The Slipper and the Rose (1976)

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Seeing this in widescreen in a nice digital print (VHS can only go so far), made a huge difference for me in appreciating the film, understanding all the jokes, and enjoying the fantastically beautiful costumes and Alpine scenery. always loved the Sherman Brothers songs, especially Protocoligorically Correct (haha, my spellcheck really didn't like that one), but what I've always loved best about this movie is the way it answers all my questions about the Cinderella story period at addresses every issue that I've ever had about Cinderella:why does she put up with her step sisters' and step mother's abuse for so long? They move the funeral to just before the ball so that it seems like she's only putting it up for a little bit until she figures out what to do. you actually see them coming back from the funeral kicking her downstairs.-why the magic only last till midnight? the Fairy Godmother explains that she had to borrow the magic because she only has a limited Supply that she used up helping Cinderella make the stepsisters gowns.-why the heck is the prince is allowed to marry some commoner? Well this issue is pretty much the whole movie. My favorite song is one of the things that explains how this whole system is based on royalty marrying other royalty to keep the country strong and avoid war, etc. then they solve the issue at the end in a way that would satisfy politics. One brilliant thing I think is having all the foreshadowings of what is coming politically in the coming centuries. part of this is by setting it in the 1700s, before the various revolutions (which also makes for gorgeous costumes)There are lots of other questions that this movie solves but basically I think it's one of the better Cinderella movies. I'm glad Rocky was sold out the day my dad went to see it, or he never would have seen this movie by accident and fallen in love with it and passed that love on to me.

I should clarify that I actually love "Cinderella" stories. I think what I really love is the challenge of how each subsequent version is going to differ from (or somehow outshine) the last one. Each Cinderella story is infused with new things, old things, and just plain bizarre things. In this telling, there is much more emphasis on the prince- after all, Richard Chamberlain is top billed. Unfortunately, the characterization of his prince Edward is no different from any other fictional depiction of royalty: born of privilege, but hating it and wanting to live like 'regular people.' (If these were actual royal figures, such a wish would never commence.) The story also expands roughly a half hour beyond the glass slipper finding its rightful owner, and for me this dragged the film out considerably. Nevertheless, it's still the quintessential fairy story.Yet I am amazed that so many posters hail it as some sort of Kirousawa-like masterpiece. Is this because it's a British film? We always seem to rate European films just a little higher than American ones, calling them high art and so forth. And as critical as so many are especially about musical films recently- RENT, CHICAGO, THE PRODUCERS, and perhaps most acerbically and nastily, DREAMGIRLS- they all seem to turn a deaf ear on this one. I did like the costumes and set pieces, but was not thrilled with most of the Sherman Brothers' score- save two rather exquisite songs. It paces a bit sluggishly and, at 143 minutes, is about 43 minutes too long. There are two saving graces: One is in the name of Annette Crosbie. Her fairy godmother is a dream and a scream at the same time. Possessing incredibly dry wit and very sly on the subject of magic, it appears that she works with other famous fairy tale heroines (some of whom are referenced throughout the film). Her introduction to Cinderella as a simple, practical woman who shuns the "sparkle and glitter," and seems to want to unionize fairies worldwide, is hilarious. And the rags-to-riches sequence built around the song "Suddenly It Happens" is magical indeed. (How could it not be, with mice that turn into ballet dancers even before they turn into horses?) The other saving grace is the ball: easily some of the most exquisite costumes ever assembled for a period film, all in an amazing rainbow of sherbet-like pastels. The ball sequence is climaxed by a glorious grand waltz, which begins with two dancers on an empty floor, then adds other couples- two and four at a time- joining into the swirling and spinning choreography, until all are waltzing in the same direction and having a marvelous time. A truly breathtaking sequence. I almost wished the film had ended right there.

This is a Hollywood musical. It is light and fluffy, a true fairy tale. I found the music to be more fun that the Rodgers and Hammerstein version. Richard Chamberlin is a standout as the prince. Deep drama (or rather, melodrama) is present, like a dash of salt in the stew. The King is a bit goofy, adding to the fun. A nice touch is the play of the fairy godmother, who assigns her dog to keep tabs on Cinderella. The plot device of having the royal family con Cinderella into giving up the prince for his own good is very reminiscent of the Bing Crosby vehicle of a few years earlier, "The Emperor Waltz," but does play guite well. It leaves some tension in the plot regarding the (inevitable) happy ending. Watch and enjoy!

Honestly, I really wanted to love this film. The Sherman Brothers ("Mary Poppins," "Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang" etc.) write great tunes. Somehow, I missed this during its original release, and now I know why. The new DVD transfer is pristine. However, it reveals a typical mid-70s film, with a muted color scheme, bland score and surprisingly inept choreography.Not a single song creates an impression. While the locations are indeed lush (Austria), I feel they are often misused. The acting is adequate. Several performance numbers grind the production to a complete halt. (The "mice" dancing their way to the "pumpkin" coach is ridiculous, as is the "kitchen hoedown" scene.) The special effects are sub-par, especially by late-70s standards.Having watched the special edition DVD, I understand the Shermans unique take on the legend - from the Prince's point of view. However, attempting any kind of musical retelling after Rodger's & Hammerstein's classic, is dubious, at best. Frankly, I kept hoping to hear those R & H classics against this more sophisticated background. My only complaint with the R & H versions (all three), is the slight campiness of the material.A few surprises in this "Slipper" version.......the opulence of Cinderella's late father's castle; it often looks nicer than the Prince's abode. The ball scene is strangely stilted. The first "reunion" of Cinderella and the Prince appears an afterthought. The peppy dance number in the royal family's mausoleum is quite bizarre!! The dog's presence is unnecessary (apparently he was owned by the director).In a nutshell, considering the talent involved, and the $5 million budget (a LOT in 1976), I really expected a classic. It is not.Yes, worth a viewing. If only I could remember ONE of the tunes.