The Slipper and the Rose (1976)

Best movie of this year hands down!

Thanks for the memories!

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Of all the versions of Cinderella, this is by far the best one, and that too by a long distance, and that too despite it being quite long (more than 2 hours). But even that didn't make me go fast forward or skip portions. It has a very pretty and talented Cinderella (Gemma); it makes me wonder why she didn't do many movies. With her there are two major assets (pun unintended and misplaced). These are her fairy God Mother (Annette) and the Dowager Queen (Edith). With the expected romance it has very nice comedies, mainly by these two ladies. To be a Godmother is a obviously reluctant post given to a fairy, and though she doesn't tell "It's a long story", but clearly her expression says that it's not a pleasant one. To make it comic, she could have been a bungling one, that I have seen in quite a few movies, but to her (and director's) credit, she managed the right dose of comedy without bungling even once. The Dowager, tottering queen is equally adorable. More than partially bereft of her sight, due to her age, she guesses things by sound (of which she is still in full possession of), and that brings up the comics. The three women of three generations (by age) gets five stars from me. Of the men, of course a good performance is by the King (Hordern). He and his mother(Dowager) had a 'confused' comedy. She due to the age, he, due to his ways. The queen (Lilly) didn't have much role, or presence. The prince (Richard Chamberlain), his friend (Gable) and other men had an above average but I won't call the exquisite presence.It hasn't very faithfully followed Cinderella. If they did, they can't make a two hours plus movie, especially with the ball over before halftime and not much later she being identified by her prince (due to shoe, but not by fitting method). They created some predictable complications, but despite predictability, it didn't become eyesore. To think of, the Cinderella story itself is well known and hence predictable. I could add a last asset too, which further reduced the chances of getting bored, the songs had been lovely. As I mentioned, it ranks at the top of my Cinderellas, Disneys included. Since I save 10 pointers for something which I could find, sometime, I gave it 9.

I first saw this movie when i was around six years old. my grandmother gave it to me amongst a whole lode of other videos that she was clearing out. it is easiest to say that i have never been so grateful to her in all my life than when i discovered this movie. This is a masterpiece of movie magic, although it may be based on one of the most over told stories ion modern media, it is like no others in its field. with extremely talented actors and an amazing soundtrack that makes you want to laugh, sing and cry,and I'm not ashamed to say that i know all of the words. It is by far my all time favourite movie, and a must see.

Where do i begin? Probably the most underrated musical ever !!! Cinderella with the elegance and class of "My Fair Lady" and "Gigi". Gorgeous scenery, costumes, music - this movie had it all and yes - totally perfect and appropriate for children (except boys of around twelve years old may get a little bored). Even the approach of looking at the familiar story from the perspective of the prince as opposed to Cinderella's point of view was somewhat original.The wonderful songs and choreography were by the Sherman Brothers and Mark Breaux respectively - the same who did similar tasks for "Mary Poppins" "Sound of Music" "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and "The Happiest Milllionaire" - that should give you a clue.The cast could not have been better starting with Richard Chamberlain as the prince - with a surprisingly good musical comedy presence complete with a great singing voice, new-comer Gemma Craven as Cinderella and a list of the cream of British theater including Michael Hordern as a slightly befuddled king, Margaret Lockwood as the stepmother who's mere voice is enough to give you chills, Kenneth Moore as the totally sympathetic Prime Minister and Annette Crosbie as the slightly daffy fairy godmother.The only thing that got me was early in the film, there seemed to be a preoccupation with death. The first song ends with the word "die", Cinderella's first song is in a cemetery and there's a rather strangely hilarious song and dance featuring the prince (Chamberlain) and his friend played by Christopher Gable in the royal crypt. Hmm ! Maybe the film had to take these two through their loneliness (believe me - i got married in my forties so i know how empty ones life can be) for one to really appreciate the happiness they ultimately feel.Finally - the ending (I'm not going to tell you) is somewhat different than you might expect - I was rolling on the floor.By all means, if you can find this one - Cherish it. It really was the last of a dying breed.Thank you Sherman Brothers - I wish that you can give us more of this.

This is the absolute worst Cinderella version ever made. The songs are sappy and unmemorable, the choreography tasteless - for instance there's a scene where Chamberlain dances on the coffins of his ancestors! What WERE they thinking? There's nothing unique or special about this in any way. Moreover Chamberlain can't sing or dance, so why did they cast him in the part? One would think that because of his looks, he'd make a good Prince Charming - and yes, he is charming, but that's where this ends. There are so many versions of this story out there that this one becomes totally forgettable, and I wouldn't even have written this review if I hadn't been suckered into seeing it in a theater back when it came out in 1979. There's a couple of hours of my life I'll never get back!Sorry, but if you want a good version, watch any of them, but not this one. Disney's old one is still the best, if you ask me. There's also a Hallmark production from a totally different angle, called "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" which is marvelous with Stockard Channing.