Product Details

• Actors: Sid Caesar, Clive Revill, Robert Morse, Lysette Anthony, Susan Berlin
• Directors: David Irving
• Writers: David Irving, Anna Mathias, Len Talan
• Producers: Itzik Kol, Menahem Golan, Patricia Ruben, Yoram Globus
• Format: Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Warner)
• VHS Release Date: December 14, 1994
• Run Time: 85 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302636752
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #392,231 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Part of Cannon's Movietale series, The Emperor's New Clothes is a frenetic musical take on Hans Christian Andersen's fable. The good news is that Sid Caesar makes for an entertaining Emperor. The bad news is that the incessant slapstick grows tiresome, though the tunes, like "Clothes Make the Man" ("Change 'em every hour/that's how a politician stays in power") aren't bad. In David Irving's adaptation, Caesar's Emperor insists on wearing only the "most beautiful, most exquisite" outfits. When he meets tailor Henry Dispenser (two-time Tony winner Robert Morse) and his assistant, Nicholas (Babylon 5's Jason Carter), who offer to make him a suit stitched with diamond thread, he showers them with jewels. In return, the con men give him, well, nothing. Only the smart, they explain, can see their fantastic creations. Since the Emperor's minions don't wish to seem stupid, they praise his fleshy resplendence. Naturally, the Emperor discovers the awful truth--not only has he been had, but he looks like an idiot. Irving is also behind Cannon's Sleeping Beauty and Rumpelstiltskin (starring his sister, Amy Irving). Not too surprisingly, The Emperor's New Clothes feels like it was churned out fairly quickly, but the crazy costumes are a hoot. Most would give fashion critic Mr. Blackwell conniptions, but their garishness is what makes them amusing. This Movietale installment is fine for families, but more mature viewers would be better off with the Emperor's edition of Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now on DVD, September 15, 2002

By 

sedonaman (Sedona, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Emperor's New Clothes [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I own several other versions (animated) of this story, and this acted is the best of them all. Hope it comes out on DVD.

Update: I purchased the DVD, and it is worth owning.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cannon Movie Tales Finally on DVD!, June 5, 2005

By 

Heidi Anne Heiner (SurLaLune Fairy Tales.com) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Emperor's New Clothes (DVD)

Sid Caesar stars as The Emperor in this Cannon Movie Tales musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's popular fairy tale.

Here's the movie's description available from Sony Pictures: "Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairy tale gets a lavish makeover in this whimsical live-action comedy starring showbiz legend Sid Caesar (Grease), who plays the eccentric Emperor with his "trademark foreign language gibberish and nervous delivery" (Variety). Full of mischief, merriment and mayhem, this delightful twist on a beloved story weaves a hilarious family adventure you won't soon forget!

"The Emperor's blinding vanity makes him an easy mark for con artists, especially the two phony tailors hired to make him a dazzling outfit for his daughter Gilda's (Lysette Anthony) wedding. While the elder crook (Robert Morse) schemes to steal the royal jewels, his nephew (Jason Carter) is busy stealing Gilda's heart. In the midst of it all, it takes a child to reveal the truth that no one else can see!"

The Cannon Movie Tale series of nine films has become nearly as popular among fairy tale enthusiasts and family film fans as Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre. Some would argue that this series is even more popular. Either way, these musicals are suitable for the entire family and feature well-known actors from the 1980s.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Fall in love with fairy tales again", September 4, 2007

By 

80sLady "PRG" (NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Emperor's New Clothes (DVD)

If the classic fairy tale "The Emperor's New Clothes" were ever to be re-made via movie, book etc, it would probably never be portrayed as eloquently as this movie has. I thoroughly enjoyed this version of "The Emperor's New Clothes". It was light, entertaining and captured the true essence of Hans Christian Anderson's classic storybook version.

Sid Caesar portrays the eccentric Emperor with sheer brilliance. The mumbling, bumbling Emperor's desire to wed off his daughter Gilda is only surpassed by his constant desire to look and feel... well.. like an Emperor!

An added bonus to the original tale is the burgeoning love between Gilda and one of the tailors (i.e. not Gilda's intended spouse) who is making the Emperor's wonderous new clothes... or should we say NOT making the Emperor's new clothes.

Of course, no one is as surprised about the ending as the Emperor but, in this movie, luckily you don't have to be a child to enjoy this tailor-made tale.