Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1957 Television Production)

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Summary: Found at Last!
Review: At last, the original version of Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella is available. Originally aired only once on live television in 1957, this classic has, until now, been lost to history. I grew up on the 1965 version (Lesley Ann Warren) but have always wanted to see the Julie Andrews version ever since I learned of it.

For those familiar with the 1965 version, there are some surprises here. There were apparently many changes between the two. The original opens up right with "The Prince is Giving a Ball". There is no scene were Cinderella meets the Prince prior to the ball. At home the Stepmother and Stepsisters (Portia and Joy) do a much better job of belittling Cinderella and making her do all of the work.

The Godmother (no mention of fairy) is far more mischievous in the original. Even her involvement in the story's conclusion is quite different not only from the 1965 version, but from most tellings of the fairy tale. We see a little more of the King and Queen and even have a musical number about preparing the Ball. There are even quite a few scenes that, at least when compared to later versions, could be considered somewhat risque.

For fans of the 1965 version, you should watch this one as well. It is sufficiently different to be just as entertaining. First timers to the Rogers and Hammerstein story will be entranced by this fun tale. Watch it by all means.

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Summary: Unparalleled
Review: I have always liked the Lesley Ann Warren version of Cinderella, and still have a nostalgic place for it in my mind. Lesley was definitely the sexiest Cinderella of all. But the original 1957 performance just released on DVD is superior to all later versions. Julie Andrews, Edie Adams, and the whole cast are all perfect. Don't miss it! (As for that thing with Brandy--what the hell was that, the result of an ACLU lawsuit or something?)

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Summary: Leslie Ann Warren is laughable as Cinderella!
Review: I too grew up with the 1965 version of the story and cannot in my wildest dreams believe that they would continue to air for as many years as they did knowing that the 1957 version was a masterpiece by comparison. I never really thought Leslie Ann Warren was that superb as Cinderella as a child and now after seeing the 1957 version it is makes me laugh until my sides ache when I hear how horribly Leslie Ann Warren sang and how bad Stuart Damon really was. The rest of the story just plods along as well. Everyone MUST buy this version. It is fast paced and the prince and Cinderella's voices are to die for. It is truly a ten and a the by FAR the greatest version of this production.

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Summary: Superior by far to the other versions
Review: I vaguely remembered seeing this version when I was five years old on a black-and-white set, so seeing it in this black-and-white kinescope version did not cause me any major trauma; it was not that different than how it was for me years ago except that now I have the advantage of more than forty years of experience and knowledge. There is absolutely no comparison between this version and the versions that came after it. In this version, the acting and plot are much more substantial, and Julie Andrews as a singer and actress dwarfs those women who played in the title role after her. The 1965 version had the advantage of color and more video effects, and the Disneyized version -- too absurd to consider; the original version surpasses both in terms of overall content and performance. Had the same technology been available for the original version, there would be no contest at all.

I recall that when the 1965 version came out, the justification for making it was that when the 1957 version was produced, videotape did not exist so that once the production was aired, it was lost forever. Had the producers tried to recreate the 1957 version rather than to mangle it, perhaps they could have been forgiven, but Lesley Ann Warren could not easily have replaced Julie Andrews, as this DVD shows very clearly.

This version is truly Broadway brought to the small screen. In addition to Julie Andrews as Cinderella, Kaye Ballard and Alice Ghostley play the stepsisters, Ilka Chase plays the stepmother, and the original version gives a much clearer picture of how Cinderella is excluded from the family structure than in the other versions. Edie Adams plays a very smart and savvy Godmother (the term Fairy Godmother is not used in the show at all) and is quite sly in how she "turns in" Cinderella to the palace guards so as to make them try the glass slipper on her at the end. Howard Lindsay and Dorothy Stickney, both theater royalty, play the King and Queen and have very significant roles in the play in a way that was totally lost in the versions that followed. The young Jon Cypher was a total unknown at the time of the production and gives an impressive performance. The magic of live theater is very evident throughout the show in a way that the later versions totally lack.

The additional commentaries that come with the DVD are most interesting and revealing as well. For those persons who remember the initial screening of Cinderella, watching this performance is a powerful experience. For those seeing it for the first time, it is a valuable milestone in the history of television and musical theater that has fortunately been captured for future viewing.

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Summary: It's nothing short of a miracle!
Review: Imagine, if you would, that buried in some forgotten basement someone managed to unearth a filmed record of the first production of "Oklahoma!" "South Pacific" or "The King and I." It would be pretty amazing, wouldn't it?

Well, the DVD release of the original production of Rogers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella" is no less a miracle than what I have described above. It's pointless to compare or defend the 1957 original cast to the 1965 remake or complain about the limitations of a Kinescope recording. This is ground zero for this charming work and warts and all theatre buffs should rejoice that it's finally available as something other than a nasty, 15th generation VHS copy bought illegally off the Internet.

I was six years old when I saw the original telecast. The advance publicity lasted for weeks and anyone who could get near a television watched it. In these days of disposable entertainment it's hard to communicate what an event something like this was. What a joy to own it and what a miracle it is to watch it any time I like!

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Summary: great version of Cinderella
Review: Julie Andrew's is a beautiful Cinderella, this is an enchanting movie with really romantic and wonderful songs. It's for kids and adults. I'd definitly recommend it to anyone. It's really magical and a beautiful love story and also some funny and commical songs as well. Kaye Ballard is excellent in it as one of the step sisters. Shes so talented.

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Summary: Superior to other versions in every way!
Review: This is the definitive version of Roger and Hammerstein's "Cinderella"! Originally conceived as a vehicle for Julie Andrews while she was making "My Fair Lady" a hit on Broadway, she is "practically perfect in every way" in the title role. This original screenplay is also superior to the chopped up version created in the 60's with Leslie Ann Warren. There are great scenes with the Prince's parents, and there is a good feeling of family love that is conveyed. The ending is also more touching and satisfying, since it is more generous to Cinderella's step family, and conveys a moral of understanding and forgiveness demonstrated by the kind hearted Cinderella. Finally, it is a true treat to see and hear Julie Andrews sing and act the title role. I highly recommend this DVD to any lover of the American theater and/or Julie Andrews.

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Summary: at last!
Review: This release of the original telecast of RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA has been well worth the wait! After being one of the most-requested home video titles, at last we can add this historic programme to our collections.

In 1957 Rodgers and Hammerstein penned their own musical version of Charles Perrault's fairytale 'Cinderella', to be performed live on television. Julie Andrews (who was starring on Broadway in MY FAIR LADY at the time) was selected to play the title waif. The score and script were largely tailored to her unique talents.

The supporting cast included Broadway 'royal couple' Dorothy Stickney and Howard Lindsay as the King and Queen, with Ilka Chase as the Stepmother. Alice Ghostley and Kaye Ballard played Stepsisters Portia and Joy. Jon Cypher played the Prince with Edie Adams a glamorous and witty Fairy Godmother.

The script by Hammerstein is tight and clever (easily better than Joseph Schrank's for the 1965 television remake). The book is sharp and witty, full of hilarious scenes for the Stepsisters and the King and Queen. Julie Andrews is far more defiant and heartbreaking in the role of Cinderella than Lesley Ann Warren (and let's not mention Brandy).

As much as I adore the Lesley Ann Warren version, I like this version much more. The only reason why the 1965 version has got it's reputation is because the original was out of circulation. Now we can all make up our minds which version is the superior, though the conclusion is obvious!

This DVD includes some great extras with a documentary featuring new interviews with Julie Andrews, Edie Adams, Kaye Ballard and Jon Cypher, as well as an optional filmed introduction by Andrews. There are also some image galleries and the Rodgers and Hammerstein appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Impossible things are happening every day, and they must be for this original version of CINDERELLA to finally be released on DVD!



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Summary: Rodgers vs. Hammerstein
Review: What a gift it is to now have the two versions of this wonderful musical reflecting the differing personalities and outlooks of its creators. Hammerstein was the dominant force in the 1957 production, giving Julie Andrews' Cinderella the outgoing, tolerant, and optimistic elements of himself, which added a sparkle to his dialogue (and Rodgers' music). Following Hammerstein's passing, Rodgers was to give Leslie Ann Warren's Cinderella a good dose of his pessimism and introversion, while deleting and adding musical numbers to set his tone more persuasively.

Both casts are wonderful. There are so many virtues in each cast and production, the differences and minor faults do not matter.

Although colorization usually annoys me, and I would not want to be without the original black and white kinescope as presented here (since it was a black and white experience for most viewers), the fact is that the production was designed for color television and, as can be seen in photographs included with the additional material on the DVD, the true colors used in the actual production can be determined. I would much prefer that sort of restoration than to watch the version with Brandy.



Rating:
Summary: Vintage TV at its best.
Review: Worth every penny you pay for it. Wonderful broadcast of an historical evening. Charming, simple, and very sweet in its lack of advanced technical effects. Music is fabulous, great little extras with Rodgers & Hammerstein on Ed Sullivan and "the making of" short. A really special DVD.