THE SLIPPER AND THE ROSE

UK, 1976, 146 minutes, Colour.
Richard Chamberlain, Gemma Craven, Annette Crosbie, Edith Evans, Michael Hordern, Christopher Gable, Kenneth More, Margaret Lockwood.
Directed by Bryan Forbes.

It is usually the serious films that are chosen for film discussion; they are considered to be full of serious themes and of the search for values. However, many lighter films are also of great value in looking at the more humorous side of human nature and of 'human' values. Such a film is The Slipper and the Rose.

Over the centuries there have been some basic stories - basic in the sense that they form the pattern for more sophisticated or complicated stories. The story elements in nursery rhymes and fairy tales make them basic stories. one of the most popular is that of the lowly girl whose wishes come true and who marries the Prince and lives happily ever after. The attendant characters are important as 'types' in this story, especially the cruel stepmother and the fairy godmother. The story of Cinderella has been popular for a long time. It offers some insights into the popular imagination and the popular dreams for wish?fulfilment.

There have been several versions of Cinderella. Walt Disney presented an animated version in the 50's. An attractive musical version was released in the mid-50's with Leslie Caron as Ella. This present version is a big-budget musical, with songs by the Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins, Tom Sawyer, etc.) and featuring many prominent English character actors. It is an entertaining film, beautiful to look at. It will entertain adult audiences while being enjoyable for younger audiences.

Richard Chamberlain does very well as Prince Edward. Newcomer, Gemma Craven, is Cinderella. Kenneth More is an effective Lord Chamberlain and Michael Hordern hilarious as the absent-minded King. Edith Evans (at the age of 88) portrays his mother, Margaret Lockwood is the stepmother and Annette Crosbie makes a delightfully daffy Fairy Godmother.

The Slipper and the Rose would make good discussion material for younger audiences.

1. The appeal of fairy tales over the ages, for all ages? The attractiveness of the story, characters, crises? The truth about human nature, good and evil in fairy tales?

2. How attractively presented was,this fairy tale? Fairy tale elements? Of the 18th. century realism? An imperfect and realistic earth touched by magic?

3. The quality of the film as a musical? The Sherman brothers' song? The use of music? Choreography? The tone of the fairy tale but via the music?

4. The success of the film as a comedy? The wittiness of the dialogue, the humour of the characters and their types, the satire on recognizable types, especially in the Court?

5. The film's use of colour and panavision, costumes, Austrian settings, the atmosphere and beauty?

6. The impact of the opening with the horses on the snow? The prince returning, the music and pomp? The prince's mocking this kind of welcome? Initial impact of the prince, his wanting to marry for love and rejecting arranged marriages? The long encounter with John and his explanation of himself? The explanation via song to the chamberlain? The encounter with the parents and understanding them? (The court, the dowager queen, the elaborate human game?) The opening songs as setting the tone for a musical?

7. How well developed was the theme of love and marriage? The situation of the prince, of John? The song of the king and the queen about marriage? The queen mother and her comments? The intrusion of Montague and his wanting to be married?

8. A transition to Cinderella and her home? The film's explanation of her status? The stepmother and her personality and cruelty, the step sisters and their cruel vanity? Cinderella sent below stairs with so much work? Audience sympathy for Cinderella? How attractive a heroine?

9. The importance of Cinderella seeing the prince in the Church amongst tombs? The humour and irony of this sequence with John and the Prince talking about mortality? The humour about the ancestors? The satire on 18th. century monarchs?

10. The character of the Lord Chamberlain and his influence in the court? The atmosphere of politics? Invasions? The king's study of the map? The importance of the ball? A bride-finding ball and people's reactions to it, e.g. Montague's? The prince's hostile reaction yet his going along with the plan? The detailed discussion of protocol? The comic song about protocol? The satire on the court?

11. The humour in the invitation and the varying responses - from swooning to death?

12. The atmosphere of Cinderella's home in contrast to the court? The stepmother and her moodiness? Preparing food, the dresses? The effect on Cinderella?

13. How attractive and enjoyable was the fairy godmother? As a character, her explanations of herself, her hard work, for all people who needed magic? The humour and the added value of the dog, the meals, the dresses, the way she sent Cinderella to the ball? The varying ways of magic for Cinderella's dress, slippers etc.? The ballet of the mice for the coach etc.?

14. How attractively presented was the ball itself? Cinderella's arrival, going up the steps, the entry and the encounter with the prince, the dancing and the delight? How well handled was the expected crisis at midnight?

15. The amount of feeling communicated about the prince's search? His desperation? Fitting on the slipper? Putting it as a monument? His grief? A development of the theme of love?

16. The humour and the satire in knowing one's position? John and his love, his being knighted? The elaborate dance and song about knowing one's place? what did it add to the theme, to the entertainment?

17. The importance of Cinderella's finding the slipper? John helping Cinderella find the slipper? True love and the enchantment of true love? The clash with politics? Reaction of the king and his meeting? The importance of the sequence with the Lord Chamberlain explaining Cinderella's sacrifice? How poignant was this sequence?

18. The importance of Cinderella's accepting the exile? Her wanting the prince to think that she did not love him? The happiness of the fairy godmother's returning to the situation? The delight in her returning Cinderella to the prince?

19. How satisfying was the expected happy ending? The preparation for the marriage? The marriage itself? Montague and the princess falling in love? The happy arrangement of politics?

20. The theme of love and romance? How well handled, especially the sequences with Cinderella and the prince? The importance of the songs?

21. Comment on the contribution of the principle characters especially their feelings and humour? The king and his idiotic mistakes? His wry observation on life? The Queen? The queen mother and her wanting to be in everything? The stepmother and the other sisters? John and his love for Lady Caroline?

22. The importance of the songs and their contribution to the plot, to character and themes: 'Why can't I be two people", 'What has love got to do with getting married?", "Once I was loved?", 'What a comforting thing to know?", "Bride-finding Ball", "Suddenly it happens", "Secret kingdom", 'We danced with me", "Position and positioning", "Tell him anything but not that I love him", "I can't forget the melody"?

23. The quality of the achievement of this film, for all audiences? The values that it stood for?