The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella

The first time I saw this movie, I couldn't believe it had Richard Chamberlain singing! I really was impressed by the production though some of the singing and dancing sequences seemed a bit long, it was, overall, a well made version of the classic Cinderella story. I thought it told the fairy tale 'to perfection'. I had just recently bought the video and was pleasantly surprised by all the extra footage it included. My daughters all enjoy it and like watching it over and over. The sets and costumes and the lovely landscapes were exceptionally beautiful. I thought Gemma Craven was the perfect Cinderella including a beautiful singing voice. But the one I thought stole the movie was the fairy godmother, played by Annette Crosbie. Her grumpy affection towards Cinderella made her a more interesting character. A must-see for anyone who wants to escape for a couple of hours with an entertaining tale.

I used to love this film when I was little, and I loved Richard Chamberlain in it!

I just got this on DVD the other day, and it didn't fail to make me still think how fantastic it is!

I think modern day costume movies don't have the same touch as older ones do, and the costumes in this are amazing. The whole look of the film makes me feel as if I'm actually there!

Richard makes the perfect prince, stunning as he is, and Gemma Craven is wonderful as Cinderella. Most of the songs are brilliant, and memorable.

All of the cast are fantastic in it, and the Stepmother and sisters are perfect, and the whole story works so well.

But of course, Richard to me is the star, he's absolutely brilliant. I wish I'd been Cinderella!

Watch this film!

This English Musical managed to make an impression in a time when the musical was all but a dead art form in the US. This is largely due to wonderful performances of the supporting cast(especially Michael Hordern as the King and the underrated Annette Crosbie as the Fairy Godmother), and some really wonderful moments in the script (as it happens Crosbie and Hordern get some of the best lines). The leads (Chamberlain and Craven) are sweet, but their performances are lacking something. Chamberlain looks pained at times like he is not enjoying himself. There are also moments where it sounds as though he is giving a straight reading of the script. He can sing, though, and not too badly. The score by the Sherman Brothers (responsible for the music in "Mary Poppins") has its moments ("Protocolicorically Correct" and "The Slipper and the Rose Waltz: When He/She Danced with Me"), but the songs tend to be a little odd and forgetable. Overall though, this film is worth seeing and is an excellent film choice for family video night.

This is one of my favorite movies of all time. I just wish they'd make a soundtrack so I could listen to the songs in my car. This isn't your average Cinderella story; it's so much better! And this version has added scenes and songs that were omitted in the television and first release versions. I would very much recommend this film if you like fairy tales and humor.

This is one of my favorite 'comfort films'--I associate it with being home from college at Christmas, when I first saw it on late-night TV. I now own it on DVD and watch it almost every Christmas. The 18th-century costumes are absolutely superb (love that moment when Margaret Lockwood as the Stepmother removes her black widow's cloak to reveal her scarlet gown), the script witty (especially when Julian Orchard as the prince's camp cousin shows up), and the performances delivered with a light touch (Annette Crosbie and Kenneth More are the best at this). Richard Chamberlain never looked so dashing--the way he gazes adoringly at Cinderella!!--and Cinderella herself, Gemma Craven, is sweet and lovely, with an excellent voice.

A couple of the songs clunk a bit (you decide which ones), but the dancing is great, especially in the ball scene and the 'Position and Positioning.' The dancers come from the Royal Ballet (the dancing mice, too), so the dancing is a delight. And Richard Chamberlain has a dance number with Christopher Gable of the Royal Ballet, and he certainly doesn't suffer by comparison!

And oh, the costumes! I first saw a rather faded copy of this movie, and I loved the frosty pastels of the ballgowns (in fact, I thought Cinderella's dress was white); I was slightly disappointed by the brighter colors on the DVD. But not too disappointed--this is a beautifully-dressed film.

My favorite scene is Cinderella's flight from the ball; she runs down a series of staircases as the clock tolls midnight, rose-petals fluttering down all the time, and her pale-pink gown and frothy white wig gradually darken into her ragged blue dress and chestnut hair. It's a stunning effect.