Reviews of silent film releases on home video. Copyright © 1999-2026 by Carl Bennett and the Silent Era Company. All Rights Reserved.

Ella Cinders (1926)

Colleen Moore stars in this modern take on the Cinderella story, which twists the prince into an ice delivery man and the royal ball into a local movie actress contest.

Ella Cinders (Moore) tolls in the house of her late father, working for her step-mother and two vile step-sisters. Her only supporter is the ice man, Waite Lifter (Lloyd Hughes). When a photographic accident becomes her ticket to Hollywood, she soon learns that the contest was a confidence game and she has lost her chance at stardom. Resolved not to be humiliated in defeat, she stumbles her way (with help from Harry Langdon) into a movie contract. Meanwhile, her beau Waite has been discovered to actually be rich football hero George Waite. The two are accidentally reunited, minus a glass slipper.

Light on plot, the appeal of Ella Cinders is solely in the performance of Colleen Moore, who is quite funny throughout — when smoking a cigar, practicing eye exercises, imitating Lillian Gish, or sneaking onto a movie lot.

— Carl Bennett

The film is presented with a music score composed and performed by Blaine Gale.

Sight unseen, this is our recommended home video edition of the film.

This Region 0 NTSC DVD-R edition is available directly from . . .

The film is likely accompanied by a soundtrack compiled from preexisting recordings.

This Region 0 NTSC DVD-R edition is available from THE FILM DETECTIVE through . . .

This DVD-R edition has been transferred from a 16mm reduction print. The slightly windowboxed, natural-speed video transfer is slightly rotated counter-clockwise and a bit on the dark side

The film is presented with a music score performed on piano by Ben Model. One of the highlights of the presentation is the music score

Supplemental material includes a presentation of Cinderella Cinders (1920) featuring Alice Howell, with an introduction written by Steve Massa.

This Region 0 NTSC DVD-R edition is available from REEL CLASSIC DVD through . . .

This remastered DVD-R edition has been transferred from the same vintage, sepia-toned Kodascope 16mm reduction print utilized for Sunrise Silents’ previous edition, noted below. Some care has obviously been taken to balance the exposures of shots in the windowboxed, natural-speed video transfer, which allows the original color-toning of the very-good source print to be seen. A moderate amount of dust and smudges, and some speckling are present in the slightly flat print. We suspect that the source print is slightly abridged.

The film is accompanied by a serviceable music score of compositions performed on MIDI digital piano compiled by Rich Oliver. We think the playback speed is way too fast and possibly will distract or annoy some viewers.

Of the two editions of this film that Sunrise released, we prefer this one for its presentation of the original sepia tones in the source print. This disc will look better on standard televisions than on HD equipment.

This review was updated in 2026.

SUNRISE SILENTS has discontinued business and this edition is . . .

This DVD-R edition has been mastered from a very-good original Kodascope 16mm reduction print, with a picture image that is somewhat detailed and with a reasonable range of greytones. A moderate amount of dust and smudges, with some scratches and speckling are present in the slightly flat source print. Color-tints have been digitally added to this windowboxed natural-speed video transfer. We suspect that the source print is slightly abridged.

The film is accompanied by a serviceable music score of compositions performed on MIDI digital piano compiled by Rich Oliver. We think the playback speed is way too fast and possibly will distract or annoy some viewers.

This Sunrise Silents disc is out-of-print and has been replaced by the remastered edition noted above.

This review was updated in 2026.

SUNRISE SILENTS has discontinued business and this edition is . . .

The film is likely accompanied by a soundtrack compiled from preexisting music recordings.

Note that this company apparently has a history of pirating other home video editions or pirating television network recordings to produce their products. Be aware that purchasing pirated home video editions does not benefit the original edition producers nor the composers whose music is often pirated as well.

This Region 0 NTSC DVD-R edition is available directly from . . .

Other silent era LLOYD HUGHES films available on home video.