This record-breaking 15 minutes long prologue introduces the movie’s main characters and their wishes.

The characters, except for the Baker and his Wife, come from four brothers Grimm’s fairytales:… Read More [NARRATOR, spoken]

Once upon a time in a far-off kingdom, there lay a small village at the edge of the woods.

[CINDERELLA]

I wish

[NARRATOR, spoken]

And in this village—

[CINDERELLA]

More than anything

[NARRATOR, spoken]

Lived a young maiden—

[CINDERELLA]

More than life

More than jewels

[NARRATOR, spoken]

A carefree young lad—

[JACK]

I wish

More than life

[NARRATOR, spoken]

And a childless baker—

[CINDERELLA & BAKER]

I wish

[NARRATOR, spoken]

With his wife.

[BAKER]

More than anything

[BAKER'S WIFE]

More than the moon

[BAKER & BAKER'S WIFE]

I wish

[CINDERELLA]

The King is giving a Festival

[BAKER & BAKER'S WIFE]

More than life

[JACK]

I wish

[CINDERELLA]

I wish to go to the Festival

[BAKER & BAKER'S WIFE]

More than riches

[CINDERELLA]

And the ball

[JACK]

I wish my cow would

Give us some milk

[CINDERELLA & BAKER'S WIFE]

More than anything

[BAKER]

I wish we had a child

[JACK]

Please, pal—

[BAKER'S WIFE]

I want a child

[JACK]

Squeeze, pal

[CINDERELLA]

I wish to go to the Festival

[JACK]

I wish you'd give us some

Milk or even cheese

I wish

[BAKER & BAKER'S WIFE]

I wish we might have a child

I wish

[STEPMOTHER]

You wish to go to the Festival?

[NARRATOR, spoken]

The poor girl's parents had died—

[STEPMOTHER]

You, Cinderella, the Festival?

You wish to go to the Festival?

[FLORINDA]

What, you, Cinderella, the Festival?

The Festival?!

[LUCINDA]

What, you wish to go to the Festival?

[STEPMOTHER, FLORINDA & LUCINDA]

The Festival?

The King's Festival?

[NARRATOR, spoken]

And now she lived with her stepmother—

[STEPMOTHER, spoken]

The Festival?

Ha!

[NARRATOR, spoken]

Who had two daughters of her own.

[FLORINDA]

Look at your nails!

[LUCINDA]

Look at your dress!

[STEPMOTHER]

People would laugh at you

[CINDERELLA]

Nevertheless

I still wish to go to the Festival

And dance before the Prince

[STEPMOTHER & STEPSISTERS]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

[NARRATOR, spoken]

All three were beautiful of face, but vile and black of heart. The young lad had no father, and his mother—

[JACK'S MOTHER]

I wish

[NARRATOR, spoken]

Well, she was at her wit's end.

[JACK'S MOTHER]

I wish my son were not a fool

I wish my house was not a mess

I wish the cow was full of milk

I wish the walls were full of gold

I wish a lot of things

(spoken)

Ooh! What in heaven's name are you doing with the cow inside the house?

[JACK, spoken]

I thought if he got nice and warm he might produce some milk.

[JACK'S MOTHER, spoken]

It's a she. How many times do I have to tell you that only she's can give milk?

[NARRATOR, spoken]

And then there was a hungry little girl who always wore a red cape.

[LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD]

I wish

It's not for me

It's for my Granny in the woods

A loaf of bread, please

To bring my poor old hungry

Granny in the woods

Just a loaf of bread, please

[STEPMOTHER, spoken]

Cinderella, if you can pick up these lentils and finish your chores in time, then you may go to the ball with us. Come along, ladies.

[STEPSISTERS, spoken]

Yes, Mother.

[LUCINDA, spoken]

Good luck.

[CINDERELLA]

Come, little birds

Down from the eaves

And the leaves

Over fields

Out of castles and ponds

[JACK]

Now, squeeze, pal

[CINDERELLA]

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah

Quick, little birds

Flick through the ashes

Pick and peck, but swiftly

Sift through the ashes

Into the pot

[JACK'S MOTHER, spoken]

Now listen to me well, son. Milky-White must be taken to market.

[JACK, spoken]

Mother, no, he's the best cow in the world!

[JACK'S MOTHER, spoken]

Was. She has been dry for weeks now. We've no food or money and no choice but to sell her.

[JACK, spoken]

But Milky-White's my best friend.

[JACK'S MOTHER, spoken]

Look at her!

(sung)

There are bugs on her dugs

There are flies in her eyes

There's a lump on her rump

Big enough to be a hump

[JACK, spoken]

But—

[JACK'S MOTHER]

We've no time to sit and dither

While her withers wither with her

And no one keeps a cow for a friend!

(spoken)

Sometimes I wonder what's going on in that head of yours.

[LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD]

Into the woods, it's time to go

I hate to leave, I have to though

Into the woods—it's time, and so

I must begin my journey

Into the woods and through the trees

To where I am expected, ma'am

Into the woods to Grandmother's house

Into the woods to Grandmother's house

[BAKER'S WIFE, spoken]

Are you certain of your way?

[LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD]

The way is clear

The light is good

I have no fear

Nor no one should

The woods are just trees

The trees are just wood

I sort of hate to ask it

But do you have a basket?

[BAKER'S WIFE, spoken]

Yes, we do.

[BAKER, spoken]

I don't suppose you're planning on buying any of these.

[BAKER'S WIFE, spoken]

Oh, shh. Now, don't stray and be late, alright?

[BAKER, spoken]

You might save some of those sweets for Granny. Oh my—

[BAKER'S WIFE, spoken]

Just leave it.

[BAKER, spoken]

She's a thief!

[LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD]

Into the woods and down the dell

The path is straight, I know it well

Into the woods and who can tell

What's waiting on the journey?

Into the woods to bring some bread

To Granny who is sick in bed

Never can tell what lies ahead

For all that I know she's already dead

But into the woods

Into the woods

Into the woods

To Grandmother's house

And home before dark

[FLORINDA, spoken]

Cinderella!

[LUCINDA, spoken]

Get up here!

[CINDERELLA]

Fly, birds

Back to the sky

[FLORINDA, spoken]

We're waiting!

[CINDERELLA]

Back to the eaves

And the leaves

And the fields

And the—

[FLORINDA]

Hurry up and do my hair, Cinderella!

Are you really wearing that?

[LUCINDA]

Here, I found a little tear, Cinderella

Can't you hide it with a hat?

[CINDERELLA]

You look beautiful

[FLORINDA]

I know

[LUCINDA]

She means me

[FLORINDA]

No, she didn't

[CINDERELLA]

Mother said be good

Father said be nice

That was always their advice

So be nice, Cinderella

Good, Cinderella

Nice good good nice

[FLORINDA]

Tighter!

[CINDERELLA]

What's the good of being good

If everyone is blind

Always leaving you behind?

Never mind, Cinderella

Kind Cinderella

Nice good nice kind good nice

[FLORINDA, spoken]

Ow! Not that tight! Clod!

[BAKER, spoken]

Who might that be?

[BAKER'S WIFE, spoken]

We've sold our last loaf of bread!

[BAKER, spoken]

It's the witch from next door.

[BAKER'S WIFE, spoken]

We have no bread.

[WITCH, spoken]

I don't want your bread.

[BAKER, spoken]

Then what is it you wish?

[WITCH, spoken]

It's not what I wish. It's what you wish. Nothing cooking in that belly now, is there? And there will never be unless you do exactly as I say. In three days time a blue moon will appear. Only then can the curse be undone.

[BAKER'S WIFE, spoken]

What curse?

[WITCH, spoken]

The one I placed on this house.

[BAKER, spoken]

What are you talking about?

[WITCH, spoken]

In the past, when you were no more than a babe, your father brought his young wife and you to this cottage. They were a lovely couple, but not lovely neighbors. You see, your mother was with child, and she developed an unusual appetite. She admired my beautiful garden and she told your father that what she wanted more than anything in the world, was—

(sung)

Greens, greens, nothing but greens:

Parsley, peppers, cabbages and celery

Asparagus and watercress and

Fiddle ferns and lettuce—

He said, "All right,"

But it wasn't, quite

‘Cause I caught him

In the autumn

In my garden one night!

He was robbing me

Raping me

Rooting through my rutabaga

Raiding my arugula and

Ripping up the rampion

My champion!

My favorite!

I should have laid a spell on him

Right there—

I could have turned him into stone

Or a dog...

Or a chair...

But I let him have the rampion

I'd lots to spare

In return, however

I said, "Fair is fair:

You can let me have the baby

That your wife will bear

And call it square"

[BAKER, spoken]

I had a brother?

[WITCH, spoken]

No. But, you had a sister.

[BAKER, spoken]

Where is she?

[WITCH, spoken]

She's mine now! And you'll never find her. Small price to pay for what else your father stole from me. It cost me my youth, my beauty. My mother warned me. She would punish me with the curse of ugliness if I ever lost any of them.

[BAKER'S WIFE, spoken]

Lost what?

[WITCH]

The beans.

[BAKER & BAKER'S WIFE]

Beans?

[WITCH]

The special beans!

I let him go

I didn't know

He'd stolen my beans

I was watching him crawl

Back over the wall

When bang! Crash!

A lightning flash!

Well, that's another story

Never mind—

Anyway, at last

The big day came

I made my claim

"Oh, don't take away the baby,"

They shrieked and screeched

But I did

And I hid her

Where she'll never be reached

Your father cried

And your mother died

When for extra measure—

I admit it was a pleasure—

I said, "Sorry

I'm still not mollified"

And I laid a little spell on them—

You too, son—

That your family tree

Would always be

A barren one

[BAKER'S WIFE, spoken]

Oh!

[BAKER, spoken]

How could you do that?

[WITCH, spoken]

And when your mother died, your father deserted you. Your father was no father, so why should you be?

(sung)

Now there's no more fuss

And there's no more scenes

And my garden thrives—

You should see my nectarines!

But I'm telling you the same

I tell kings and queens:

Don't ever never ever

Mess around with my greens!

Especially the beans

[JACK, spoken]

Yeah, but why do we have to go to the next village?

[JACK'S MOTHER, spoken]

Because everyone in this village knows the cow hasn't given a drop of milk in weeks.

[JACK, spoken]

That's cheating!

[JACK'S MOTHER, spoken]

We're starving, Jack! Don't you understand that? Now, you're not to accept less than five pounds for her. Are you listening to me?

[JACK, spoken]

Yes.

[JACK'S MOTHER, spoken]

How much are you to ask?

[JACK, spoken]

No more than five pounds.

[JACK'S MOTHER, spoken]

Less than five!

[JACK, spoken]

Than five!

[JACK'S MOTHER]

Into the woods, the time is now

We have to live, I don't care how

Into the woods to sell the cow

You must begin the journey!

Straight to the woods and don't delay

We have to face the marketplace

Into the woods to journey's end

[JACK]

Into the woods to sell a friend

[WITCH]

You wish to have the curse reversed?

I'll need a certain potion first

Go to the wood and bring me back

One: the cow as white as milk

Two: the cape as red as blood

Three: the hair as yellow as corn

Four: the slipper as pure as gold

Bring me these before the chime

Of midnight in three days' time

Tis' then the blue moon reappears

Which comes but once each hundred years

Bring them and I guarantee

A child as perfect as child can be

(spoken)

Go to the wood!

[STEPMOTHER, spoken]

Ladies, our carriage awaits.

[CINDERELLA]

Now may I go to the Festival?

[STEPMOTHER, spoken]

The Festival?

(sung)

Darling, those nails!

Darling, those clothes!

Lentils are one thing but

Darling, with those

You'd make us the fools of the Festival

And mortify the Prince!

[CINDERELLA, spoken]

The Festival lasts three nights. Surely, you could let me be there for one of them.

[STEPMOTHER, spoken]

The King is trying to find his son a wife. Not a scullery maid. We must be gone! Go!

[CINDERELLA]

I wish

[BAKER'S WIFE, spoken]

Beans? Oh, these must be the witch's beans! We'll take them with us.

[BAKER, spoken]

We?

[BAKER'S WIFE, spoken]

Yes!

[BAKER, spoken]

We? You're not coming. It's not safe out there.

[BAKER'S WIFE, spoken]

I can help you!

[BAKER, spoken]

No! I can do this on my own.

(sung)

The spell is on my house

Only I can lift the spell

The spell is on my house

[BAKER'S WIFE]

No, no, the spell is on our house

We must lift the spell together

The spell is on our house!

[BAKER, spoken]

Now tell me what am I to return with?

[BAKER'S WIFE, spoken]

Ugh, you don't remember?

(sung)

The cow as white as milk

The cape as red as blood

The hair as yellow as corn

The slipper as pure as gold

[BAKER]

The cow as white as milk

The cape as red as blood

The hair as yellow as corn

The slipper as pure as gold

[CINDERELLA]

I still wish to go to the Festival

But how am I ever to get to the Festival?

[BAKER]

The cow as white as milk

The cape as red as blood

The hair as yellow as corn

[CINDERELLA]

I know!

I'll visit Mother's grave

The grave at the willow tree

And tell her I just want to

Go to the King's Festival

[BAKER]

The slipper as pure as gold

The cow, the cape

The slipper as pure as gold

[BAKER'S WIFE]

The hair!

[CINDERELLA & BAKER]

Into the woods, it's time to go

It may be all in vain, you/I know

Into the woods—but even so

I have to take the journey

[BAKER'S WIFE]

Into the woods

The path is straight

You know it well

[BAKER]

But who can tell

[BAKER'S WIFE]

Into the woods to lift the spell

[CINDERELLA]

Into the woods to visit Mother

[JACK'S MOTHER]

Into the woods to sell the cow!

[JACK]

To get the money!

[CINDERELLA]

To go to the Festival!

[LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD]

Into the woods to grandmother's house!

Into the woods to grandmother's house!

[ALL]

The way is clear

The light is good

I have no fear

Nor no one should

The woods are just trees

The trees are just wood

No need to be afraid there—

[BAKER]

There's something in the glade there

[ALL]

Into the woods without delay

But careful not to lose the way

Into the woods, who knows what may

Be lurking on the journey?

Into the woods to get the thing

That makes it worth the journeying

[STEPMOTHER & STEPSISTERS]

Into the woods to see the King

[JACK]

To sell the cow

[BAKER]

To make the potion

[ALL]

To see

To sell

To get

To bring

To make

To lift

To go to the Festival!

Into the woods! (To see, to sell, to get, to bring)

Into the woods! (To make, to lift, to go to the Festival)

Into the woods, into the woods (To see, to sell, to get, to bring)

Into the woods, into the woods (To make, to lift, to go to the Festival)

Into the woods

Then out of the woods

(To see, to sell, to get, to bring)

(To make, to lift, to go to the Festival)

Into the woods

Then out of the woods

And home before dark!