Product: The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella [VHS] (1977)
Rating: 5.0
Sparkling, imaginative, and delightful with a biting wit!
I was treated to this film when it was first released in the US in 1977. I immediately dragged everyone I could think of to see it.This rendition of the classic tale can entrance young and old alike. The fairy tale is there, with the handsome prince (Richard Chamberlain at his best!) and the downtrodden Cinderella (Gemma Craven in the role of a lifetime) being assisted by the most "down-to-earth" fairy godmother(perfectly portrayed by acclaimed actress Annette Crosbie of "One Foot in the Grave"), and complete with lush scenery, exquisite costumes, and songs by the same team who did "Mary Poppins." (The Sherman brothers did get an Academy Award Nomination for "He Danced With Me/She Danced with Me" from the film.)But wait. There's more. We have a plot twist, fleshed out characters of the queen, the king, and the court, plus an attendant-at-arms in the person of Royal Ballet star-turned-actor Christopher Gable. The whole story has wit, and bite, and a fullness of character. The musical numbers are beautifully staged and acrobatic enough to be reminiscent of Gene Kelly's work. Chamberlain's singing was a known factor, and his dancing work was good enough to match Gable's. (Of course, Chamberlain has been stage-fighting trained for swordwork and such.)If you think you saw this on the Disney Channel, you saw MOST of it. I saw it in the theater and saw ALMOST ALL of it. The DVD version now available has IT ALL. Not seen in US theatres: the number "Find a Mate" which included the great Dame Edith Evans singing! Then there's the song Gemma Craven sings while in exile. [Note: the soundtrack, which was released when the film ran in the theater, does not include either of those numbers.] Also new to US audiences: a glimpse into the life of Annette Crosbie's fairy godmother, and what she has to deal with.It's a lavish production, the last of the original musicals, and truly enjoyable. DVD extras include a behind the scenes look at the production as well as a look at the inception of the project. Considering the film will soon be 30 years old, and hadn't been readily available for years, this is wonderful.