History Film / Cinderella2015

* ChekhovsSkill: Cinderella learns the song ''Lavender's Blue'' from her mother. [[spoiler:It allows her to be found by the royal search party just as they are about to leave, realizing another female lives on the residence]].

''Cinderella'' is a 2015 Creator/{{Disney}} film based on [[WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}} the animated classic]]. It is directed by Creator/KennethBranagh, and its cast includes Creator/LilyJames as Ella / "Cinderella", Creator/CateBlanchett as Lady Tremaine / "The Wicked Stepmother", Creator/RichardMadden as Kit / "Prince Charming", Creator/HelenaBonhamCarter as the Fairy Godmother, Sir Creator/DerekJacobi as the King, and Creator/HayleyAtwell as Ella's birth mother.

** Ella's lizard friend is simply named, "Mr. Lizard".

* XanatosSpeedChess: Lady Tremaine is constantly looking for ways to provide for her daughters and ends up playing a mean game of this. First husband dies? Marry a second time to provide for them. Second husband dies? Have her daughters marry the prince. Prince is attracted to her daughter by marriage? Bargain with Ella to marry her to the prince and be made head of the household. Ella refuses? Blackmail the Grand Duke into securing advantageous marriages for her daughters.

* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler:Lady Tremaine has a rather subdued one: When her efforts to keep Ella away from Kit fail, she can only watch in silence as Ella walks away towards her happy ending. Just to rub it in, Ella tells Tremaine that she ''forgives her'' for her actions. The woman is clearly dumbfounded that Ella was able to retain her happiness and kindness despite experiencing great sorrow, something the narration earlier said Lady Tremaine was incapable of.]]

* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: The kingdom's location is never given; however, it is clearly set in the real world, as various globes and maps can be seen around Ella's house. Influence was drawn from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and France is also nearby, or at the very least, Ella is fluent in French.
* WickedStepmother: You'd better believe it. But this version implies that Lady Tremaine may have been willing to play happy families - until she realised that her new husband still preferred his old wife.

* EasilyForgiven: Anastasia and Drisella apologize to Cinderella in the end, who gives them a forgiving smile in reply. Granted, they hadn't been all ''that'' bad to her in this version compared to others. She also forgives Tremaine, who ''was quite cruel, though she doesn't apologize in the least. However, Ella's just that kind, since her mother instructed her to be. Nonetheless, it's made clear she never had more contact with any of them, and they left the kingdom.

* EasilyForgiven: Anastasia and Drisella apologize to Cinderella in the end, who gives them a forgiving smile in response. Granted, they weren't all ''that'' bad to her in this version compared to others.

* BlackBestFriend: The Captain of the guard to Kit. He serves as his strongest supporter throughout the film and the two are shown exchanging some witty banter.

* {{Bowdlerise}}: In one instance. The scene in the [[WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}} the animated movie]] where Cinderella's homemade dress for the ball is torn to shreds by her stepsisters is toned down to Lady Tremaine ripping a few portions, possibly because it would be more difficult to rip a dress apart by hand in live-action (which would double as a PragmaticAdaptation).
** Also, showing such a brutal and violent scene in live action would’ve sure gotten the film a PG-13 rating.

* ButterflyOfTransformation: Cinderella's gown from the Fairy Godmother has butterflies decorated along the neckline, as well her shoes, as a motif of her transformation.

The film debuted on March 13, 2015. As a special promotion, ''Cinderella'' was preceded in theaters by the short film "WesternAnimation/FrozenFever", a follow-up to ''Disney/{{Frozen}}''.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The story contains many allusions to ParentalAbuse. While never stated in the [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} animated version]], this version flat out shows that Ella does indeed have servants that she is friends with. What's more, they are flat out dismissed onscreen and at another point, Ella is in town speaking with a former servant who is clearly asking her why she doesn't just leave.

* ElegantClassicalMusician: Cinderella is a lovely singer in contrast two her sisters who are HollywoodToneDeaf and awful piano players.

* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Averted, quite surprisingly given the GoodCannotComprehendEvil example below; Lady Tremaine ''does'' understand that Ella's kindness and sincerity are genuine rather than a self-serving performance, and actually hates her ''because'' of this. This is clearly shown during her MotiveRant scene, where Ella's rather unconvincing assertion that she was given the glass slippers (and by extension the dress, carriage etc.) is barely questioned at all, and Tremaine's offer/demand to support Ella in becoming queen in exchange for favours afterwards has no way of stopping Ella from reneging afterwards, but it never seems to occur to either of them that Ella might be dishonest.

** The scene with the stag was based on a deleted scene from [[WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}} the original film]], although in that scene, the stag was friends with the prince and never actually in any danger. Another planned sequence would have involved the prince disguising himself as one of the UsefulNotes/{{Roma}} ...and Kit also seems to enjoy disguises.

** The fashion in this film is rather eclectic. Most of the characters wear 19th-century style clothes, but they're taken from a mish-mash of different decades. The adult Cinderella starts the film in something that wouldn't look out of place at the beginning of the century, but later wears a ballgown with a ''massive'' crinoline, a style that was popular in the 1850-60s, and gets married in a gown that has the shape of something from the 1890s, save for the rather sheer sleeves. Meanwhile, Cinderella's step-family -- perhaps as a nod to the fact that [[WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}} the animated version]] was released in 1950 -- boast plenty of 50s-style outfits; including sleeveless/strapless ball gowns, a style that didn't appear until the ''1930s.''

%% * ManInWhite: Prince Kit's ball attire.

* EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses: {{Averted|Trope}}. The movie emphasizes the prince choosing Cinderella, a "good, honest country girl", over other possible princesses. [[spoiler:And Cinderella becomes a queen, not a princess, upon marriage, since Kit had been made king due to his father's death.]]

%% * DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: At one point Kit mutters that he hates how he looks in portraits.

''Cinderella'' is a 2015 Creator/{{Disney}} film based on [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the animated classic]]. It is directed by Creator/KennethBranagh, and its cast includes Creator/LilyJames as Ella / "Cinderella", Creator/CateBlanchett as Lady Tremaine / "The Wicked Stepmother", Creator/RichardMadden as Kit / "Prince Charming", Creator/HelenaBonhamCarter as the Fairy Godmother, Sir Creator/DerekJacobi as the King, and Creator/HayleyAtwell as Ella's birth mother.

The film debuted on March 13, 2015. As a special promotion, ''Cinderella'' was preceded in theaters by the short film ''Disney/FrozenFever'', a follow-up to ''Disney/{{Frozen}}''.

** Somewhat; Cinderella in [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the original film]] took her step-family's abuse as stoically as possible, only breaking down when she's denied a chance to go to the ball. In this film, Ella is shown to be clearly affected by her mistreatment, well before the dress-tearing scene. Nonetheless, she tries to make the best with what she's got.

** Lady Tremaine in [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the 1950 animated film]] isn't ''ugly,'' but she is depicted as austere and aging, with greying hair and dressed in high-necked, dark-colored clothing. In this film she's younger, more stylish, and played by ''Creator/CateBlanchett''.

** In contrast to his [[TheCaligula portrayal]] in [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the animated film]], the King is much more friendly to his subjects.

** In [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the animated film]], the Duke was the competent right-hand-man and OnlySaneMan to the boisterous king. He carried out the king's slightly whimsical demands in a far saner way. In this film, the Duke is a schemer more closely mirroring Lady Tremaine, and who wants the Prince to marry based on politics rather than on love. That said, he's definitely more honourable than Lady Tremaine, and it's worth noting that he clearly has the kingdom's welfare in mind. While a schemer to achieve his ends, the novelization states that [[WellIntentionedExtremist he is looking out for the kingdom and the king]].
** In the [[Disney/CinderellaIIDreamsComeTrue sequel]] to the animated film, Anastasia has a HeelFaceTurn. Here, she leaves the kingdom alongside her mother and sister with no sign of redemption.
* AdaptationDyeJob: Cinderella was a strawberry-blonde in [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the animated Disney film]], but is made a much lighter shade of blonde. Lady Tremaine had grey hair but now has red hair. Anastasia's red hair is darkened to auburn and Drizella's dark hair is lightened to red. The Duke, black-haired in the animated film, has a bright orange mustache here. Likewise since the FairyGodmother is younger, she now has blond hair instead of white.
* AdaptationExpansion: The basic plot is the same as [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the animated film's]], but more time is given to fleshing out the characters and the setting. The prologue focuses on Cinderella's childhood, the deaths of her parents, and other events leading up to her current life with the stepfamily. Her relationship with Kit is also ''much'' more established here than in the original film.
* AdaptationExplanationExtrication: Gus Gus retains his name from [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the animated film]], but no mention is given of his real name "Octavius," from which Augustus/Gus is a nickname of.

* AdaptationNameChange: If one goes by [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the animated Disney film]], Cinderella was actually the girl's real name. Here - though it's following many other versions of the story - Ella is her real name, with 'Cinderella' being the nickname her step-family gives to her. Likewise, the prince is here named Kit, as opposed to "Prince Charming."

** The fashion in this film is rather eclectic. Most of the characters wear 19th-century style clothes, but they're taken from a mish-mash of different decades. The adult Cinderella starts the film in something that wouldn't look out of place at the beginning of the century, but later wears a ballgown with a ''massive'' crinoline, a style that was popular in the 1850-60s, and gets married in a gown that has the shape of something from the 1890s, save for the rather sheer sleeves. Meanwhile, Cinderella's step-family -- perhaps as a nod to the fact that [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the animated version]] was released in 1950 -- boast plenty of 50s-style outfits; including sleeveless/strapless ball gowns, a style that didn't appear until the ''1930s.''

** In [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the animated film]], Ella's mother is dead before the prologue even starts and her father is only shown briefly. In this film, both of her birth parents appear onscreen and play more important parts in the introduction.

* {{Bowdlerise}}: In one instance. The scene in the [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the animated movie]] where Cinderella's homemade dress for the ball is torn to shreds by her stepsisters is toned down to Lady Tremaine ripping a few portions, possibly because it would be more difficult to rip a dress apart by hand in live-action (which would double as a PragmaticAdaptation).

** The prince's mother is flat-out said to be dead here. While [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the original film]] implied this was the case, it never directly specified it, either, until [[Disney/CinderellaIIIATwistInTime the second sequel]].

* GenderFlip: Jaq the mouse from [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the animated movie]] becomes Jacqueline in this movie.

** The scene with the stag was based on a deleted scene from [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the original film]], although in that scene, the stag was friends with the prince and never actually in any danger. Another planned sequence would have involved the prince disguising himself as one of the UsefulNotes/{{Roma}} ...and Kit also seems to enjoy disguises.

** Cinderella says that she's never been painted. [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} That's not entirely accurate...]]

** The Prince. In [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the animated film]] he goes unnamed, and [[AllThereInTheScript supplementary material]] gives his name as literally "[[HisNameReallyIsBarkeep Prince Charming]]"; here, we learn his nickname is "Kit".

* NotHisSled: The twist in [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the animated Disney film]] was that [[spoiler:Lady Tremaine breaks the glass slipper Cinderella lost (seemingly preventing her from trying it on) only for Cinderella to reveal that she has the ''other'' slipper - confirming her to be the right girl. In this, however, Lady Tremaine finds the un-lost slipper in Ella's belongings and breaks it, and Ella ends up trying on the one the Prince still has (although he recognized her anyway). The prince is also present when Ella tries the slipper on]].

** The film reconstructs Disney's [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} own animated version]] by playing the story straight - but addressing any issues people might have with the original; Cinderella's role as ThePollyanna is born out of a desire to follow her late mother's wishes to be good to everyone, the WickedStepmother is given an excuse for her abuse, the lovers get to have actual conversations and get to know each other, the quest to try on the slipper is {{lampshade|Hanging}}d repeatedly, and the FairyGodmother is given a reason to help the girl.

** There are several sequences here that come from scrapped scenes from [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the Disney animated version]]. The most notable are the scene with the prince hunting a stag and Cinderella giggling as she overhears her stepfamily talking about the girl at the ball.

* TrueBlueFemininity: Ella mostly wears blue and her ball gown in this adaptation is blue too, rather than silver like in [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the animated film]]. Most likely because it's blue in the Franchise/DisneyPrincess merchandise. Could also be to distinguish it from the Fairy Godmother's silvery-white dress (which amusingly was ''blue'' in the animated film).

** Tremaine is given a more sympathetic, deeper personality, as opposed to her flat portrayal in earlier adaptations. Of course, she can hardly be considered anything but the villain, [[FreudianExcuse just one with a better argument]]. In something the original Lady Tremaine would never do, this WickedStepmother is perfectly willing to let Cinderella marry her beloved prince... [[PragmaticVillainy however, even then she has ulterior motives for doing so]].

* FreudianExcuse: Tremaine goes on a small MotiveRant to Ella, saying she first married for love, then for power, and both of them died. Since then, she's done everything in hopes to clawing further up to the top, even if it requires cruelty.

* {{Bowdlerise}}: In one instance. The scene in the [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the animated movie]] where Cinderella's homemade dress for the ball is torn to shreds by her stepsisters is toned down to Lady Tremaine ripping a few portions, possibly because it would be more difficult to rip a dress apart by hand in live-action (which would double as a PragmaticAdaptation). Another possibility is that the writers wanted to make the scene less heart-breaking so that Ella could still fix the dress.

** In [[Disney/{{Cinderella}} the animated film]], the Duke was the competant right-hand-man and OnlySaneMan to the boisterous king. He carried out the king's slightly whimsical demands in a far saner way. In this film, the Duke is a schemer more closely mirroring Lady Tremaine, and who wants the Prince to marry based on politics rather than on love. That said, he's definitely more honourable than Lady Tremaine, and it's worth noting that he clearly has the kingdom's welfare in mind. While a schemer to achieve his ends, the novelization states that [[WellIntentionedExtremist he is looking out for the kingdom and the king]].