Product: The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella [VHS] (1977)
Rating: 5.0
I love The Slipper and The Rose!
This is a truly enchanting musical version of the Cinderella story. I first watched this as a young girl and I've recently watched the DVD a number of times. I was amazed that even though over 10 years have passed I remembered most of the story, including song lyrics and dialogue...obviously it made a big impression on me the first time around! Watching the film as an adult is a real treat. There is a lavish quality to every aspect - from the beautiful costumes to the stunning landscape and gauzy cinematography. It makes me laugh and it makes me cry and, by the end, I'm cheering!The Slipper and The Rose is the kind of film that appeals to adults as well as children. There are many funny jokes and clever songs that are great to sing along to. Of course, and most importantly in my opinion, the film is also incredibly romantic. I can't think of two better actors to play Cinderella and the Prince than Gemma Craven and Richard Chamberlain. Gemma is lovely and kind and Richard is dashing, thoughtful and oozes masculinity - quite a feat when he is wearing high heals and ribbons! In many ways, this is quite a grown-up version of Cinderella. The chracters are fully fleshed out rather than being the usual stereotypes, there are a couple of unexpected twists in the plot, and the film is also slower paced and has longer songs than the typical contemporary musical film. In short, it demands more attention and is more subtle than many of today's family entertainment films.There are also loads of great secondary characters. The Prince's assistant John and his forbidden love Lady Caroline, the put upon Fairy Godfather (played marvellously by Annette Crosbie - best known in Britain as Victor Meldrew's wife in One Foot in the Grave), and a perfectly ghastly Stepmother and Stepsisters. The funniest characters are probably Montague (who is incredibly pompous and outlandish) and the elderly Dowager Queen (who has poor hearing and misunderstands everything because of it).The film fleshes out the character of the Prince in a very enjoyable way. Normally, the Prince is a fairly generic handsome type who rides around on his horse and doesn't do much else. In this version though, we really get to know what he's thinking and feeling. He is determined to marry for love and no other reason, despite strong opposition from his parents and the royal household. Knowing about his troubles, as well as those of Cinderella, make you root for them both all the more.If it isn't obvious by now, I really recommend this film to people who are looking for something romantic and old-fashioned. It is the perfect film to watch when you need a lift. I have so many favourite scenes - when the Prince and John sing `What a comforting thing to know' in the royal crypt, when Cinderella and the Prince meet at the ball and sing `Secret Kingdom', when the Prince rides up on his horse as Cinderella is dancing in the field and when the couple are reunited at the church.The Slipper and the Rose is perfect entertainment with a wonderful happy ending!