Original production animation drawing of Lady Tremaine (Stepmother) in red and graphite pencils from "Cinderella," 1950, Walt Disney Studios; Signed by Frank Thomas in pencil lower center; Numbered 53 in pencil lower right; Size - Lady Tremaine (Stepmother): 9 x 4", Sheet: 12 1/2 x 15 1/2"; Unframed.
To purchase this drawing or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE!
To purchase this drawing or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE!
"Often,
patrons would be horrified or dismayed by the behavior of a villain,
but more people actually hated the Stepmother more than any other
villain we ever created." - Ollie Johnson and Frank Thomas from "The
Disney Villain," 1993
The 1950 Walt Disney feature film "Cinderella" was based on the French version of the tale by Charles Perrault, entitled "Cinderella" and written in 1698. The film was the second in the series of great Princess films developed by Disney, the first being Snow White in 1937. The character of Cinderella is usually front and center in the pantheon of Disney Princess merchandise, perhaps because she is the only Princess not to be of a noble blood line who ended up marrying a Prince and becoming royalty.
Eleanor Audley (TV and film actress as well as familiar radio and animation voice talent) was filmed while she was dressed and speaking as the Stepmother; and as she performed scenes outlined in the film. Those film reels were used by animator Frank Thomas to convey even more realism to the character. Although the framed images were not directly copied by the animator, they were used as reference for lifelike movements. Eleanor Audley also voiced the Stepmother and her articulation conveyed the fire and raw power of the character. She could be sharp and curt in telling Cinderella what chores to do while lying in bed and slowly stirring her cup of tea, or her voice could be calm are cruel while watching as her daughters viciously destroyed Cinderella's dress.
Close up of the original production animation drawing of Lady Tremaine (Wicked Stepmother).
Close up of the production number.
Frank Thomas did a phenomenal job of controlling the Stepmother's actions to make sure that they were were not wild and out of control; but rather calculated, cold, and precise. The story of Cinderella presented a situation where a villain lived and interacted with her victim day after day under the same roof. The actions of the Stepmother seemed even more cruel because not only were both she and Cinderella animated in a very realistic fashion, but because of the close proximity the cruelness of the villain could be seen as even more intense by the reactions on Cinderella's face. If all this were not enough, the Stepmother's arsenal of evil was compounded by her two ill mannered daughters Anastasia and Drizella; as well as Lucifer the cat, who delighted in trying to kill Cinderella's mouse friends.
This drawing is from the scene when Lady Tremaine realizes that a Royal Proclamation has been issued, and that whoever should be able to fit into the recovered glass slipper would marry the Prince. The Stepmother races upstairs to inform her daughters Anastasia and Drizella of the news. She pauses on the staircase, and says to Cinderella, "Don't just stand there! Bring up the breakfast trays at once. And hurry." This is a very large and expressive drawing of Lady Tramine. Both her eyes and mouth are open, and the drawing is hand signed by Walt Disney master animator Frank Thomas. A great piece of vintage Walt Disney animation artwork from the full length masterpiece "Cinderella!"
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