PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: PALEYFEST REWIND: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA: 45TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION {PUBLIC SHORT VERSION}

Summary

One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented by The Paley Center for Media’s Paley Rewind series. Held at the Paley Center in Los Angeles, this evening celebrates the 45th anniversary of the 1965 television production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.” The program opens with moderator Mike Cidoni (Associated Press) onstage with director Charles S. Dubin and Lesley Ann Warren (Cinderella).

The conversation touches on such topics as: the 1957 version of “Cinderella” starring Julie Andrews, and the decision to remake it; how the 1957 version was “too jazzy” and Dubin preferred a “classical, old-fashioned” interpretation; discovering Warren when she starred in the musical “110 in the Shade”; her first unsuccessful audition and eventual approval from Rodgers; the process of finding Stuart Damon, who starred as the Prince; original Prince Jack Jones and why he was replaced; Rodgers as “loving” but demanding and precise; their extremely long work days; the strong and “intimidating” supporting cast, including Ginger Rogers as the Queen; “wicked stepmother” Jo Van Fleet’s apparent real-life dislike and jealousy of Warren; the challenges of shooting in color and using live animals; the heavy ball gown worn by Warren and the injuries it caused; the immediate positive audience reaction to the film; how Warren was called right away for a screen test with Disney; her struggle with her “Cinderella image” and decision that it was not harmful to her career; and Dubin’s enjoyable experience on “M*A*S*H.”

Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics: Warren’s emotional response to seeing the film in its entirety; the relatively short shooting schedule; why the now out-of-print film stopped airing regularly on television and its highly-priced DVD; the “purity” of the film and its impact on kids of today; the use of few cameras and few takes; Warren’s comfort on the hectic shoot thanks to Dubin’s kindness; the nerve-wracking challenge of singing live, rather than lip-synching to previously recorded music; Warren’s experience in the 1967 musical film “The Happiest Millionaire” and how it compared to “Cinderella”; the “glass” slippers worn in the film; Warren’s role in the 1985 cult classic “Clue”; Celeste Holm’s role as the Fairy Godmother; Warren’s current role on the TV series “In Plain Sight”; and the dynamic shared by her character and her on-screen daughters, played by Mary McCormack and Nichole Hiltz.

Details

• NETWORK: N/A
• DATE: June 15, 2010 7:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:41:10
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: 102143
• GENRE: Seminars
• SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
• SERIES RUN: N/A
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• Mike Cidoni … Moderator
• Lesley Ann Warren … Panelist
• Charles S. Dubin … Panelist
• Julie Andrews
• Stuart Damon
• Oscar Hammerstein
• Nichole Hiltz
• Celeste Holm
• Jack Jones
• Mary McCormack
• Richard Rodgers
• Ginger Rogers
• Jo Van Fleet