The Little Prince (1974)

A pilot, stranded in the desert, meets a little boy who is a prince on a planet.

Director:

Stanley Donen

Writers:

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (story "Le Petit Prince"), Alan Jay Lerner

Stars:

Richard Kiley, Steven Warner, Joss Ackland

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Steven Warner	...	The Little Prince
Joss Ackland	...	The King
Clive Revill	...	The Business Man
Victor Spinetti	...	The Historian
Graham Crowden	...	The General
Richard Kiley	...	The Pilot
Donna McKechnie	...	The Rose
Bob Fosse	...	The Snake
Gene Wilder	...	The Fox

Storyline

Based on the story by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, this magical musical fable begins as a pilot makes a forced landing on the barren Sahara Desert. He is befriended by a "little" prince from the planet Asteroid B-612. In the days that follow, the pilot learns of the small boy's history and planet-hopping journeys in which he met a King, a businessman, an historian, and a general. It isn't until he comes to Earth that the Little Prince learns the secrets of the importance of life from a Fox, a Snake, and the pilot.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to bob fosse | pilot | prince | desert | planet | 

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Taglines:

The entertainment that loves a lot, and lives a lot, and gives and gives and gives a lot.

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Genres:

Family | Fantasy | Musical | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title character was one of two cinematic film roles for stage actor Steven Warner. He played a minor character in The Blue Bird (1976), and had a handful of roles in television productions.

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Goofs

Since a boa constrictor is not venomous, its bite would not be dangerous to a person.

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Quotes

The Little Prince: It's not a matter of yes Prince to you is it?

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Connections

Version of Kinderbücher für Erwachsene: Der Kleine Prinz (1954)

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Soundtracks

Why Is The Desert?
Music by Frederick Loewe
Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Performed by Richard Kiley and Steven Warner

User Reviews

Terrific film

Stanley Donen's cinematic adaptation of Antoine De Saint-Exupery's The Little Prince is a delightful musical that will appeal to children and adults alike. The film is adequately paced at 88 minutes and will hold the attention of its young audience. The cinematography of Christopher Challis does justice to Saint-Exupery's original art work in the novelette. The stark beauty of the desert and the crisp brilliance of the night sky provide a beautiful backdrop to the sweet interaction between The Pilot and The Little Prince played by Richard Kiley and the adorable and competent Steven Warner. The film remains faithful to much of the original story except for a 1970s upgrade of the inhabitants of the Prince's neighboring planets. The drunkard, the lamplighter and the vain man of the novel are replaced by more contemporary representations of frivolously driven grown-ups. There is more than just a hint of Cold War era futility and fear flavoring these characters. In the novel, The King ridiculously rules over no one on a small empty planet. In the film, he has been replaced by a boarder patrolling royal figure demanding "Where are your papers. Where is your passport?" Another planet is home to a general commanding an army without soldiers who proudly lectures on the virtues of military discipline. In a world 30 years into the Cold War and exhausted from a decade of Vietnam, these were much more appropriate symbols of pointless and aimless grown-up affairs. In viewing these planetary visits, Challis' work is technically impressive. A majority of the scenes are shot through a circular, fish eye lens adding a claustrophobic feel to the action played out on these tiny worlds. Bob Fosse's choreography is impressive. I wish the same could be said of his performance in the film as The Snake. I wondered how he would work some of his trademark accessories into the portrayal in a subtle and intelligent manner. Instead, he looks ridiculous in chapeau, black gloves and spats dancing well worn steps from "Cabaret" among the rocks and sagebrush. I'm certain young viewers will enjoy the movie regardless but Fosse is an actor with average delivery skills who truly shines by creating in the dance studio or directing behind the camera. Several years later, he wisely turned portrayal of the thinly veiled biographical character Joe Gideon in "All That Jazz" over to actor Roy Scheider and the result was 9 Oscar nominations and 4 awards. Gene Wilder is excellent as The Fox. His gentle voice and appearance is wonderfully suited to roles in children's film and he taps into the same spirit he brought to Willie Wonka in "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory". No child would fear taming this gentle creature.

In all, the film is cinematically beautiful, wonderfully told, sweet, sad and endearing. Like the novel, it should be enjoyed by film-goers of all ages.

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 November 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Little Prince

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Gross USA:

$991,674

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo (1937 Reissue) (Stereo) 4-Track Stereo (1937 Reissue) (Stereo)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1