Cinderella — With Music by Rodgers and Hammerstein

Posted on September 10, 2014 at 8:00 am

Every family will enjoy the 50th anniversary edition of the glorious Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, starring Lesley Ann Warren, with Celeste Holm as the fairy godmother, Jo Van Fleet as the evil stepmother, and Walter Pidgeon and Ginger Rogers as the King and Queen. One of the ugly stepsisters is played by Pat Carroll, who would go on to provide the voice for one of Disney’s most memorable villains, Ursula in “The Little Mermaid.” And the prince is played by “General Hospital’s” Stuart Damon. The performances are delightful but the star of the show is the wonderful music from Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. It was later remade with Brandy, Whitney Houston, and Bernadette Peters, equally delightful. And the rare first version with Julie Andrews is available now as well. All three are perfect for families to watch together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtFhREtPdiE

“Cinderella” was the only musical Rodgers and Hammerstein (“Carousel,” “The King and I,” “The Sound of Music”) ever wrote for television. But it ended up on the duo’s home turf anyway when “Cinderella” became a Broadway hit, with Tony Award-winning costumes.

Coming Soon: Evergreen Christmas

Posted on September 5, 2014 at 1:30 am

Naomi Judd and Robert Loggia star in “Evergreen Christmas,” on DVD and VOD November 4, 2014.

Leaving her seemingly glamorous Hollywood life on hold, Evie Lee is forced to return to her small hometown of Balsam Falls, Tennessee and her family’s once-thriving Christmas tree farm to attend her father’s unexpected funeral. As the eldest sibling, she finds herself executor of an estate that owes a massive inheritance tax, much to her younger brother’s dismay. Torn between pursuing her music career and saving her family’s legacy, she must decide what it really means to find her place in the world.

New on DVD: The Classic King Family Specials

Posted on April 21, 2014 at 3:50 pm

King Family’s Classic Television Specials Collection Volume One comes out on DVD tomorrow. It is a lot of fun to visit the wonderfully wholesome King Family — the six singing King sisters and their spouses and children, who all seemed to live in a happy world of sunshine and rainbows back in the mid-1960’s. Corny? Sure. But undeniably still a lot of fun.

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The Uninvited: Now on Criterion

Posted on October 25, 2013 at 3:59 pm

Just in time for Halloween, one of my very favorite ghost stories has been released in a beautifully restored edition from the wonderful folks at Criterion. It is The Uninvited, starring Ray Milland (“Love Story”) and Ruth Hussey (“The Philadelphia Story”), as a brother and sister who move into a beautiful but spooky house on the cliffs of Cornwall. Made in 1944, this was one of the first Hollywood films to treat a ghost story seriously and it is wonderfully eerie and romantic, with a very satisfying conclusion and a gorgeous score that includes the classic song, “Stella by Starlight.” By today’s standards, the scares are rather tame but the psychological horror and suspense are well handled. Both Martin Scorsese and Guillermo Del Toro have named it as among their favorite thrillers. Highly recommended. (No connection to the 2009 film of the same name.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfRSZ2kYvXs

For a delectably spooky Criterion double feature, add I Married a Witch with Veronica Lake and Fredric March.

The Red Hen..And More Cooking Stories: Scholastic Storybook Treasures

Posted on February 13, 2013 at 3:59 pm

MPAA Rating:	Not rated
Profanity:	None
Alcohol/ Drugs:	None
Violence/ Scariness:	None
Diversity Issues:	None
Date Released to Theaters:	2013
Date Released to DVD:	February 13, 2013
Amazon.com ASIN:	B009O07NHK

The latest from my very favorite series for families is Scholastic Storybook Treasures’ The Red Hen and more cooking stories. I have one copy to give away! Send me an email at moviemom@moviemom.com with Hen in the subject line and tell me what you like to cook. Don’t forget your address (US addresses only).

These adorable stories with lessons about food, friendship, and manners include:

HE RED HEN (Written and illustrated by Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley, narrated by Walter Mayes) Filled with humor and sparkling illustration, this is the classic story of Red Hen and her adventures in baking (and cooperation).

BREAD COMES TO LIFE (Written and illustrated by George Levenson, narrated by Lily Tomlin) Watch each step of how to bring bread to life, from the sowing of the seeds to the shaping and baking of the bread dough.

HOW DO DINOSAURS EAT THEIR FOOD? (Written and narrated by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague) These mischievous dinosaurs show that burping, spilling and playing with one s food are not the best ways to enjoy a meal.

ARNIE THE DOUGHNUT (Written and illustrated by Gerald McDermott, narrated by Michael McKean) When Mr. Bing buys Arnie in a doughnut shop, Arnie realizes he must persuade Mr. Bing that a doughnut can be more than just a sweet snack.

In case your children are inspired to make their own food, it also includes an easy-to-Follow Recipe for Simply Splendid Cake.