The Slipper and the Rose

Rating:
Summary: A different slant to an old story...
Review: The story of Cinderella has had numerous dramatic incarnations over the years, probably the best known being the 1950 Disney version, and the Rodgers and Hammerstein TV adaptation from 1957 (and 1965 and 1997). The story is timeless in its appeal, and in its variations ("My Fair Lady" is the same story with Henry Higgins functioning both as Fairy Godmother and the Prince...). But perhaps the most intriguing, and undoubtedly most physically beautiful, telling of Cinderella is in the 1975 British film "The Slipper and the Rose". Adapted for the screen with genuine affection as well as patience and care, this original film musical was released to unresponsive audiences in the US during the fall-out period that came after the age of reserved seat musical extravaganzas. Cut by about 20 minutes after its US premiere at Radio City Msuic Hall, the movie played listless engagements before seemingly disappearing from the face of the earth. Now all that has changed with Image's beautiful new DVD release - Panavision, 5.1 digital stereo, lots of extras, and best of all, it's full length of 143 minutes.

What makes the film so intriguing, aside from its stunning visual beauty (locations shot in Austria), is the very dark slant to the fairy tale that's given here. The Prince refuses to marry just anyone, he wants to marry for love; the King needs a political marriage for his son to stave off the prospect of war. Not only that, but the search for the mystery girl who rushes from the "bride finding ball" at midnight (and leaves behind one sparkling slipper) is unfruitful. When the Prince and his beloved are finally reunited, politics rears its ugly head once more, and Cinderella is put in exile while the Prince is betrothed to a Teutonic maiden (in a really ghastly wedding headdress). All ends happily, yes, but this is definitely a much more sophisiticated slant to the traditional way the story usually plays out.

Sprinkled in along the way is a generic score by the Sherman brothers (of Disney fame and fortune), some truly uninspired choreography, and a raft of fine supporting character actors. Richard Chamberlin is surprisingly effective as the Prince (he has a genuine singing voice, by the way), and Gemma Craven (who?) does very well as the heroine. Some parts of it are enchanting, and others are so maddeningly attenuated that you want to scream, but it's a gorgeous sight to behold and there are a couple of not-bad tunes. And it's great to have it on home video uncut and letterboxed as it should be.

Rating:
Summary: HOORAY! A must have for every video library!
Review: I, like most viewers, saw this years ago, and it has been in my heart ever since! I am so thrilled that it is finally being released and others will become acquainted with, what I consider, the greatest Cinderella story ever! The casting is absolutely superb, Richard Chamberlain and Gemma Craven are the epitome of this famous prince and his leading lady! Equally enjoyable is the fairy godmother, whose character is like icing on the cake! The story is very romantic, but also very believable, as each character deals with the demands of protocol. The scenery and musical score speak for themselves! Absolutely superb! I've been singing the songs for years! ("Once I Was Loved", "Rainbows Raced Around The Room," and "The Family Crypt song," which is hilarious, are favorites!) Buy this movie today! It's one you don't want to miss!

Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing.
Review: After winning an autographed copy several years ago, I had to wait a long time to unite this DVD with a DVD player. I have always enjoyed the Sherman Brothers' work, from Mary Poppins to 1776, even the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room. I was also looking forward to finally watching Michael Hordern onscreen, after falling in love with his voice in the BBC's radio version of The Lord of the Rings (he was a spectacular Gandalf). Now, after all that buildup, what a tremendous letdown. I'm about 40 minutes in and bored out of my skull. The jokes are flat, the lyrics monosyllabic and predictable, the melodies are entirely forgettable, and the acting is entirely two-dimensional.

Not recommended for anyone over the age of 5.

Rating:
Summary: "Suddenly it happens, and the dream comes true!"
Review: "Wonderfully, beautifully it happens and your world is new," says Cinderella in this long awaited film, which is FINALLY being released in its entirety -- the full length, British version! This wonderful, lavish musical of the story of Cinderella, stars Richard Chamberlain as the Prince, Gemma Craven as Cinderella, and a wonderful cast including Annette Crosbie, Michael Hordern, Christopher Gable, Kenneth More, Margaret Lockwood, and Dame Edith Evans. The musical score is brilliantly written by the incomparable Sherman Brothers, who also co-wrote the script with Director Bryan Forbes. This is a great film for all ages, and sure to be a perfect addition to your movie collection.

ALSO INCLUDED on the DVD are an audio commentary by director Bryan Forbes, a video interview with the Sherman Brothers, and a promotional featurette -- "Cinderella Story: The Making of 'The Slipper and the Rose".

Rating:
Summary: With the best Fairy Godmother ever
Review: I remember seeing this when I was young, but couldn't remember the name of it. I was delighted when I found it again. While some of the songs in this are not the best work ever in a musical, ("Proticoligorically Correct" comes to mind, which in my opinion drags the movie down a bit), the acting of the cast in the rest of the film more than makes up for it. The showstopping song and dance of "Position and Positioning" is particularly fine, and does bring back memories of the rooftop dancing from "Mary Poppins," which was also the work of the creative team on this film.

Even those actors who don't have any lines to speak of add to the fun, including the Queen mother of "the other bride," whose facial expressions while her husband and the King of Euphrania discuss the problem of their disobedient children make me laugh every time I see it.

The leads do a wonderful job in this, particularly Richard Chamberlin, who portrays a very kind and thoughtful prince. As with many veteran actors, you can almost see what he is thinking when he is onscreen. (Veteran, indeed; I still find it hard to believe that he was 40 when he played this role!) The fact that we actually get to know the prince is one of the things that make this retelling of the tale superior to others. He has at least as much screen time as does Gemma Craven, and it adds to the richness of the story.

Gemma Craven, as the main character, does a fine job, managing to stay just this side of sappy. Often with the Cinderella story, I feel the urge to slap the girl silly, most often because the actress in the role is sort of "parroting" goodness. Ms. Craven's performance leaves you believing that Cinderella is simply a noble being, willing even to sacrifice her own happiness for the good of the people in her homeland, and trying to ensure that the man she loves will not be miserable when he finds she has done so. You can't help being delighted for her when things turn out right in the end.

The best performance by far, though, in this movie is that of Annette Crosby as the Fairy Godmother. Rather than the sugary-sweet version that we are served up in the other versions of the Cinderella story, Ms. Crosby's performance is delightfully tart and very funny. This version also finally explains the reason for the "leave before the stroke of midnight" stricture, which has always been an irritating point in the classic fable. *Why* does Cinderella have to leave before midnight? The explanation in this version at least makes sense.

For fans of the Cinderella myth, this is a good version to choose.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: I bought this after reading some of the reviews. I have always been a fan of Cinderella. This is a great movie. The songs are wonderful and the fairy godmother is the best. If you like magic and music you'll love this.

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST Cinderella Movie Ever!
Review: I remember watching a poor quality, overly watched videotape of this movie when I was 6 years old and falling in love. The music is haunting, beautiful and memorable (after years, I still can sing every song from heart). The visuals and surrounding environment are lucious and magnificent. Richard makes a vulnerable and intelligent, very lovable prince charming. And as for Gemma Craven, she's the perfect Cinderella, no woman will ever be able to compare. She beautiful and demure. Her voice is like delicate crystal. She commands the screen with her quiet grace, and her smile is so genuine can can't help but adore her. And adore her I did.

Rating:
Summary: this is the best film ever
Review: this film uis the bvest film i have ever seen the music is so fun and the story is great and so magical. I love the cindrella story and i feel thatthis film expands the story in a very successful way. My favorite part of the film is where edward finds cinderella on his horse. It is so romantic i didnt realise until now that you could get it on dvd but i will be ordering it straight away.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful but poor quality DVD
Review: I was so happy to find my favourite version of Cinderella. I loved this movie as a child and was continually pestering my mother to rent it on video. I must have seen it 25-30 times! However I was really disappointed in the quality of this DVD. The sound doesn't match the Actors mouths......it was only slightly off to begin with so I was able to ignore it. But it kept getting worse. I recommend getting the video version instead. Its still one of the most beautiful movies I have seen....as long as I don't focus on the actors mouths!

Rating:
Summary: The richest "Cinderella" movie ever made
Review: This has long been my favorite movie ever made. As a lover of fairy tales, it sparked my interest immediately, and as a girl my favorite fairy tale of all was "Cinderella."

Here, the Sherman Brothers (writers of "Mary Poppins") have brought this classic story to a whole new level. The richness of this tale is unsurpassed. In spite of its being fairly cheesy (hardly surprising in a fairy tale, after all) it is also wonderfully charming. The story is expanded excellently, and this new release of it includes never-before-seen footage as well. The added footage was wonderful, I was so upset that they had actually left it OUT! There are even two new songs that were not in the original release, and a couple of other songs are expanded.

The music is breathtaking and sometimes downright haunting (as in the case of "Tell Him Anything" or "I Can't Forget the Melody"), the cinematography is gorgeous, and the costumes are simply unbelievable! I wanted to be in that movie if only for the sake of those scrumptious costumes! ;-)

For the lover of the musical, or simply a lover of fairy tales, this is the best of them all.