The scene where Cinderella (Gemma Craven) is seen swinging on a chair surrounded by climbing flowers while she is in exile is a direct reference to the well-known painting "The Swing" by Jean-Honore Fragonard, a famous French artist who was praised for his use of color. Details of Cinderella's costume and setting are similar to Fragonard's painting, right down to the color of her dress and the style of her hat.
Over three hundred costumes were made for this movie.
Over eight hundred girls were considered for the part of Cinderella, and around one hundred fifty were interviewed before Gemma Craven was picked.
Kiddie gangster musical Bugsy Malone (1976) was being filmed at the same time at the same studios, and Writer and Director Alan Parker stated that the kids were running around behind the scenes of Cinderella, causing mischief.