The live-action ‘Cinderella’ you probably don't remember

John McNab

Disney’s new live-action version of “Cinderella,” made by famed director/occasional Hogwarts teacher Kenneth Branagh, is doing very well at the box office these days, pulling in large sums of money that probably won’t turn into old fruits and vegetables at midnight.

For those of you who haven’t gotten your full “Cinderella” fix, or are just too busy to trek out to your local multiplex, there’s another live-action version of the classic story that  you can watch right now.

 
 

This version comes from a 1985 episode of “Faerie Tale Theatre,” a children’s TV show produced and hosted by Shelley Duvall, a.k.a. Wendy from “The Shining.” Because who better to host a children’s show than a woman famous for bringing a small boy to an isolated hotel with an axe-wielding psycho?!

Starring in the title role as Cinderella is “Flashdance”’s Jennifer Beals! Sadly, we’re denied a scene where Cinderella frantically dances to “Maniac” in an empty warehouse. Sigh.

 
 

“Cinderella” tells the familiar tale capably; we see Cinderella abused by her stepfamily, get rescued by her Fairy Godmother, and meet Prince Charming at the big fancy ball, only to lose the glass slipper on her way out the door.

And because this version of Cinderella is more ’80s  than a California Raisin wearing shoulder pads while listening to Wham, Prince Charming is played by a pre-”Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” Matthew Broderick.

 
 

Rather than Helena Bonham Carter, the Fairy Godmother is played by “All in the Family”’s Jean Stapleton, who speaks in a weird southern accent for some unknown reason.

Of course, “Faerie Tale Theatre”’s “Cinderella” is pretty cheap looking, especially compared to a big budget studio film like Disney’s new telling. It also tries for more adult jokes (like having a drunk guy hitting on Cinderella at the ball) that don’t really land. But hey, it was made 30 years ago and you can watch if for free on the Internet.

If you enjoy “Cinderella,” there are lots of other episodes of “Faerie Tale Theatre” available on Youtube for you to watch, almost all of which feature random celebrities in ridiculous costumes.

Highlights include “Aladdin” directed by Tim Burton, starring Leonard Nimoy, and “The Three Little Pigs” starring Billy Crystal and featuring Jeff Goldblum as the Big Bad Wolf. Try getting a good night’s sleep after watching that nightmare fuel.

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