In CINDERFELLA, Lewis plays Fella, a good natured klutz left to take care of his stepmother and her two spoiled sons in a fabulous mansion. Fantasy provides Fella with a way of coping with his life until the day his fairy godmother appears and helps him win the heart of a beautiful princess.
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

Customer Rating:
Summary: LOUIS+BASIE=GREATNESS
Comment: See Jerry Lewis at the top of his game, along with the Count Basie Orchestra, and you have a virtual orgy for the senses. The supporting cast is top notch. However, the dip into the hipness of the era, via the Basie Orchestra really puts this fairytale over the top.
See it, and let your hipness get rejuvenated.
TONY HOROWITZ

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Customer Rating:
Summary: cute Jerry Lewis comedy favourite
Comment: 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).

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Customer Rating:
Summary: I love Jerry Lewis comedy films, however...
Comment: Cinderfella is painful to watch. This film is a complete, unabashed challenge to enjoy, and it's basically impossible for me. Every time I give it a new chance, it fails miserably to entertain. I usually enjoy Jerry Lewis. I love "The Ladies Man", "The Bellboy"... and even "The Nutty Professor" (which slowly sinks into a very somber, depressing mood). But "Cinderfella" just makes me scratch my head, wondering what the appeal is. It boggles the mind how people can love this awful film.

I don't care at all about the character of Fella, who isn't even likeable to begin with, so there is no investment, no concern as to what happens to him. Will he somehow go to the ball? I couldn't care less. He's just a dolt.

The few good things it offers:
It's nice to look at. Lush sets, Edith Head's costumes, and fun colors.
The dance sequence with Fella and the princess is nice.
Sadly, none of these things saves the film from being a fiasco.

And the comedy sequences fall incredibly flat. The dining room table bit is awful and endless. I never laugh at this film. It's not a comedy. I don't know what it is, really.

I cannot overemphasize the fact that Cinderfella is entirely too slow in its pace. And I am not alone in this opinion, not by a long shot.

And it gets too maudlin in spots (especially during the few dull, ridiculous songs featured). This film is like those single soppy scenes in his other films where Jerry indulges his soft, sad side. It comes off mawkish and inappropriate. Like in "The Disorderly Orderly", when the bitter blonde girl brings the entire movie's light mood crashing to a disturbing halt; a comedy movie that contains a nasty, overly sour psycho? It's just unnecessary.

I am being completely honest here with my review because I know someone new to this movie will have high hopes based on the reviews that praise it, and may end up very disappointed as I was.

Bottom line: Boring and not worth one's time.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: oldie but goodie
Comment: I can never get enough of this movie! I love it! And I got it so promptly!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Jerry Lewis Is A Legend, and the standard for COMIC excellence!!!
Comment: Jerry Lewis is sooooo funny!!! I Am twenty three years old, and i grew up on wonderful musicals, and classic movies, Laurel & Hardy...singing in the rain Oklahoma!!! sound of music, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers!!! this film is played to all my little family members age 3 to 30...and everyone loves it!!! I Know this movie will win over any fan of true comedy, and let me tell you, Jerry Lewis is credited for influencing comic icons like Jim Carey...when you watch this film you will see comic genius at his very best, this movie has more than any of his other films, Its Got Hilarious side splitting scenes...love!! it has drama...and very very charming!!! it has it all, you cant go wrong...IT IS A WONDERFUL TIMELESS TREASURE...YOUR KIDS WILL LOVE IT...I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS TO KIDS, OR GRANDKIDS, OR ANYBODY!!!!! THANKS I HOPE IT WAS HELPFUL

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