Cinderfella | 
| Director: Frank Tashlin
Actors: Jerry Lewis, Ed Wynn, Judith Anderson, Henry Silva, Robert Hutton
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy Used: $5.98
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Rating:  22 reviews
Sales Rank: 15992
Format: Color, Dvd, Widescreen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 91 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: PARD600074D
ISBN: 0792193202
UPC: 097360600742
EAN: 9780792193203
ASIN: B0002NY8SA
Theatrical Release Date: December 18, 1960
Release Date: October 12, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
The team of Jerry Lewis and director Frank Tashlin (The Geisha Boy) were at the peak of their hit-making prowess with Cinderfella, a klutzy take on the fairy tale. Jerry is the stepson in a snooty family, dominated by wicked stepmother Judith Anderson and lounge-lizard brothers Henry Silva and Robert Hutton. Fairy godfather Ed Wynn turns up one day, not only promising "Fella" a happy-ever-after but basically accusing the old fairy tale of ruining the lives of countless married couples by raising unrealistic expectations of Prince Charmings in every home. (Tashlin always had a nose for psychoanalytic explanations along with the pratfalls.) The movie's very slow--especially whenever Ed Wynn is around--and has a strange taste for "interior monologue" songs, emphasizing the mawkish side of Lewis's personality. The good comic scenes are worth it, especially a lengthy sequence at an elongated dinner table, which Lewis must navigate repeatedly. His physical skills are showcased in a musical mime to Count Basie's "Cute" (Basie and his orchestra also appear in the big ballroom scene) and some violently geeky dancing. This one is unlikely to win over non-Jerry fans, but the already initiated will be fine with it. --Robert Horton
Product Description
Cinderfellas fairy godfather helps him escape from his wicked stepmother and stepbrothers. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 10/12/2004 Starring: Jerry Lewis Anna Maria Alberghetti Run time: 91 minutes Rating: Nr Director: Frank Tashlin
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| Customer Reviews: Read 17 more reviews...
 Fella Fabulous! March 6, 2004
Gina Miller (Seattle, WA USA)
13 out of 15 found this review helpful
I recall watching some Jerry Lewis movies when I was a child while visiting my Aunts house. I was entertained. As I grew older I found that Jerry Lewis became lost in childhood memories. However, one late night I was watching television and this movie was on. I had missed the beginning, and had to go to bed before the end, if I hadn't I would have been up to 5:30. I thought this movie was sooo cute, that I just had to order it. And it was worth it. I love the Cinderella gone upside down plot of this movie, and Jerry is an adorable jem. Perhaps I was a fan all along, but this movie had to remind me of it. This movie inspires me to see more of what Jerry has to offer and perhaps view some more of his movies as a grown up! A child grownup that is, who always roots for the underdog!
What fun!!! January 2, 2006
sally smith (Mustang Ranch, NV)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
Jerry Lewis fun!
When I was in 4th grade, a hundred years ago. and we lived in Maryland, when my birthday came I got to take the whole party to this movie! So, to me it was not only funny, it was special. I'll never forget sitting in the theater with all my little girl friends, in our best birthday party dresses and white shinny leather shoes, and hair bows, watching with enchantment.
Pass the popcorn and watch this movie with kids, or your poker buddies, it's fun! Jerry Lewis plays the male version of Cinderella, has a fairy God-father, has evil step brothers. He is sweet, funny, but also has feelings. Poor Cinderfella, when they are mean to him! But, it all works out in the end.
No cursing or nudity - which sure is a relief! We have grandkids over a lot here, so, we like our assortment of good family movies. You should too!
 cute Jerry Lewis comedy favourite June 19, 2008
Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Made primarily as a Christmas attraction for family audiences, CINDERFELLA (1960) stars Jerry Lewis in a gender-bending spin on everyone's favourite fairytale, co-starring Judith Anderson and Ed Wynn.
Fella (Jerry Lewis) lives with his overbearing stepmother (Judith Anderson) and two stepbrothers (Henry Silva and Robert Hutton) in his dead father's Beverly Hills mansion, where he's treated like a servant--and a klutzy one at that! Forbidden to attend a party being held in honour of the visiting Princess Charming (Anna Maria Alberghetti), Fella's eccentric Fairy Godfather (Ed Wynn) steps in to lend a helping hand...
Unless you're a Jerry Lewis fan (and there really is no 'gray area'), you won't entirely appreciate his performance in CINDERFELLA. Lewis was given lots of free rein with his performance in this movie, and the constant mugging sometimes causes the feather-light story to become bogged down. Anna Maria Alberghetti provides a sweet Princess but her role is fairly minor. Judith Anderson ("Rebecca", "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof") does manage to turn the stepmother into an ultimately sympathetic character, something you don't really get in any other 'Cinderella' movie.
The DVD includes some fun outtakes and bloopers, plus a commentary track with Jerry Lewis and his friend, singer Steve Lawrence. (Single-sided, dual-layer disc).
Fairy Tale Gender Bender! December 18, 2005
phillindholm (California)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
"Cinderfella" was Jerry Lewis' answer to the classic Cinderella story. And he intended it to be a masterpiece. To say that it fell somewhat short of it's goal is putting it mildly, but it's not bad. The plot is, of course the familiar story, with a few (expected) variations. When his father dies, poor Fella (Lewis) is left at the mercy of his snobbish stepmother (Judith Anderson) and her two no-good sons, Maximilian (Henry Silva) and Rupert (Robert Hutton). As he slaves away for his nasty step-family, Maximilian and Rupert attempt to find a treasure Fella's father has supposedly hidden on the estate. Meanwhile, hoping to restore her dwindling fortunes, the stepmother plans a fancy ball in honor of the visiting Princess Charmein (Anna Maria Alberghetti) whom she hopes will marry Rupert. Eventually, Fella's Fairy Godfather (Ed Wynn) shows up to convince him that he has a shot at winning the Princess himself. Lewis had big plans for the film's release. Although it was completed in January of 1960, he insisted it make it's debut that Christmas, complete with a holiday campaign and record album tie-in. In the meantime, he produced and starred in a low budget item called "The Bellboy" in order for Paramount to have a Jerry Lewis movie for summer release. "Cinderfella" was given a lavish production and a formidable supporting cast was recruited to co star with Lewis. He was indeed fortunate to obtain the services of Judith Anderson, who, while not a performer one would expect in a Jerry Lewis film, was nevertheless excellent as the stepmother, bringing just the right touch of arrogance to the part. Ed Wynn is reliably daffy as the Fairy Godfather,though, due to severe editing, he disappears before the climax, and is not seen again. Silva and Hutton do what they can as the stepbrothers, but the beautiful Alberghetti has nothing to do but fall hopelessly in love with the hapless Fella. The pace of the film is somewhat choppy, and several critics pointed out that the editing had left voids in the plot. The film originally ran 99 minutes, it ended up at 88. Sure enough, it was released at Christmastime, when it inspired some of the most scathing critical comment ever bestowed on a Lewis picture. Most of this was devoted to Lewis' own performance, and his frequent mugging, mixed with his pathetic attempts to play for sympathy. "Cinderfella" did just O.K. at the box office, and it ended up well behind the modest "Bellboy" which was a box-office smash. Thanks to handsome sets (with exteriors filmed at the "Beverly Hillbillies" estate in Bel Air, CA), costumes and a pleasant (if unmemorable) score, "Cinderfella" is entertaining enough to get by. But you'd better be prepared for a lot of "singing/mugging" from the Producer/Star, who fancied himself a brilliant vocalist. After all, though, this is SUPPOSED to be a fairy tale! [phillindholm]
 Jerry can do better July 30, 2006
Jmark2001 (Florida)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
While many people have written off Jerry Lewis as a vulgar and unfunny celebrity whose fame seems unwarranted, I believe that the man has comedic talent - and occasional brilliance - but that he needs to be reined in with strong directors and scripts. When set free and loose, Lewis can be as manically annoying as Robin Williams and seem like nothing more than an adult with attention deficit disorder in serious need of medicine. When reined in and forced to tone down the volume on his antics and perosonality (someone needed to tell Lewis that simply making a lot of geeky facial grimaces and spastic movements does not constitute comedy), he is capable of developing his ideas into good comedy that elevates him from being yesterday's Adam Sandler to Laurel and Hardy quality status. Lewis also needed to be told that a Chaplin or a Keaton he would never be (Lewis was far too vulgar and not intelligent enough) but that there was nothing wrong with developing his own character of the schmo.
This film lacked a good script. The appropriation of the Cinderella story is weak and was only sturdy enough to support a tv sketch - not a movie. The direction is merely competent - but there are signs that Tashlin wouldn't or couldn't control Lewis (many scenes go on forever and editing was needed). Lewis has a few good moments miming to a Count Basie piece that show how good his timing could be. Mostly though, this is a bad movie.
And that is what can be frustrating about Lewis: the talent is there; it just is allowed to lie dormant through far too many bad, bad movies. If you took the good stuff out of all of the movies he made after "The Nutty Professor" and combined them, you wouldn't have enough to fill up two movies.
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