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DVD Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1957 Television Production)
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 Stickney, and Stickney's husband, writer Howard Lindsay). On March 31, 1957, a then-record 120 million homes saw the program as it was broadcast, live and in color, but it was preserved only in black-and-white kinescope, i.e., by aiming a camera at a monitor during the broadcast. While this version probably looks better than we have any right to expect, the picture is still fuzzy black-and-white, which makes it a tougher sell for kids than the later color versions, 1965 with Lesley Anne Warren and the 1997 Disneyized version. But give older kids (say, 8 or so) credit for being able to look past the black-and-white picture and primitive effects and enjoy the charming songs, the excellent performances, and the prospect of seeing one of their favorite actresses play one of their favorite princesses.
Fortunately, the DVD has also received the attention it deserves, with a new introduction by Andrews, a 20-minute featurette about the production, including interviews with many of the principals; Rodgers and Hammerstein's appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show a week before the broadcast; and a gallery of color photos of the production as well as promotional material, which included paper dolls of Andrews. --David Horiuchi
Review(s): DVD Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1957 Television Production)
the 1957 version of Cinderella
although i just orderd it from my knowledge of it i dont think it was color broadcasted that year i was born u see at that time nbc had a special an evening with fred astaire guest barrie chase and the dina shore chevey show both were live on color video tape and thanks to intellegent producers and archive restoration preservation they both still exist all color episodes including color comercials of chevey cars waiting to be put out on video if theyres a demand if cinderella was broad cast in color they would of have to cbs i think recorded it on color video tape at the time for relaying to other homes with those old hot boxes out side californias pacific time whats worse cbs was too cheap to record it even in bw video they used kinescope to relay it to to other states may be this had to been early 57 before color and bw video tape was used remember it was expensive i think color tvs were 1000 dollars in 1955 at that time 800 dollars by 1957 they heated up too quick they broke down fast the color would fade quick not enough color programmes because a lot of people still had bw tv i remember when my folkes got our first color tv in 1962 it would still heat up bad break down iremember seeing peter pan with mary martin special still exist in color form too the craft music hall specials and even the last of play house 90 in color but to go back to cinderella the art direction and costumes were colorful but as far as i know its original broadcast might of been just bw may be bw video and color wasnt on the market yet or they were cheap who knows
More of historical value than anything else
After an absence of 47 years, the ORIGINAL TV production of R&H's CINDERELLA is finally available to the masses. I must say I am indeed impressed with this DVD. Here we have the show the way 120 million people in North America saw it on the evening of Sunday, March 31, 1957.
However, I must dissent and say that the 1964 version with Lesley Ann Warren is much easier to take than this. That is not to say that this version is not wonderfully produced, which it is. The original was performed on live television, probably in an attempt to give TV viewers a sense of the intimacy of a live stage performance in a Broadway theatre, and was preserved only in fuzzy black and white kinescope form (the original live broadcast was in color). By the time the remake was put into production several years later, videotape had been perfected, thereby allowing the remake to be videotaped for posterity. As well, the 1964 remake was able to take advantage of CBS's all new state of the art television studios, which allowed them to really open the whole thing up. To sum up, this DVD is more for historical importance than for viewing pleasure.
Don't get me wrong. Performance-wise, the original is the best. The cast is original, handpicked by the masters themselves, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. And the performances are genuine. It all still deserves five stars. Its only downfall is that it has to be rendered in primitive 1957 kinescope picture and sound technology. The producers of this release must be commended for putting together a very praiseworthy DVD--they did the best they could with the source materials at their disposal. The 1964 remake, originally aired regularly on TV and available on VHS (and now DVD) for years, is doubtlessly the more familiar version. My preference would probably be for that version, as it is the one I grew up with.
An Excellent Film, Somewhat Marred by Age
This live-action Cinderella truly belongs to Julie Andrews. It's not that the other actors are bad in it, it's just that she shines above the others, and is on camera nearly every minute. Her Cinderella is shy and charming. She has a firm grasp on reality, but continues to dream "impossible things"--never something so preposterous as marrying the Prince, but perhaps a pumpkin becoming a carriage is doable? As always, Andrews' singing is excellent, in a ver accessible Rodgers & Hammerstein score.
The King and Queen, played by real-life couple Howard Lindsay and Dorothy Strickley, are fleshed out considerably in this version. We see them bicker as they plan the ball, but we also see them in love, and wanting only the best for their son.
Edie Adams gives up a light Fairy Godmother, who although she maintains it's impossible to grant Cinderella's wish, ultimately comes through. Unlike other versions, she appears again later in the story to continue setting things in the right direction.
The stepsisters aren't so much ugly and wicked as misguided and pitiful. They're plain ordinary girls who simply haven't got a shot compared to their stepsister, the glamorous, if sooty, Cinderella. They don't come across as mean, just unfortunate--a definite accomplishment on the part of the actresses. The Prince, played by unknown John Cypher, rounds out the main cast; the character is the standard Prince, but as with the King and Queen, we learn more about him in this version.
The score, as with any R&H musical, is its own character, and a dazzling one at that. With songs like "In My Own Little Corner", "Impossible", "A Lovely Night", and the enchanting "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful", this one can't be beat. Get ready to buy the soundtrack for this version as well as the DVD.
The video transfer for this, unfortunately, is Kinescope--made from filming a television screen during the broadcast. Although the original was in sharp color, this one is sadly blurred black-and-white. Take heart, though--the picture is still easily distinguishable; it just appears somewhat blurred. Close-ups are still great, but some detail is lost in long shots.
The extras for the DVD are a mixed bag. There are several picture galleries, mostly from a few scenes of the film. The highlight is the interview with several cast members. There are interesting tidbits on the process of filming this live production--a scary thought!
Bottom Line: Although the picture is somewhat marred, this Cinderella is definitely one to take home. The score, the actors, and the character development combine to make it one of the best tellings of the classic fairy tale.
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It's terribly boring. period.
This DVD makes me fall asleep very easily.
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