The Slipper and the Rose on Blu-ray

Category: Blu-ray's and DVD's

The story of Cinderella is re-imagined through the eyes of the Prince in this enchanting 1976 film starring Richard Chamberlain and Gemma Craven. The Slipper and the Rose is a romantic musical story of love, written by Bryan Forbes and the legendary writers Richard and Robert Sherman. The Sherman brothers wrote the memorable songs that help make this the amazing movie it is. Yes, before you say that the Rogers and Hammerstein TV movie Cinderella was both musical and memorable, I admit that I agree. However, The Slipper and the Rose is more through the eyes of Prince Edward than those of Cinderella, making this a different story than the others.

The story takes place in the tiny kingdom of Euphrania where Prince Edward (Chamberlain) is being instructed by his parents to wed. If he selects the right wife, war will be avoided. But Edward wants to select his wife on “the convenience of love rather than the convenience of convenience.” Their answer is that he must find a mate and “love will have to wait.”

At this same time, Cinderella’s (Craven) father has died and she is relegated to being the servant to her stepmother and stepsisters. We all know this story. The Fairy Godmother (delightfully and often humorously played by Annette Crosbie) appears and soon Cinderella finds herself on the way to the ball, where she and Edward instantly fall in love. But when she disappears, the search for the woman who fits the slipper ultimately leads him to Cinderella and he announces to his parents that he has found his wife. Cinderella is sent away but alas, she returns to marry her beloved Prince.

Nothing new you say? On the contrary. Although the storyline is your basic Cinderella story, there are plenty of new elements, namely the magical and delightful songs that fill the scenes and add to the enjoyment of this story. And viewers feel the angst of the Prince as he is delegated to live his life in a structured way and yearns to be able to make his own decisions, especially when it comes to his wife.

Bonus features on this high definition disc include a behind the scenes “making of” featurette in which David Frost (who was the Executive Producer of the movie) discusses how they found their Cinderella. That in itself is a Cinderella story. Gemma Craven was plucked out of the theater for her first film. Her screen test and interviews add to the story of her ride to film stardom. More than 800 actresses vied for the role.

The sets are also extraordinary. The filmmakers used 10,000 candles to light up the sets on camera. The entire movie making process is laid out for viewers to see.

Another featurette revolves around the Sherman brothers who discuss writing the screenplay. They agree the movie is, “The last of the big original musicals.” They also say The Slipper and the Rose is their “most romantic musical.”

Most people think the story of Cinderella began with Walt Disney in 1950. Little do they know that it began in China in 850 A.D. – according to David Frost.

Enter the “secret kingdom where dreams come true” with this beautifully written and filmed story of the endearing legend.

The Slipper and the Rose is rated G, however it is most appropriate for those over 10, as there is a scene in the graveyard that might upset youngsters.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment business for 20 years. She also writes about technology and has been a travel writer for the past 12 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet: The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

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