The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella (1976)

Director:

Bryan Forbes

Writers:

Charles Perrault (story)
Bryan Forbes (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

11 April 1976 (UK)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

You'll forget every other love story you ever saw . . . or sang to.

Plot:

In the tiny kingdom of Euphrania, the King and his court are most anxious to get Prince Edward wed. But Edward wants to marry for love...

Plot Keywords:

Cinderella | Prince | King | Fairy Godmother | Love

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

Sherrie Hewson	...	Palatine
John Turner	...	Major-Domo
Rosalind Ayres	...	Isobella
Keith Skinner	...	Willoughby
Polly Williams	...	Lady Caroline
Christopher Gable	...	John
Margaret Lockwood	...	Stepmother
Julian Orchard	...	Montague
Annette Crosbie	...	Fairy Godmother
Edith Evans	...	Dowager Queen
Kenneth More	...	Chamberlain
Lally Bowers	...	Queen
Michael Hordern	...	King
Gemma Craven	...	Cinderella
Richard Chamberlain	...	Prince

Also Known As:

The Slipper and the Rose (UK) (short title)

Runtime:

146 min | USA:127 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | 4-Track Stereo

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Anif Castle, Anif, Salzburg, Austria

Company:

Paradine Co-Productions

Trivia:

Ironically received its most publicity in recent decades by being spotlighted in the film Frost/Nixon (2008) as the real movie whose premiere producer David Frost is attending (while his problems with the Nixon interviews are escalating).

Quotes:

Prince Edward: How amazing!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Frost/Nixon (2008)

Soundtrack:

I Can't Forget The Melody

A Childhood Treasure rediscovered

My parents taped this movie from TV for me when I was young, and it has always remained one of my favorites. I've worn the tape out over the years, because even now that I'm a (supposed) grown up, I still get the urge to go back and watch again and again.

The film is beautiful, filmed on location in Europe (Austria, I think?) with a whimsical and richly romantic air. What I love most about this movie is that it makes the effort to flesh out the characters into three dimensional figures and to set against an (at least plausible) historical backdrop, while still maintaining a tiny bit of tongue-in-cheek self-awareness--a live-action period piece that enjoys the fact that it's really a fairytale and a musical. I've always thought that gave it just a hint of sophistication. The movie also explores more of the complexities of the stories and the characters' motivations. It carries us past the classic "slipper" moment and allows for a more complete ending, which I found more fulfilling.

As for the characters themselves, I loved Cinderella, neither the modernized girl-power of "Ever After" (which I loved, by the way) nor the blank goody-goody-ness of the Disney classic, but a very human and lovely blend of the two--with a gorgeous voice thrown in for good measure. Prince Edward, played flawlessly by Richard Chamberlain, gives us a hero to root for, in addition to our traditional heroine. You don't just wait for her to be found, you cheer for each of them to find the other. The rest of the cast is filled in with real people that the viewer comes to care for and value in the story almost as much as the main pair. You are not left with the typical stock characters that you see so often in fairy tales. I especially loved the Fairy Godmother, the Prince's Companion, the Chamberlain, the senile King, the Dowager queen...okay, I really love them all. Even the dog. :)

I despaired of every finding a "real" copy on VHS until recently. The VHS retained a few scenes that were edited from the TV version (I assume) for time, and I have to say I think that I liked the short version better. I thought that the it flowed more smoothly, and I found that I did not miss the musical numbers they cut. I was especially disappointed with "Find a Mate" (yes, they're serious) and the scene in the Fairy Godmother's house...very contrived and corny. They really don't equal the rest of the film. Although the Prince's prayer at the end is wonderful, and was cut from the TV version.

All in all, I just have to say that I love this movie, and always will.