A Modern Cinderella
A Modern Cinderella

Movie spotlight

A Modern Cinderella

1913
Movie
27 min
Italian

Sylvia and Janet lose their mother and are left destitute orphans. Jenny Smart (a leading moving picture actress) takes an interest in the girls and brings them to a studio. Sylvia is employed as a moving picture actress and is cast as the lead in a retelling of "Cinderella". A rare glimpse of filmmaking in Turin’s Ambrosio studio.

Insights

Director: James Kirkwood, Sr.Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

A poor but kind-hearted young woman, named Cinderella, lives a life of drudgery under her cruel stepmother and stepsisters. When the Prince of the land holds a grand ball, Cinderella longs to attend but is forbidden. With the help of a fairy godmother (or in this case, a kindly benefactor), she is magically transformed and attends the ball, where she captures the Prince's heart.

Critical Reception

As a silent film from 1913, contemporary critical reception is difficult to ascertain in detail. However, films starring Mary Pickford during this era were generally popular with audiences, who were drawn to her youthful charm and the often sentimental or comedic storylines. The film likely received positive, albeit general, notice for its adherence to a classic fairy tale narrative with a modern twist.

What Reviewers Say

  • Generally popular due to star Mary Pickford's appeal.

  • Likely seen as a charming adaptation of a classic tale.

  • Appreciated for its comedic and romantic elements.

Google audience: As this film is from 1913, specific Google user reviews are not available. However, Mary Pickford's early films were widely beloved for their heartwarming stories and her captivating performances.

Fun Fact

This film is notable for being an early adaptation of the Cinderella fairy tale in cinematic form and for starring Mary Pickford, who would go on to become one of the most famous and influential actresses of the silent film era, often referred to as 'America's Sweetheart'.

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