Ella Cinders (film)

Did You Know?

• Copies of Ella Cinders are preserved at the UCLA Film & Television Archive, George Eastman Museum and the Library of Congress.
• It has been released on DVD by Sunrise Silents, Reel Classic DVD and Grapevine Video.

Plot

Ella Cinders lives in Roseville with her late father’s house, a cruel stepmother named Myrtle “Ma” Cinders, and two stepsisters, Prissy Pill and Lotta Pill. The townspeople adore the stepsisters, but they treat Ella badly. The local iceman, Waite Lifter, is her only friend. When the Gem Film Company announces a contest offering a free trip to Hollywood and a movie role, Ella steals an acting book from Lotta and practices facial expressions. She babysits for three nights to earn $3 for a photograph. At the photo session, a fly lands on her nose, and the photographer accidentally captures her looking cross-eyed. That picture becomes her contest entry. Contestants must attend a ball at Town Hall, but Ma and the stepsisters forbid Ella from going. Waite offers to take her and persuades her to borrow one of her stepsisters’ dresses. At the judges’ table, Prissy and Lotta see the dress and attack her. Ella flees in embarrassment, losing a slipper. She goes to an employment agency hoping for a fresh start, but they send her back to Ma, who threatens severe punishment. Later, the judges arrive at the house and announce Ella the winner, amused by the cross-eyed photo and looking for someone with comedic talent. Ella is initially disappointed, and Ma is furious. In Hollywood, Ella learns the contest was a fraud. Afraid to return to Roseville, she stays and tries to break into acting the hard way. After many rejections and failed attempts to sneak onto a studio lot, she finally lands a contract to play the lead in a rags-to-riches story much like her own. Waite, revealed to be football hero and wealthy heir George Waite, rushes to Hollywood, sweeps Ella off her feet on the set, and marries her. They have a child and live happily ever after.

Production

Because parts of the movie occur on a film studio's sets, many First National regulars appear. Director Alfred E. Green plays himself directing a movie within the movie as Colleen Moore's Ella runs by. Harry Langdon cameos as a famous comedian, with a young Frank Capra directing him. The character George Waite, played by Lloyd Hughes, spoofs football star Red Grange, who also played for Illinois and worked as an iceman. This film marked the last screen pairing of Moore and Hughes.