy of the movie, it is light purple and has a silhouette of Cinderella's head on the cover. I wonder if the newer versions of the movie have the 9 minute interlude on them or if this is just something that comes with the old copy.

[–] petiteantoinette 17 years ago

i have the dvd. the beginning has the overture playing, with a still background of cinderella's castle.

[–] BoomerMovieFan 17 years ago

That's the overture.

Back in the day, a lot of the big-production movies in the theatres had overtures. It was more or less a signal that it was time to find your reserved seat and get in it....the movie was about to start. I imagine most of R & H's movies had overtures.

Cinderella was the only TV production that I can remember having one.

Kinda classy.

[–] wisethrush 16 years ago

This program did not run with an Overture when it was originally broadcast. The Overture was taken from the cast album and added for home video release.

[–] LostRomanovPrincess 16 years ago

Very amazing.

[–] goodsmartman 12 years ago

That is NOT the reason for an overture,lol.

[–] Sparrowhawk 11 years ago

Um, it is in the movies.

[–] PenguinCat 9 years ago

That is NOT the reason for an overture,lol.

It is in live theatre. They also played music during intermission.

[–] robert_a_ruiz 17 years ago

They'd never get away with this todya -- TV Networks would be in fear of people changing channels. Even 2001: A Space Odyssey has an overture, right in the middle of the film. Either close your eyes and listen and get in the spirit of it or fast forward. Nice to have the option. I can't imagine as a four year old when this premiered that the overture at the beginning wouldn't have left me tuning out.

[–] Sparrowhawk 10 years ago

That's not an overture, that's an intermission. It even SAYS "intermission" on the screen. Overtures are by definition played at the beginning of a piece, not in the middle.

And it wasn't played on television, it was added for the video release.

[–] champers-2 16 years ago

Gone with the wind also had a long overture, at the beginning and half way through the film.

[–] alxnrth 16 years ago

The Overtures in the middle are known as the Entr'acte.

Dale

[–] moonspinner55 15 years ago

Touché!

Jon

[–] arisdisc 14 years ago

You are semi-correct, but to call something an 'overture' in the 'middle' is completly wrong.

It's an INTERMISSION....folks.
sheesh.

[–] goodsmartman 12 years ago

Thanks for that. Yes, and anyone who can read can figure that out. It's mostly unsophisticated rubes on this thread I guess.

[–] boylel 15 years ago

It struck me as funny that the first comment I read began by asking if anybody remembers the VHS copy. I had just been wondering if anybody else remembers seeing Leslie Ann Warren for the first time in the original broadcast.
That was the only time I've seen it. I should check NetFlix. And maybe take a nice nap.

[–] phillindholm 14 years ago

Yes, I saw her the first time it was broadcast (Feb 22 1965) and every broadcast thereafter.

[–] fghg6756 12 years ago

I don't think I had an actual VHS copy but someone must've taped it off the TV, I watched this so many times as a young child, going to find it again and watch it :D

[–] JustEs 9 years ago

I also saw it for the first time in the original broadcast back in '65 - and fell immediately in love with it, especially the music and Leslie Ann Warren.

Still my favorite verison of Cinderella, especially because it felt like you were watching a play rather than a movie. And typical for Rodger and Hammerstein movies (I have every one on either DVD or VHS), I totally love the music - after watching it, I have "Lovely Nights" running through my head for days.

[–] schmidtkenn11 9 years ago

The song is called "A Lovely Night", not "Lovely Nights." I have the score. :-)

He carries illegal weapons, drives fast cars, and wears clothes obviously designed by a homosexual.

[–] Toasted_Peaches 13 years ago

That's the overture, most of the musicals of the time were filmed that way.

The film really doesn't stand the test of time.

~*~ Melba ~*~

[–] wolfsmistress 12 years ago

Oh, no, you're wrong that it doesn't stand the "test of time." It does.

I hadn't seen the show since it aired in 1965, when I was 9, and believe me, it's still thrilling to watch for this "old girl."

The overture on the YouTube version is only about 5 minutes long, but I recall that most MGM musicals had long overtures prior to the movie actually starting.

What was funny was that there was so much that kept ringing "Flower Drum Song" in my brain throughout the movie while I was watching it again today (for the first time in ... ages, okay?). Then it hit me ... the songs were similar and the decorations for the return of the prince and Cinderella at the end of the show are the same ones they used for the wedding march through Chinatown in "Flower Drum Song."

Who says movie studios throw away props more often than not (at least, back in the '60s)? That was kind of neat (and surprising) to see!
wolfy

[–] tugboatphil 10 years ago

I was 8 when this first aired and it will always remain THE version of Cinderella. This, along with Wizard of Oz, Rudolph and (for us) Mr Magoo's Christmas Story were the big TV events of the year. We lived in a small town, nowhere near a theater so anything by Disney was what was on Sunday nights, on The Wonderful World of Color.

This was one of the shows that we could be threatened with not seeing for weeks prior to it being aired. We had to be cleaned up and in our PJs and go right to bed when it was off. It is a memory that I am glad I have.

My impression of Miss Warren as Cinderella was what I imagined a Princess should look like. Believe it or not I remember being amazed at the "special effects." I'm sure anyone under the age of 50 is howling at that.

I came upon Flower Drum Song just about a decade ago and it has since become one of my favorite R&H musicals. I hadn't noticed the set similarities before, but will look for them next time.

[–] phillindholm 10 years ago

The five minute ''Overture'' at the beginning of the tape and DVD was composed and recorded specifically for the Columbia Records cast album. It was never used on the TV broadcasts.

[–] rorysa 10 years ago

Actually most MGM musicals did NOT have an overture. Overtures accompanied musicals such as "Oklahoma!," "The King and I," "West Side Story," and "South Pacific," as well as many non-musical films.

[–] dgross-3 10 years ago

I watched it when it was broadcast on TV, and the overture _was_ played.

[–] ludances 9 years ago

I love that overture!

Knock if off Napolean make yourself a dang quesadil-la!
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