before Shelley Duvall revolutionized the medium of Fairy tales for television and the popular media, there was the incomparable Shirley Temple. Ms. Temple is well known for her "gooood shipp loleee-popp'in", but few remember what a true visionary she was for television and children's theater. few realize what a influence she's been on the subject. sure Walt Disney and Shelley Duvall are unforgettable as to their contributions, but Ms.Temple deserves a equal place of honor as a producer and actor of children's fairy tale theater.
her beautiful adaptation of Frank Baum's 'OZ' stories is no exception. in fact i never realized how much the superb 1980's adaptation 'Return to OZ' was obviously influenced by this TV version.
this version also makes "wonderful" use of a television and theater budget. although, of course, not as spectacular as the the 1930's retro classic, or even the 1980's sequel, this made for television production has a wildly imaginative fantasy look while still being within the confines of the television medium. which is fine with me since i love the old retro look of early television productions.
even though the sets look like simple balsa wood construction, they are whimsical and accurate to the original stories. some sets, like the gateway to the Emerald City, are actually rather impressive.
this adaptation also holds true to the quirky oddness of Baum's children's stories. scenarios like riding a wooden saw horse or Pippy the little boy actually being princess Ozma with a sex change spell, seem typical of Frank Baum's perpetual weirdness and peculiarity. even if conceptually they are a little unsettling.
Shirley Temple's performances on her storybook show are vastly underrated. it's always been figured that Ms. Temple lost much of her charm and appeal as she grew to adulthood. not so at all. as a adult Ms. Temple was a seasoned performer who added much to her TV series with performances as Anderson's little mermaid and as Floretta the gypsy witch of Toyland. to be perfectly honest, it's through Temple's storybook theater that i really began to respect Temple as a consummate actress as well as producer.
the supporting cast here is also beyond reproach with supporting roles given to Agnes Moorehead, Sterling Holloway, Gil Lamb and Johnny Winters as Nikki-dikki of OZ. all of them making up excellent ensemble.
not only did Ms. Temple offer up some of the very best in children's theater, she also offered some of the very best in classic television with these incredible productions.
for anyone who truly loves fairy tales, storybook fantasy and retro entertainment in general, Shirley Temple is a dream come true and one of the finest that few can surpass.
her beautiful adaptation of Frank Baum's 'OZ' stories is no exception. in fact i never realized how much the superb 1980's adaptation 'Return to OZ' was obviously influenced by this TV version.
this version also makes "wonderful" use of a television and theater budget. although, of course, not as spectacular as the the 1930's retro classic, or even the 1980's sequel, this made for television production has a wildly imaginative fantasy look while still being within the confines of the television medium. which is fine with me since i love the old retro look of early television productions.
even though the sets look like simple balsa wood construction, they are whimsical and accurate to the original stories. some sets, like the gateway to the Emerald City, are actually rather impressive.
this adaptation also holds true to the quirky oddness of Baum's children's stories. scenarios like riding a wooden saw horse or Pippy the little boy actually being princess Ozma with a sex change spell, seem typical of Frank Baum's perpetual weirdness and peculiarity. even if conceptually they are a little unsettling.
Shirley Temple's performances on her storybook show are vastly underrated. it's always been figured that Ms. Temple lost much of her charm and appeal as she grew to adulthood. not so at all. as a adult Ms. Temple was a seasoned performer who added much to her TV series with performances as Anderson's little mermaid and as Floretta the gypsy witch of Toyland. to be perfectly honest, it's through Temple's storybook theater that i really began to respect Temple as a consummate actress as well as producer.
the supporting cast here is also beyond reproach with supporting roles given to Agnes Moorehead, Sterling Holloway, Gil Lamb and Johnny Winters as Nikki-dikki of OZ. all of them making up excellent ensemble.
not only did Ms. Temple offer up some of the very best in children's theater, she also offered some of the very best in classic television with these incredible productions.
for anyone who truly loves fairy tales, storybook fantasy and retro entertainment in general, Shirley Temple is a dream come true and one of the finest that few can surpass.