Once Upon a Mattress

TV Movie
19641964
1h 30m

The musical story of THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA, adapted from the 1959 Broadway hit, and featuring most of the original Broadway cast.The musical story of THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA, adapted from the 1959 Broadway hit, and featuring most of the original Broadway cast.The musical story of THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA, adapted from the 1959 Broadway hit, and featuring most of the original Broadway cast.

8.3/10

110

Top credits

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The musical story of THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA, adapted from the 1959 Broadway hit, and featuring most of the original Broadway cast.

princess singing singer dancing dancer 11 more

Genres
Parents guide
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Trivia
The original Broadway production of "Once Upon A Mattress" opened at the Phoenix Theater (Eventually running at a total of five separate theaters!) on May 1, 1959, ran for 244 performances and was nominated for the 1960 Tony Award (New York City) for the Best Musical. Carol Burnett, Joe Bova and Jack Gilford reprise their roles. Carol Burnett was nominated for a 1960 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

Crazy credits
For the end credits, we see the castle help moving the mattresses around, and then the camera zooms in on one of them, and the names and credits are printed on the mattresses. The process is repeated throughout all the credits.

Connections
Featured in American Masters: Carol Burnett: A Woman of Character (2007)

Soundtracks
MANY MOONS AGO
Music by Mary Rodgers
Lyrics by Marshall Barer
Sung by the Chorus

Top review

9/10

Funny and fun musical fairy tale for the whole family

This is only the second film made from the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, "The Princess and the Pea." Both of these were TV films. The first carried the same title as the story and was a drama. But this first adapted musical comedy is of a play with a different title, "Once Upon a Mattress." What a fantastic, funny and enjoyable movie it is.

The success is in no small part due to Carol Burnett who plays and sings the part of Princess Winnifred. She has great support from Jane White as Queen Aggravain and Joseph Bova as Prince Dauntless. Others lend to this fine performance, including Jack Gilford as King Sextimus, Elliott Gould as Jester and Shani Wallis as Lady Larken.

Burnett was the original star of the show when it opened on Broadway in 1959. She received a Tony nomination, as did the play as best musical. Most of the leading cast from the stage production are in this TV movie. White, Bova and Gilford return along with Burnett.

I watched a TV recording of the show that was poor quality. I think this would go over well if it ever comes out on DVD.

Every fairy tale set to music should be as funny and as much fun. This is a wonderful film for the whole family.

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