Category: Movie - Musical Features - Musicals - Musicals & Cast Recordings - Musicals (Theatrical)
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DVD Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella
A guilty, guilty pleasure, perhaps not one a left-wing feminist should be admitting to in public. Female boomers should recall yearly TV reruns of this Rodgers and Hammerstein production, featuring such delights as "Impossible" and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?" It may appear a bit stark to younger viewers, but part of the charm of this 1964 network TV special, a remake of the live 1957 telecast originally built around Julie Andrews, is its utter simplicity. An extremely young Lesley Ann Warren and Stuart Damon (of General Hospital fame) are joined by Ginger Rogers, Walter Pidgeon, and Celeste Holm. Warren is all sweetness and innocence without a hint of saccharine artificiality, while Damon is a clear-eyed romantic. This very handsome love story is a bit of an oddity, but worth owning just for the memorable score. --Rochelle O'Gorman
For as long as I can remember, I've had a VHS tape of this movie. My father recorded it from the Disney Channel sometime in the early 80s and I watched it so many times he had to make another copy because I killed the first one. I bought the DVD when I realized that my VHA version was missing the last 5 minutes. I'm glad I did, since the quality was soooo much better.
The songs are wonderful and the costumes are vibrant, somewhat making up for the historical fudging. Cinderella (Leslie Ann Warren) is not a strong character in this film, though. The supporting cast are older, more established actors (Ginger Rogers, Walter Pigeon, Pat Carroll, Don Heitgerd) and their voices are much stronger and their screen presence better. Stuart Damon is a somewhat unfocused Prince. I have to wonder if he was looking off-scene for cues. The Herald (Don Heitgerd), who was the original actor chosen for the Prince role, would have been stronger. Prunella (Pat Carroll) out-acts her mother and sister in their scenes. I will say that when the Prince and Cinderella are together, they match up well -- two unfocused, unexperienced, children. But isn't that what fairy tales are about?
Watch it for the supporting cast. Watch the TV black and white version for Julie Andrews as Cinderella.
Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella
I ordered this specific Cinderella production because this is the version I grew up with in the late 50's and 60's. I just love it and want to share this version with my grandchildren. Even if you are not from my generation (baby boomer), this is the best Cinderella out there. The costumes, production, music...it's all fabulous! I would encourage everyone to buy this one.
The Best Cinderella!
I enjoyed this as a kid, and now my kids are enjoying it. Like watching a play on the TV. Great music, timeless story.
The DVD era has unearthed another treasure. For the first time ever, Julie Andrews's performance in the title role of the original 1957 television production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella is available to the public on home video. Cinderella was created as a Broadway-style television production with an original score from the creators of Oklahoma! and Carousel, featuring such songs as "In My Own Little Corner," "Impossible," "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful," and "Stepsisters' Lament." Cast in the title role was the 21-year-old Andrews, at the time starring on Broadway in My Fair Lady (another Cinderella story of sorts), and the cast was filled out by a talented bunch of stage veterans (including Kaye Ballard, Edie Adams, Dorothy... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Julie Andrews - Ilka Chase - Edie Adams Director(s): Ralph Nelson DVD Release Date: Released the 14 December 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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More is not necessarily better. A glitzy Hollywood cast and a big budget did not improve the wonderful 1957 teleplay (or its equally charming 1964 remake) upon which this version is based. This is partly because Brandy, cast in the title role, cannot act. Not helping matters are Whoopi Goldberg as the prince's mother and Jason Alexander as his valet. Their shtick wears thin very quickly. However, Paolo Montalban is charismatic as the prince, and Whitney Houston plays a fairy godmother with pizzazz. The production cost millions, and is certainly lavish, but the whole affair feels forced and overdone, reminding one of a prom queen wearing too much makeup. It does deserve credit for a multi-ethnic cast, the addition of two new songs and a hip attitude. However, the 1964 version (the original... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Robert Iscove DVD Release Date: Released the 14 November 2000 Usually ships in 24 hours
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The third Rodgers & Hammerstein Broadway hit to go before the cameras, The King and I boasts a career-making performance from Yul Brynner, repeating his stage triumph as the titular monarch and proving to moviegoers that bald can be beautiful. It's Brynner's proud king that provides the fulcrum to the plot, and it's Brynner himself, with his piercing gaze and graceful physicality, that demands our attention.
The story line, adapted from an earlier, nonmusical stage hit, follows widowed English teacher Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr) to her new posting as tutor to the Siamese king's formidable mob of children. The collision of East and West affords its winning mixture of drama and humor, and the warm friendship that grows between the king and the patrician teacher provides a... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Walter Lang DVD Release Date: Released the 07 November 2006 Usually ships in 24 hours
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