Customer Reviews

Cinderella (1957 Television Cast)

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OH! This is AMAZING! WOW! :-)
As a child, I was simply entrancing with the cartoon Disney Cinderella, as most children are. I would watch it OVER and OVER and OVER again...the tape was practically worn out by the time I was 5 years old! I think I own about 4 tapes because of the constant wearing out problem. But as I got older, I developed into a MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR (!!! emphasis on major) fan of Ms. Julie Andrews!! When I found out the Rodgers and Hammerstein WROTE Cinderella for her, I was positively THRILLED. For a few reasons.
1) I was in LOVE with everything "Cinderella"
2) I was (AM) in love with everything Julie Andrews
3) Rodgers and Hammerstein are a brilliant team
4) They wrote it FOR Julie!
So, I was determined to buy it. But as a normal, BROKE 13 yeard old, I had to wait. One day I was just browsing "Borders" and guess what I saw? CINDERELLA! With Julie! I practically screamed and grabbed it. Many, many people looked at me funny. I didn't care. I FLEW over to my mom--preparing myself to get into begging mode on the way. I begged and she agreed! I was flying in air!
We got into the car, I frantically unwrapped it and popped it in the car CD player. I went crazy for it! It's absolutely marvelous!
(I'm 15 now by the way)
I HIGHLY HIGHLY reccomend this. You will NOT regret it!!!!
I PROMISE!
:-)
Meanwhile, I'll be meandering along humming "In My Own Little Corner!"
Au Revoir!

RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA was first transmitted live on television in 1957. All that remains of that historic telecast is a grainy kinescope taken by the technicians and the sparkling cast album recorded just days before the musical went to air.

Julie Andrews, fresh from the Broadway run of MY FAIR LADY, is a radiant Cinderella. Rodgers and Hammerstein's cotton-candy score is well-suited to her lovely voice. The amazing cast also includes Alice Ghostley (NEW FACES) and Kaye Ballard (THE GOLDEN APPLE) as the Stepsisters, Ilka Chase as the Wicked Stepmother, Edie Adams (WONDERFUL TOWN) as the Fairy Godmother and Jon Cypher as the Prince.

The romantic score gave rise to a number of memorable songs including "In My Own Little Corner", "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?", "A Lovely Night", "Stepsisters' Lament" and "Waltz For a Ball". The instrumental dance number "Gavotte" is heavenly, too.

2 years later the musical was staged in London as a Christmas pantomime starring Tommy Steele and Yana (cast album from Bayview Records), and in 1966 was taped for prosterity in an all-new production starring Lesley Ann Warren and Stuart Damon.

However, the magic is palpable still in the gorgeous 1957 cast album of this lovely score. Highly-recommended.

By conservative estimates more than 100 million people watched Julie Andrews in the live telecast of CINDERELLA on March 31, 1957. And most of them went out the next day and bought the Lp - the can be no other explanation as to why well-worn copies turn up in even the smallest of used record stores. This newly re-mastered Cd has rendered the Lps obsolete...but the score and performances live on. (Good news for fans: The original kinescores are scheduled to be released on VHS and DVD later this year, Until now they were only in the hands of a few collectors who would charge outrageous prices to make you a poor quality copy!)

This recording - made 2 weeks before the telecast - finds everyone in excellent voice. This is not taken from the broadcast...by the time the telecast happened a few changes were made. "The Prince is Giving a Ball" was used as the opening number, followed by "Overture" (or, to use the proper title, "The Mother daughter march") and some of the lyrics were re-written. No matter, the story comes through in these tracks and as a bonus we hear four selections from an earlier demo album sent to radio stations in advance to promote the broadcast.

Julie is - as always - a joy. She IS Cinderella. Edith Adams is perfect as the fairy Godmother. The whole cast right down to Dorothy Stickney and Howard Lindsay as the Queen and King not only bring the characters to like but seem to be thoroughly enjoying the task. It is a disc for music lovers of all ages!

The original Cinderella with Julie Andrews is the only way to go. Full of catchy tunes and typical Rogers and Hamerstein music, any fan of musicals should own this CD. The 1957 version is by far the better version.

Now that the DVD of the original 1957 performance of Cinderella is available, this version has come full circle. For persons who want to enjoy the music alone, this recording is a must, as the later versions of the musical do not measure up to the original in any way. Julie Andrews is superb as Cinderella. Edie Adams is magnificent as the Godmother. Kaye Ballard and Alice Ghostley make very comical yet talented stepsisters. Jon Cypher's performance as the Prince was his first and was definitely an impressive debut. Most significant were the performances of Howard Lindsay and Dorothy Stickney in the Royal Dressing Room Scene, a scene that was cut from the later versions completely; for some reason, the directors seemed to think the King and Queen were not important enough to the plot of the show to be included. The Waltz for a Ball, quite an impressive dance number in the show itself, is also an impressive musical number that is included in the recording. The recording comes complete with four bonus tracks at the end.

For the many people who become addicted to the score to this Rodgers and Hammerstein masterpiece, this recording is a must to have. It is one that will give you hours of listening pleasure for sure.

When I watched the 1997 remake movie of "Cinderella" starring Brandy, I felt so sad: "Oh, it is NOT the Cinderella I have been wanted to see!" Because it is a drama with musical numbers. I found this original TV cast is excellent one. This is too perfect to add to say. The cast are very great. Jon Cyper and Julie are perfect as Prince and Cinderella. They are by far better than Brandy and someone. Stepmother and stepsisters are very funny and good. These three did a good job. Of course, the musical numbers are beautiful and romantic. Besides, there are four bonus track in this re-release album. Two of them are sung by Julie, and others are played by Richard Rodgers himself, I do love this recording so much that I don't want to buy the 1965 cast recording. This is enough for me to enjoy the lovely and charming "Cinderella". I recommend it highly!

This is the best of all three versions of the Rodgers and Hammerstien Cinderella. That includes the 1965 and 1997 remakes. The orchestrations are great, and the singing is wonderful. If you saw the 1997 version air on the Wonderful World of Disney and liked it, wait 'till you here this grand and catchy memorable recording. It was in my head for months! Just check out the 'Overture' excerpt above. You'll see what I mean with 'catchy'!

I saw the Brandy version of this musical and years ago I saw the 1960's version and didn't find either vesion all that exciting. The 1960's was terrible IMHO. But this version ohh joy! I had no idea it was done by Julie Andrews first..and now that I have this cd I'll never get near the other versions. There is just no competition between Leslie Ann Warren, Brandy and Julie! Julie's voice is simply one of the most beautiful voices ever.
And I just love the Sisters song and Prince Charming..the sound quality is also very clear and easy to listen too. Surprising for a 1950's original soundtrack.
Worth every penny especially if you like Julie Andrews.

For years it was virtually impossible to buy either this version or the 1965 version of Cinderella. I now own both of them on CD. I have always thought that it was too bad that there is no full length version of the original available, and was very happy when the CD came out. Julie Andews is,of course brilliant,and the idea of casting Edie Adams as much younger fairy Godmother a stroke of genius. The real suprise here is Jon
Cypher as the Prince. I had forgotten how good a voice he had until an episode of Major Dad when he sang "The Impossible Dream". (He played Dr Carrasco on B'way). Its fun to compare the two productions. I wouldn't presume to say that one is better than the other. I really enjoyed being able to have the original

This recording of "Cinderella" starring Julie Andrews is the best version of this show by far. The sound quality of this CD is exceptional and the performances are outstanding. It sounds as if it was recorded just yesterday. Julie's performance of "When You're Driving Through the Moonlight/Lovely Night" is pure jubilation. You'll listen to this CD over and over.