Poor Cinderella is a 1934 animated short produced by Fleischer Studios. It is the inaugural entry in the Color Classics series and is the only color appearance of Betty Boop, who plays the titular character.
It is noted that this is the first Fleischer cartoon produced in color, in this case the cheaper two-strip Cinecolor (hence the prominent use of different hues of red and green), as Walt Disney had the exclusive rights to the Technicolor process for use in his Silly Symphonies. It is also the first use of the Fleischers' patented "stereoptical" process that allows animated characters to exist over live models, giving the settings a sense of depth and realism.
This short is currently in the Public Domain.
This short contains examples of:
- Adapted Out: Cinderella's Wicked Stepmother.
- Animation Bump: This was the first Fleischer cartoon to use the 3D tabletop process, after all. Also, the animation on the human figures look excellent, something even Disney took years to perfect.
- Cupid's Arrow: A little cupid does this to The Prince, but in this case, it's Cupid's mallet.
- Dance of Romance: Like in the original tale, Cinderella (Betty Boop) and the Prince dance with each other while falling in love.
- The End: The end title reading "Finis" appears in two closing doors that close in on the stepsisters' heads to shut them up.
- "I Want" Song: The title song.
- Love at First Sight: The Prince when he first sees Betty at the ball.
- Mickey Mousing
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: A caricature of Rudy Vallee appears at the ball.
- Red-Headed Stepchild: Cinderella. Betty Boop's hair was colored red instead of the usual black to take advantage of the limited Cinecolor process.
- Rotoscoping: Used for the horses' galloping as they begin to depart, and later the dance between Cinderella and her prince.
- Significant Green-Eyed Redhead: Betty Boop fills this role as Cinderella.
- Spinning Clock Hands: Appears while Cinderella is being overworked.
- Triumphant Reprise: The title song is sung again as Cinderella and her prince ride of in their wedding coach.
- When the Clock Strikes Twelve:Fairy Godmother: Remember, when the clock strikes twelve, you must be home by then.
For should you fail to be in bed, you'll be in rags again.
