During the 50s when one needed a waif one either called for Audrey Hepburn or Leslie Caron for a film. It was Caron's good fortune to be cast as the ultimate waif in history. In The Glass Slipper Caron gets to play Cinderella with a slightly old Michael Wilding as her Prince.
In this version it is mentioned that the prince has been away at college for so many years few in the realm would recognize him. Wilding must have been taking post doctoral classes for years because he was 44 when he made The Glass Slipper and looks it. A prince closer to Caron's age should have been cast. But like his fellow Britisher David Niven, Michael Wilding has charm in abundance and carries the part off somewhat.
In this version the two meet earlier by a stream and Wilding says he's the cook in the palace of Duke Barry Jones where a great ball is to be held and he invites her. Caron's own natural beauty shines through all the dirt she's covered with doing all the work in her household while the stepmother and stepsisters frolic and play.
A slightly dotty Estelle Winwood is the fairy godmother and she's a treat. All in all the Cinderella story is a timeless tale and The Glass Slipper is in that tradition. Still great for family audiences.
In this version it is mentioned that the prince has been away at college for so many years few in the realm would recognize him. Wilding must have been taking post doctoral classes for years because he was 44 when he made The Glass Slipper and looks it. A prince closer to Caron's age should have been cast. But like his fellow Britisher David Niven, Michael Wilding has charm in abundance and carries the part off somewhat.
In this version the two meet earlier by a stream and Wilding says he's the cook in the palace of Duke Barry Jones where a great ball is to be held and he invites her. Caron's own natural beauty shines through all the dirt she's covered with doing all the work in her household while the stepmother and stepsisters frolic and play.
A slightly dotty Estelle Winwood is the fairy godmother and she's a treat. All in all the Cinderella story is a timeless tale and The Glass Slipper is in that tradition. Still great for family audiences.