Once Upon a Mattress

I wish someone would re-release this first version, even though it's in B & W. It's still, by far, the best. The cast, mostly all from the original Broadway cast, are absolutely perfect, as is the "over-the-top" pacing, acting, and comedy bits. I gave a 9 instead of 10 because of the missing number "Happily Ever After" (which COULD be cut in from the 1972 color remake--- hint- hint). One look at this version (I happen to have a very bad copy of it, full of dropouts, but none-the-less still watchable) and the '72 remake fades a bit, and the 2005 "Disney" version absolutely falls flat. This is not a children's musical. It's an adult fantasy, and that's where all the fun comes from, fun that, sadly, got "sanitized" for middle America in its latest incarnation, thus making it boring for both children and adults. See THIS version if at all possible.

Owning both the 64 and the 72 versions (that heavens for DVD), I thought I'd put in my two cents about which one is better. First the 64's high points, Ms. Burnett has a energy (especially in "I'm Shy) that she doesn't have in the latter (not that she's "phoning it in by any means) and it has Eliot Gould as the jester. You have probably never thought of Mr. Gould as a song and dance man, but, after seeing "My fathers Very Soft Shoes" you'll never look at his Hawkeye in the same way. He is head and shoulders above Wally Cox in the 72. What is better about the 72 is the casting of some secondary characters. Ken Berry connects with Ms. Burnett as Prince Dantless as Joseph Bova doesn't. And as Lady Larkin, while Shani Wallis does a good job, she can't compare to a 20 year old Bernadette Peters. Also, the 74 has a great song ("Happily ever after") missing from the first on. All in all, I'd say I prefer the 74. (By the way, avoid at all cost the 2005 version). 8.5 for the 64, 9 for the 72 and 2 for the 05.

Despite the cuts, this early TV adaptation of "Once Upon a Mattress" is a treasure. Many of the original cast members re-created their roles from the 1959 Broadway production, among them Jane White, Jack Gilford and Joseph Bova. But it's Carol as swampy Winnifred the Woebegone that's the center of attention, and deservedly so. Elliott Gould, then a Broadway musical comedy performer ("Irma la Douce", etc), is fine as the Jester and look closely and you'll spot Michael Bennett (years before his work on "Follies" and "A Chorus Line") in the chorus. Shani Wallis later was a lead in the Oscar-winner "Oliver!"

I saw this broadcast of "Once Upon a Mattress" at the Museum of TV and Radio in New York (as a side-note, I HIGHLY recommend visiting this Museum if you are in NYC or LA--lots more great stuff where this came from). Overall, for a one-hour TV adaptation of a musical, with all the limitations which that entails, it was well done. I was quite surprised that the pregnancy storyline was kept in--would have thought that was too racy for the time. Some of the supporting characters, namely the Minstrel and Jester, fall completely flat, and another from the stage version (Sir Harry) is gone entirely. Carol Burnett, as always, is fabulous, as is Prince Dauntless and Queen Sextimus. I was a bit disappointed to see "In a Little While" and "Happily Ever After" cut, although "Spelling Test," the duet for Dauntless and Winnifred that replaces "Happily," is pretty cute. If you are a fan of musicals and/or Carol Burnett, this is worth checking out.

This version is closer to the Broadway show than Carol's 1972 TV production--and its a better show than the '72 version. Carol is perfect as Winnifred, and the rest of the cast are also in top form. Elliot Gould is a nice surprise in his role, and Jane White is absolutely WONDERFUL. Shani Wallis and Bill Hayes are fun, and the chorus is very good, too. The only weaknesses are replacing the original Spanish PANIC with a newly composed dance number (who actually wrote this music, anyway?--its not nearly as fun as that from the B'way show)and taking out HAPPILY EVER AFTER and replacing it with a love song for Carol. The love song doesn't fit at all. . .otherwise, this is a great TV production from the 1960s and it should be released on DVD for all to enjoy.