Customer Reviews

Ashpet: An American Cinderella (From The Brothers Grimm) [VHS]

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"Ashpet" is a Cinderella story with more wit and charm than most retellings of the tale. This version is set pre-World War II and the prince is a soldier getting ready to go to war. The stepmother isn't as vicious as the eldest stepsister, Thelma, who wants a husband and doesn't like housework. Thelma is determined to use any method within her means including buying a charm from Dark Sally to wear to the Victory Dance.

My favorite element of the film is the subsitution of Dark Sally, a wise conjure-woman, into the traditional fairy godmother role. Dark Sally likes intelligent, hard-working girls, not lazy, silly girls like the stepsisters. She asks riddles and likes to tell stories with hidden meanings to anyone smart enough to listen. In this case the heroine Ashpet, rightfully known as Lily, is a great listener. Dark Sally doesn't use magic or charms to prepare Ashpet for the dance. She advises a bath and an inherited dress to enhance Lily's natural beauty.

This film is wonderful for the classroom and should entertain students with romance and a familiar story, but adults will most enjoy the humor and entertaining characters. After all, most young students will not understand right away that a trip to Niagara Falls usually meant a honeymoon during this time in history. The honeymoon trip pictures during the credits provide a great ending to a fine film.

These videos are excellent for the classroom! I thoroughly recommend any of them. Wish he would produce more.