Eyes Wide Shut and the Cinderella Connection

Added: 2026-05-10

[00:00:00]Eyes Wide Shut may be hiding a Cinderella connection in the film.

[00:00:06]This movie has more secrets than most people realize, and today I'm breaking down the hidden clues as I try to explain Eyes Wide Shut and its strange connection to the fairy tale Cinderella.

[00:00:22]Now, most people are familiar with that story, but I'm going to go over it and show you exactly why there may be a connection between these two films and it ties to our character Alice. So, let's see what we can find.

[00:00:39]Now, the first shot in the film is actually the character Alice in between some columns.

[00:00:47]Notice the shoes in the back.

[00:00:50]Of course, Alice and her husband Dr. Bill are getting ready to go to that fancy party at the Ziegler place.

[00:00:57]But, there's something very interesting in this scene where Bill is looking in the bathroom mirror.

[00:01:05]Notice this figure on the shelf.

[00:01:08]Not sure if it's ceramic or actually a doll.

[00:01:12]Let me show a close-up.

[00:01:15]It definitely appears to be a Cinderella type figure.

[00:01:19]And I believe it was put here quite deliberately.

[00:01:23]And I think there are a number of similarities between the animated Cinderella film and this film.

[00:01:33]The next connection comes when Alice and Bill show up to that Ziegler party.

[00:01:39]After meeting Ziegler and his wife, look where we end up.

[00:01:43]It appears to be a ball with people dressed up and dancing. And this is obviously a connection to one of the biggest scenes in the 1950 animated Cinderella.

[00:01:56]The scene where Cinderella goes to the ball with her new gown.

[00:02:01]Of course, Cinderella had help getting to the ball from her fairy godmother. You could say this is the one thing definitely missing from this story so far.

[00:02:12]But I think there might be some fairy godmother characters later on in this film, but it isn't Ziegler.

[00:02:22]After Bill meets up with his old friend Nick Nightingale, we get this scene of Alice as she has a glass of champagne and meets an interesting stranger who actually seems quite aristocratic.

[00:02:39]And yes, I think there is a parallel with the prince from Cinderella, sometimes known as Prince Charming, since he was styled as a European prince. And this man, Sandor, also has a European name and accent. He also dances with Alice just as the prince will dance with Cinderella.

[00:03:06]But of course, the Ziegler party isn't the only party Bill will have to get dressed up for here because when Bill gets the info for another party from Nick Nightingale, he will end up at that rainbow costume shop with Mr. Millich looking for a costume and a mask.

[00:03:26]But when a commotion is heard in a side room, we get this bizarre scene involving these two men who appear to be dressing up, let's say.

[00:03:39]But I have said in previous videos that I think these two men could be high-level magicians just like Red Cloak.

[00:03:49]But if they are, they would be likened to the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, who not only gives a new gown to Cinderella, but turns a pumpkin into a carriage, providing her transportation.

[00:04:05]And although you may think it's a reach, but shortly after Bill sees these two guys, he has his mask and costume, and has a ride to go to a masked ball.

[00:04:21]Actually, even Bill walking into the mansion up those stairs reminds me of the rather dramatic shot of Cinderella on the stairs, too.

[00:04:31]So, I'm actually wondering if the character in Eyes Wide Shut that is a bit more like the Cinderella character is actually Bill and not Alice. Though they both have a few parallels.

[00:04:46]It's actually Bill who ends up at the more elaborate party, though admittedly, this one is more strange than romantic.

[00:04:55]But Bill also ends up leaving the mansion under stressful circumstances when he is found out, just as Cinderella has to leave quickly because of the time.

[00:05:09]One more similarity may involve things that were left at the ball.

[00:05:15]For Bill, the mask seems to have been left at the mansion party because he doesn't seem to have it when he returns his costume the next day.

[00:05:26]And of course, Cinderella leaves her shoe. Her glass slipper falls off as she is running to leave.

[00:05:34]Of course, when the shoe fits, it is how the prince ends up finding her again.

[00:05:40]But it's a bit more complicated here.

[00:05:43]As Bill returns home, we see that mask has now popped up again on the pillow next to Alice.

[00:05:52]But, it doesn't really seem to solve any of their problems here.

[00:05:58]In the last scene at the toy store, notice the box that says the magic circle.

[00:06:05]Because, of course, we've already seen a magic circle in this film at the mansion.

[00:06:12]But, right after that, we get this shot. And, notice this toy here, which obviously shows a fairy tale castle that looks very similar to the castle in the Cinderella film. In fact, it's almost exact. So, that's another connection.

[00:06:34]Now, I tried to see if there were any actual Cinderella figures here in the toy store.

[00:06:40]But, side note, I did see Winnie the Pooh up top there. So, that's another Disney reference.

[00:06:48]But, we do get Helena, the daughter, holding up this Barbie Sugar Plum Fairy doll, which I would assume they were selling because it was Christmas.

[00:06:59]It's not specifically Cinderella, but with that big skirt, the dresses are similar.

[00:07:07]Also, side note, but I have to say a word about that blue-lit mansion that Red Cloak and his group are having their masked ball in. Because, the haunting, almost elegant, and blue-lit mansion does actually remind me a bit of the king's castle from Cinderella, which is, of course, where the princess' ball is.

[00:07:32]But, look at how dreamy it appears in these shots.

[00:07:36]Almost otherworldly.

[00:07:38]And, notice there is a clock on it, just as there is above the door of the mansion.

[00:07:45]So, that's another connection that may have been an inspiration for Stanley Kubrick.

[00:07:53]Let's sum up.

[00:07:55]I feel there are a number of striking connections between Eyes Wide Shut and the animated 1950 Cinderella film.

[00:08:04]First, we literally have a figure on the shelf that looks very much like Cinderella with a gown on.

[00:08:13]And after Bill and Alice get dressed up, they end up at that fancy Ziegler party, which is very much like a grand ball, which is similar to the prince's ball, where Cinderella meets the prince, who kisses her hand.

[00:08:29]And Alice will meet an interesting stranger who also kisses her hand and dances with her, like the prince does.

[00:08:39]So, there are parallels with the party.

[00:08:42]And I've always felt that these two guys at the costume shop were a bit like magicians or fairy godmothers, since after meeting them, Bill has a costume and a ride to the masked ball, just like Cinderella meets a fairy godmother who does her magic, giving her a beautiful gown and a ride to the prince's ball.

[00:09:07]In fact, I'm starting to wonder if Bill is more like the Cinderella character here.

[00:09:13]His encounter is more strange and even ominous, but he leaves his mask at the party, finding it on a pillow, just as Cinderella leaves her shoe at the party, getting it on a pillow.

[00:09:28]So, this magical fairy tale movie seems to be a touchstone for the much darker vision from Kubrick.

[00:09:40]Well, that's my new video about the Cinderella connection in Eyes Wide Shut.

[00:09:46]I hope you liked it.

[00:09:47]I have another video for next week, which I should have finished soon.

[00:09:53]And let me say thank you to my amazing comment section.

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