The Slipper And The Rose (1976)

The King of Euphrania (Michael Hordern) is growing increasingly frustrated that his son (Richard Chamberlain) has not taken a wife. So he approves a plan to hold a royal ball and invite every princess in the realm. Meanwhile, a recently orphaned young girl (Gemma Craven) is forced by her wicked stepmother (Margaret Lockwood) to act as a servant to her and her nasty daughters. Directed by Bryan Forbes (L SHAPED ROOM), this musical take on the Cinderella fairy tale has its share of admirers but I'm not one of them. The film is way too long and where the Cinderella story normally ends, the film goes on for another half hour! The songs By Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman (MARY POPPINS) are unmemorable and all sound the same. Craven as Cinderella lacks any screen presence and Chamberlain's Prince is not charming. Curiously, the focus of the film is thrown to the Prince, hardly a character of interest, while Cinderella gets short shrift. On the plus side, the production values are superb. The costumes by Julie Harris are real eye candy (shamefully not nominated for an Oscar) and the production design and art direction by Ray Simm and Bert Davey is stunning. Cinematographer Tony Imi's camera makes full use of the beautiful Austrian locations. With Edith Evans, Kenneth More, Annette Crosbie in the film's best performance as the fairy godmother, Christopher Gable and Rosalind Ayres.