Ultimately, however, it was the work of Bossert, Poehlein and Lowery that gave reason for bringing everyone together – the digital restoration of the film that saved a studio. The resulting product as seen last night is not only the best example to date of preserving the heart-felt magic that was put into the film, but, as John Lowery so ably demonstrated, it’s top of the line technological film restoration of any sort. These chaps gave the old girl a splendid re-birth by going beyond the mere cleaning of dust and grit, literally cleaning up such anomalies as extant cel surface scratching that was photographed originally, or other similar imperfections that were always present, and now once removed give the purest possible representation of the film’s cel animation. Lowery said that, typically, when asked if there was anything they could have done better on a restoration project he always answered in the affirmative, but that this time he felt certain that everything possible had been done to reveal the true beauty of the craft in the finished product.

Cinderella is coming home on a special 2-Disc DVD on October 4, complete with deleted scenes, a documentary on the making of the film and another on Disney’s Nine Old Men. Producer Don Hahn hosts a segment taking a look at long forgotten storyboards for a rather different version of the film, and there’s a special segment on artist Mary Blair’s contribution to Cinderella and many other Disney classics, as well as the usual assortment of games, music videos and more.

Until it hits shelves, Cinderella is playing the way Walt saw it, larger than life on a full-size screen in an unparalleled palatial setting, four shows a day. No amount of Bibbidi Bobbidi TiVo can replace that experience! Catch it if you can. Trust me, you’ll get the very best Disney has to offer from the moment you buy a ticket at the box-office under the ornate and dazzling canopy of the vestibule, to your stroll through the lobby with its dazzling frescoes as you suddenly become aware of the haunting melodies coming from the auditorium. Pushing aside the plush curtains framing the heavy doors, you step foot into the glittering cavern of cinematic nirvana, as if carved by Geppetto and painted by Ringling, all the while accompanied by classic Disney songs played on a pristine pipe-organ by the American Theatre Organ Society’s Organist of the Year, Rob Richards.

The El Cap launch of a transformed Cinderella was truly magical, complete with special appearances afterwards by “the cast�? and the pumpkin coach double parked out front of the theatre. Here’s to the preservation of movie magic, and to hoping that every moment you spend in the dark of a theatre, be it alone or with a loved one, is filled with the reflections on screen of all the heart that goes into great animation. That’s quite possibly the greatest wish my heart makes.

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For more information on the El Capitan Theatre, and Cinderella as well as other upcoming film events, visit http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/el_capitan/

-- Posted September 16, 2005