Three Wishes for Cinderella (1973)

Really Surprised!

just watch it!

Good idea lost in the noise

I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.

This movie is basically the story of Cinderella. Its entertaining and beautiful. I'd recommend it if you're a fan of this set up. I like the twist where instead of a fairy godmother that appears out of nowhere after years of abuse she gets some nuts with magical garments in them from an owl. Its very pretty and entertaining.

During my month long viewing of Czech cinema made during the Cold War era,one of the main titles that I really wanted to glimpse was an adaptation of Cinderella,but I was sadly unable to find a version with the original soundtrack..and English Subtitles. Reading a good summing up of the movie from a fellow IMDber,I took a second go at locating the movie,and finally found the original version!,which led to me getting ready to at last Czech out this Cinderella.The plot:Pushed around by her stepmother and stepsister Dora, Cinderella has to clean up the mess that they both (intentionally) make,with only a loyal owl for company.Looking out of the window,Cinderella dreams of joining all the boys in the city to go hunting and sharp- shooting.Checking some nuts that have mysterious appeared,Cinderella is shocked to discover that one of the nuts gives her new clothes,and new sharp-shooting skills.Sneaking out of the house,Cinderella runs into the Prince of the city,who is deeply impressed by her skills.Wanting to tease him a bit,Cinderella does not tell the prince her name,and hides in the trees and creeps away home.Learning that the prince is going to choose a bride at a royal ball,Cinderella's step-mum and Dora get dressed up and head to the ball. Cleaning up,Cinderella tries one of the magic nuts,and is rewarded with a dress which will allow her to (secretly) go to the ball.View on the film:Backed by a shimming score from Karel Svoboda,director Václav Vorlícek & cinematographer Josef Illík unleash an exquisite, magical atmosphere,sipping up the Winter décor and mythical,lightly Gothic fairy tale. Knotting up the "traditional" goody two-shoes image of the tale, Vorlícek gives Cinderella strong shoulders with dazzling,highly stylish circling camera moves circling round her sharp-shooting,and Cinderella circling the Prince.Trimming some of the harsher edges from the original tale, (no one chops their toes off!) Frantisek Pavlícek's adaptation of Bozena Nemcová's Eastern Europe take on the tale gives Cinderella a refreshingly feisty side, that shows Cinderella holding her head high among the men,and also makes the Prince have to put some real effort in to get her hand.Sweeping up the enchanting mood, Pavlícek gives the movie a delicious rustic coating,where nature-not a Fairy Godmother,helps Cinderella to catch everyone's attention.Joined by a wicked Carola Braunbock & Dana Hlavácová as Dora and the step-mum, Libuse Safránková (who got the role after original choice Jana Preissová got pregnant) gives an extraordinary performance as Cinderella,who Safránková brings into the enchanted castle,with playful tomboy cuts that Safránková links with a regal elegance,as Cinderella makes her three wishes.

I can tell from my own experiences that in German speaking countries, that this movie is considered a cult-movie and that it is extremely popular. It has also its traditional firm spot in TV every Christmas, because people still love it. Success is owed to the very lovely couple Libuse Safrankova and Pavel Travnicek and to the music written by the great composer Karel Svoboda. The props are great too (Czechoslovakian style of the early modern times) and combined with the lovely landscape, it gives everyone a real good Christmas fairy entertainment. 10 out of 10 for beloved childhood memories and the perfect Christmas fairy tale. Three generations of spectators cannot be wrong!

I was raised with this film as long I can remember. I remember first seeing it at age 6 visiting my grandmother. Since she lived near the border to east Germany, we could watch east German TV at her home. I instantly fell in love with this fairy tale. Later the movie became a regular Christmas staple on German television so I could see it all over and over. Growing up i admit to have fallen in love with the actress of Cinderella, as every boy who watched this movie would admit to also. I never found any big flaw in this movie. Maybe the special effects are not up to date to modern 50+ million dollar productions, but you have to consider that it was created in 1973 and in Czechoslovakia to boot. The acting is great in every aspect, maybe a bit overdone sometimes but better then in many American blockbusters. The conversion of the fairytale is not based totally on the Grimm's tale Cinderella, but more on the regional bohemian version. To that it clings very good. And what I really love are the buildings and landscapes....they are really authentic, something I miss in fairy tale movies shot in America, but they clearly don't have the ages-old castles and mansions.I give this movie a 10 out of 10 which I don't do lightly. Every time I watch this masterpiece it brings back my youth, more than any other movie.