The end scene of Cinderella in which Cinderella finally gets to prove herself and marry the Prince includes themes of love, friendship, royalty, good vs evil, family and fairytale/fantasy; all the themes and issues I found recurrent between my chosen Disney animations.
Medium long shot of the Grand Duke asking whether Cinderella's Stepmother and step sisters are the only ladies in the house. He is obviously royal, as can be told from his costume.
He's interrupted by Cinderella's Stepmother, who by this point in the film is recognised by the spectator as the antagonist. (Obviously interrupting someone, especially of importance, is a rude thing to do - although she says "your grace".)
The evil Stepmother stands in the shadows, low key lighting, with dark arched eyebrows and a long thin face with high neck to make her look more crow-like and menacing.
The way that the Stepmother speaks is purposeful and stern, showing she is powerful.
Shot reverse shot between the Grand Duke and the Evil Stepmother show the Grand Duke putting on a rediculously tall hat (likely for comic effect as this is a film for all the family), and start to leave the house - a moment where the spectator almost believes that the evil Stepmother has won, and that Cinderella has missed her chance..
"Your Grace, Your Grace!" - Cinderella's diegetic voice is heard from offscreen. - Cinderella is extremely polite, in contrast to how her Stepmother spoke.
An extreme long shot of Cinderella running down the stairs towards the Grand Duke accompanied by non-diegetic parallel music highlight the film's protagonist taking back the control - the confrontational moment of the "showdown" between good and evil, although the non-confrontational moment played more of a part, where the animals helped free Cinderella from the tower that the Stepmother had locked her in.
An eye level medium shot shows Cinderella's Stepmother and Step-sisters in shock and disgust at Cinderella being free and brave enough to come stand her ground.
Diegetic sounds of them complaining about how Cinderella shouldn't be allowed to try on the slipper are offscreen on a medium shot of Cinderella's legs running down the stairs from the Great Duke's point of view - this confirms to the spectator that he is not going to listen to them anymore and that Cinderella is finally getting her moment.
"A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes" plays non-diegetically, the song which has represented Cinderella's hopes throughout the film.
A long shot shows the Stepmother try to block the Duke's path calling Cinderella "an imaginative child" - but she is pushed aside by the Duke, who scorns her as his orders were to try every maiden. - giving Cinderella more of the power between them all the time.
A tracking shot of the man carrying the slipper on a pillow has the Stepmother hold her cane out in front of his feet so he trips and the slipper smashes all over the floor, quickly pulling away the hope and confidence built in both the Duke and the spectator.
The non-diegetic music becomes distressed and sorrowful, adding to the feeling of dispair, as the Duke lays on the floor and cries over the shards of glass - making the spectator think there is no way to rectify the situation.
A medium close up of the Stepmother in the shadows smiling an evil smile also adds to this feeeling, as well as showing that the Stepmother has taken back power over Cinderella, which is what Cinderella had been wishing for freedom from throughout the whole film.
Medium shot of Cinderella sat in a red and gold chair - makes her look more important, power, she brings out the other slipper and the music cruscendos - sounds more hopeful and exciting.
Close up of the Stepmothers shocked face as the music cruscendos is the final strike against the films antagonist in this showdown scene. She has obviously been defeated, as Cinderella is now to marry the Prince, and become a member of the royals.
The mice and birds celebrate Cinderella's good fortune at the top of the stairs together in a low angle long shot - showing their true friendship, as they are supportive.
Probably the most iconic shot of all is a tracking shot inwards as the Grand Duke slips the glass slipper onto Cinderella's foot, and the shot dissolves to a shot tracking outwards of wedding bells which dissolves again to a large clock, and then dissolves again to Cinderella and Prince Charming running down the stairs together after getting married. The dissolve has been used again to show romance, as well as time passing. This moment is where the spectator knows for sure that Cinderella has a very happy ending.
The extreme long shot of Cinderella losing her shoe on the stairs not only pays homage to the night that she met the Prince, but also creates the running joke on Cinderella, feeling like an inside joke for spectators, and making Cinderella more endearing.
The King slips Cinderella's shoe on, in a medium long shot, which tilts upwards to show Cinderella kiss his bald head - not only comical, but also expressing that she has already been very welcomed into her new family.
All very high key to show the change in mood.
"A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes" plays again, Cinderella's theme. And now her wish has come true. A tracking shot of the carriage shows her wave goodbye to her old life as she rides off with her new Prince Charming. Shots of the mice waving goodbye, as well as Bruno the dog running by the carriage, show that they won't stop being friends, and that their friendship is true.
The final shot of the film of Cinderella and Prince Charming kissing, and the book closing, also reinforces their love for each other, and the fact that it is a romantic fairytale.
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