Walt Disney Pictures
Starring: Lily James, Cate Blanchett
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: A live-action retelling of the fairy tale, earlier told as a classic Disney animated film. Cinderella (Lily James) is treated badly by her stepmother and stepsisters but her Fairy Godmother puts things right by making it possible for her to attend the ball.
Featured Feline: As in the animated version, Cinderella’s stepmother, Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett), has a pet cat named Lucifer. Here Lucifer is portrayed by a grey Persian wearing a collar and tassel. Lucifer arrives with the stepmother and stepsisters in a carriage, which he falls out of at first.
Lucifer and the Stepmother enter the house together.
In the animated version of the story, Lucifer and the mice had much larger roles. Here they are only bit players and the mice do not speak. In one scene Lucifer spots the mice and is ready to pounce.
Cinderella puts a stop to his stalking and gives him a kind scolding.
Lucifer is also seen when the stepsisters are practicing their art and music. Lucifer is sitting beside Lady Tremaine, looking every bit as smug.
Lucifer then spots the littlest mouse in the middle of the floor and takes chase.
The mouse runs under a low cabinet and Lucifer slams into it head on, almost knocking himself out.
Later Lucifer is sitting with the Stepmother when Cinderella comes in to tell them about the ball. Lucifer is unsettled when the Stepmother jumps up suddenly and runs away.
Finally Lucifer is seen one last time when the royal guard arrives to try the slipper on the girls. Cinderella has been locked in the attic by her Stepmother but the mice have opened the window so the men can hear her singing. The Captain of the Guard (Nonso Anozie), upon being told there are no other maidens in the house, asks the Stepmother if her cat has learned to sing. Lucifer then meows.
Final Mewsings: Cats don’t appreciate being demoted to bit players.
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