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Albert Einstein: "If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales."
Fairy tales, literary nonsense, tall tales...whatever you want to call them. I'm a sucker for a wonderfully told, beautifully presented one. Especially when they come in live-action form. There's something...magical when it's done right. Some of these are taken right from the pages of a book, some are new takes on old tales. If you get surprised by a title, stop and think about it for a second. It'll make sense. :)
Is your favorite adaptation represented? If not, tell me in the comments section!
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Cinderella
This story is so embedded in everyone's history. The oldest documented version comes from China, while the oldest European version is out of Italy. There is a similar ancient Greek tale called Rhodopis that was published in 7 BC. The most popular version was written by French author Charles Perrault and a later variation was collected by the Brothers Grimm. I probably don't have to summarize this one, do I?
An American silent film starring Mary Pickford.
This is a movie based on a popular comic strip from 1925-1961. It takes inspiration from the classic tale and introduces Ella as an aspiring actress.
A Soviet musical that closely follows Perrault's version of Cinderella.
A fairy tale musical starring the delightful Leslie Caron.
Starring Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music), this was Rogers and Hammerstein's first crack at the Cinderella story.
I grew up on Jerry Lewis movies and this one along with The Bellboy are my favorites! This story swaps the gender so that it's a poor, mistreated stepbrother (Mr. Lewis) and a beautiful princess. It's a modernized comedy.
Leslie Ann Warren stars as the title character in Rogers & Hammerstein's next adaptation of the fairy tale. I remember really enjoying this version...I mean, look at those hats...
This Italian film stars Sophia Loren and Omar Sharif. It takes the fairy tale you know and adds a bit of fun as well as changing a bit of the story.
This Czech/German film is based on the Bohemian variation of the tale. It has become a holiday classic in many European countries and is frequently shown on TV around that time every year.
This British musical pays homage to a famous painting called The Swing during a musical number.
This 80's offering stars Ally Sheedy as a spoiled heiress who's father wishes he'd never had her, forcing her to take a maid job to make ends meet. It's a riches to rags...to riches story.
Jennifer Grey and Rob Lowe star in this made-for-TV movie that was yet another modern update. It seems I'm the only person who's seen it, as no one I know has ever heard of it.
This Rogers & Hammerstein adaptation stars Brandy and Whitney Houston and I have to say, their songs are the best. I still get them stuck in my head, but in a good way.
Drew Barrymore plays the title character in this 'what-would-actually-happen-if-this-story-took-place-in-real-life' take on the fairy tale. Excellent movie.
A mostly-realistic made-for-TV film that tells the narrative from the 'ugly' stepsister's perspective. It's based on a Gregory Maguire book and it's very refreshing, I think.
A wealthy politician mistakes a hotel maid for a socialite when he sees her trying on a rich woman's dress. You see where this is going, right?
This movie is kind of hilarious. It puts a very clever twist on the Cinderella story.
This Korean horror film uses the Cinderella story as a commentary on the current obsession with beauty and plastic surgery.
A made-for-TV movie out of Germany that is part of the live-action fairy tale series, Fairytale Pearls.
An American musical in which the Cinderella character is mistaken for a famous pop star by another famous pop star.
This German retelling is another in the Six in One Go TV movie series.
This story follows Charlie Prince as another gender-swap modernization. Also another story in which the female interest is a pop star.
This Pakistani TV serial is a modern retelling of Cinderella that adds another love interest.
This Disney live-action update of their famous cartoon leaves little that you've never seen before. It is worth watching, however, for the performances of the talented actors. Lily James and Cate Blanchett in particular.
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Do you like fairy tales? Check out my other live-action lists:
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