Cinderella

Just saw this b&w copy on KET2 (Kentucky Educational Television). What a treat! Julie Andrews' voice was marvelous (though I didn't think she quite captured the innocence of Cinderella, even at 21). Edie Adams really hammed it up as the fairy godmother -- she was terrific! And it was fun seeing familiar character actors such as Jon Cypher and Alice Ghostley in their earlier days. The version I saw broke in periodically for current-day commentary by Julie Andrews, Jon Cypher, Kaye Ballard, etc. It was fascinating that they did it in real time, with costume changes just barely beating the camera!

If you get a chance to see this, go for it! It's a national treasure, even if the old Cinderella story is not your cup of tea.

Two decades into the 21st century, this 1957 TV special , "Cinderella," remains the most lavish and splendid live musical production ever done on TV. Thankfully, CBS recorded the broadcast and it's now on DVD. So, many decades later, people can still enjoy this splendid classic just as it aired on the night of March 31, 1957. Many other staged musicals and theatrical productions have been made since. But this is the original and benchmark fairy tale musical brought to life.

Julie Andrews stars in this super-sized stage production. A previously unknown singing actor leads the supporting cast. John Cypher plays Prince Christopher in his first ever film. Two superb Broadway masters play the king and queen - Howard Lindsay and Dorothy Stickney. The rest of the major roles are all excellently cast.

Of course one can tell that this is a stage production by the sets. But they are nevertheless well done. Everything about this production is excellent.

Andrews brings the story of Cinderella to life with the wonderful music of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. This is a fine film of a classic fairy tale that the whole family should enjoy.

This is the first that I had seen the original TV version. I had seen both of the other television versions -- the 1965 Lesley Ann Warren version and the 1997 Brandy version. This version is so superior to the others. The copy at the Museum of Television and Radio is in black-and-white although it had been presented in color. If you are in New York and get the chance to visit the museum, the presentation is well worth the 1-1/2 hours. Oh, yes. The commercials which are part of the recording are quite humorous.

Boy, those were the days, weren't they? They did the musical live before millions of Americans. All that choreography, singing, staging, lighting, props getting set, happened live before the cameras, a TV musical with no net. Julie Andrews was granted a short leave of absence from My Fair Lady in order to do it. Lucky for us Lerner and Loewe were so generous to their American counterparts, Rodgers and Hammerstein. I was not quite four when this show appeared, but I was blown away enough to want to go into musical theater from that point on. Yes, those were the days...when TV was used for something more important than selling Viagra.

I've finally seen a B&W kinescope copy of the live color telecast of March 31, 1957--about 3 months after I was born. Someone of my age can take into account that this was live television (something many younger viewers may not be able to do), and accept all the limitations inherent in that medium. Still, this is by far a superior version of the R&H classic. The celebrated team did not condescend to the medium of television, but chose to treat it as every bit as important as a Broadway show. Hammerstein's lyrics for such songs as "IN MY OWN LITTLE CORNER," "IMPOSSIBLE," and "DO I LOVE YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL" are as fine as any he wrote for Broadway. Likewise, Rodgers' music for those songs, plus his "GAVOTTE," "WALTZ FOR A BALL," and "WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING THROUGH THE MOONLIGHT/A LOVELY NIGHT" are among his best melodies. The script is witty; the actors play it realistically, and with humor. All in all, this production should be revived today on live television [despite the Disney version with a miscast Brandy] with a cast equal to the original. Unfortunately, there is probably no one to rival Julie Andrews in today's young musical comedy stars--although Kristen Chenowith might be great Cinderella. (Hint, hint!!) If you ever get a chance to see thus version, GO!!!!!