The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella - on Blu-ray

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/20/13 at 12:54pm

So glad to see that this film has received a full restoration for the BD release! It's not a perfect musical film, but one that I love anyway, with its beautiful art direction, costumes, performances, and Sherman Brothers score.

I ordered my copy a week ago from Deep Discount when it was on sale for $13.49.

Can't wait!


Blu-ray.com review of The Slipper and the Rose

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/20/13 at 12:55pm

Check out the screen shots. Wow.


Click each image to enlarge it.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 11/20/13 at 1:42pm

Love, love this movie. I've been hunting for a DVD copy for years and when they finally rerelease it it's only on BluRay (which I don't have)

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/20/13 at 3:11pm

I'm sure people will start selling their DVDs in the months ahead to upgrade to the restored BD.

You'll probably find them on eBay.

But you should consider getting a BD player! They're so cheap now. And it will play all of your DVDs, too.

[wonkit]

Posted: 11/20/13 at 10:25pm

Christopher Gable, sigh. Richard Chamberlain, sigh.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/20/13 at 11:13pm

And they both sing and dance in this!

[nygrl232]

Posted: 11/21/13 at 1:03am

I never knew what the title meant until I watched this.

[BroomstickBoy]

Posted: 11/21/13 at 3:05am

I absolutely adore this movie. I don't know anyone else (outside the internet) who's even heard of it. I always say, "Richard Chamberlain as Prince Charming, singing...and in 18th century attire. Look it up.":

I have the vocal selections book, which excludes "Why Can't I Be Two People?" and it's a little bit of a bummer because that would've been SUCH a good audition song.

I always thought Linda Cardellini bears a resemblance to Gemma Craven, especially after seeing her in the early part of the film.

"Tell Him Anything" is still one of my favorite Sherman Brothers pieces. Such a gorgeous melody, despite the melancholy tone.

I might need a Blu-Ray player.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/21/13 at 9:47am

I think it's interesting with Into the Woods exploring what happens after "happily ever after," that's part of the story in The Slipper and the Rose. (It's actually the "Rose" part of the story, at least as defined in that explanation clip of the Sherman Brothers. It symbolizes the royals or royalty).

Not all goes well after Cinderella marries her prince.

Also another connection to the forthcoming film version of "Into the Woods," the fairy godmother in Slipper and the Rose is Annette Crosbie, who is playing Little Red Riding Hood's Granny now.


Suddenly It Happens to You

[nygrl232]

Posted: 11/21/13 at 3:09pm

That's very interesting, the connections there. Annette Crosbie and Michael Hordern (the King) gave two of my favorite performances in this movie. I loved all the Sherman Brothers' songs, especially "What a Comforting Thing to Know" with the acrobatic dance routine and everything. A luscious movie.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/21/13 at 4:12pm

Saw this at Radio City Music Hall when I was a wee-lad.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 11/21/13 at 10:04pm

I just ordered, today.


Blu-ray Review

[wonkit]

Posted: 11/21/13 at 11:11pm

And the Royal Ballet dancers are the transformed mice and the frog!

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 11:27am

Anyone get OLIVER! on Blu-ray? Looks and sounds great.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 12:17pm

JB2---I have Oliver. Overall I'm very pleased, and it's definitely better than it's ever looked, but there are still issues with the picture and sound.

The visual source material seems to be uneven, sometimes the grain is too much, sometimes the color and levels shift.

It's minor, but still noticeable.

As for the sound, this is as good as it's ever sounded, but there are still issues. Sometimes it sounds compressed or a bit muffled. The separation in the channels isn't as discrete as it could be. It's always sounded this way to my ears, and they have improved it to some degree. I understand the original stems were "lost," although a friend of mine says that Johnny Green's family has them. It would be odd for a musical director/arranger to keep the recording elements, but then again, Oliver! is essentially an indy movie, produced in the UK. It was distributed by Columbia, and I'm sure they have all of the final mixed, edited sources (used to make the prints). But it looks to me like they don't have the camera negatives and certainly not the original sound stems (which they state as much on the BD, and it's why their isolated score track has the sound FX mixed in).

I'm happy with it. Do I think it could look and sound better? Yes, with the proper source materials in hand. Otherwise, this is probably the best it will ever look or sound.

Updated On: 11/22/13 at 12:17 PM

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 12:34pm

I agree with all you say regarding OLIVER! I've heard the same thing about the stems.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 12:37pm

I only have three Twilight Time titles, because they're pretty pricey and never have sales.

Here's my nutshell rating on each:

PICNIC:
Picture - A
Sound - A

LOST HORIZON:
Picture - A
Sound - A

OLIVER!:
Picture - B+
Sound: - B

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 1:17pm

I have those, as well as HIGH TIME, BYE BYE BIRDIE, EXPERIMENT IN TERROR, THE FURY, BODY DOUBLE, MYSTERIOUS ISLAND and THE EGYPTIAN. I've just ordered the two SINBAD films. THE FURY is the only one I've been disappointed with the quality. Not so much blaming them, but I would have preferred a better source for the transfer. I saw THE FURY a few times when it was in theaters, and I just don't recall the abundant grain exhibited on the disc. They are costly, for sure!

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 1:34pm

While we are on the subject of Twilight Time Limited Edition blu-rays, I also have BYE BYE BIRDIE which is an EXCELLENT transfer, but then again Columbia Pictures has always taken care of the film. I also got on a whim, HIGH TIME. Boy was I pleasantly surprised! Great cast: Bing Crosby, Fabian, Tuesday Weld, Richard Beymer, Patrick Adiarte...even Yvonne "Batgirl" Craig all directed by Blake Edwards! A charming, charming film!

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 10:33pm

Choreographer of THE SLIPPER AND THE ROSE, Marc Breaux, passed away, this past Tuesday, at age 89.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/23/13 at 6:23am

I didn't realize that, JB2. Thanks sharing it. Very sorry to hear it, though.

He (along with his wife Dee Dee Wood) choreographed some of the biggest movie musicals of my childhood: The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and (solo) The Slipper and the Rose.

He was also in the chorus of Li'l Abner on Broadway with Dee Dee Wood, which is where they met. And he choreographed the musical Do Re Mi with her.

I'm surprised BWW didn't pick this up as a story when he passed away.

He definitely left his mark on film and Broadway. RIP


L.A. Times Obituary - Marc Breaux

Updated On: 11/23/13 at 06:23 AM

[wonkit]

Posted: 11/23/13 at 9:10am

I am also sorry to hear about Breaux passing. The ballroom scene between the Prince and Cinderella is exquisite, especially when they move slowly together, looking into each other's eyes. That carried a lot of the story!

I watched this Blu-ray yesterday, with tremendous enjoyment, but I can't get "When He/She Danced with Me" out of my head. Great music.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/23/13 at 9:15am

I agree, wonkit.

The waltz is so romantic, beautifully staged, and I'm glad the song was nominated.

My Blu-ray arrived yesterday, and I plan to watch it today. Can't wait.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/23/13 at 12:52pm

Watching Slipper and the Rose right now. It looks and sounds fantastic. A+ on the transfer!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/23/13 at 1:42pm

I ordered it yesterday and am really looking forward to it!

And all because of this thread!

Thanks, BWW!