Product Details

• Actors: Tom Davenport
• Directors: Ann Clark
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Number of tapes: 1
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 1980
• Run Time: 27 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: 1888522151
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #428,886 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Frog King, also known as Faithful Henry, is a classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale about a princess and a frog. When a young princess drops her favorite golden ball into a deep well, she pledges her friendship to a (talking) frog if he will retrieve it for her. When the princess fails to keep her end of the bargain, her father calmly states that she must honor her promise--and right in the middle of their fancy dinner party! After the frog humiliates the princess with his appalling table manners, he demands to be carried upstairs to sleep in her bed. The distraught princess throws the frog against the wall and gets the surprise of her life.

Produced by Tom and Mimi Davenport with the help of several grants, this 15-minute tale is one of the series From the Brothers Grimm. A 12-minute "Making of 'The Frog King'" segment with Tom Davenport and (princess) Ann Clark follows the feature. Older children will enjoy Ann Clark's discussion of her experiences as a 14-year-old, first-time film actress. Especially intriguing to all is Tom Davenport's description of what it's like to work with a frog as a central character. The process begins with the capture of 10 frogs in a nearby pond, proceeds to a discussion of the use of light and shadow to lure the frog to desired positions, and ends with a description of the editorial process known as film splicing. This is a fun tale that, unlike so many Brothers Grimm fairy tales, is not violent or frightening, but simply entertaining. (Ages 5 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

Product Description

A live-action version of the Grimm brothers tale about a young girl who promises a frog she will be his friend if he will retrieve her golden ball from a well. Her resolutely courteous father compells her to keep the promise. When, in her rage, she throws the odious frog against the wall he turns into a handsome and appealing suitor. Set in turn-of-the-century America.

Also included: "The Making of 'The Frog King,'" a supplement that tells how the fairy tale was brought to life with real people and live frogs. Narrated by Tom Davenport and Ann Clark, the 14-year-old actress in the film.

Winner of the American Film Festival Blue Ribbon The American Library Association's "Notable Films for Children" CINE Golden Eagle

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fairy tale lesson of honor, April 7, 2001

By 

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

This review is from: The Frog King [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The Frog King is a well known fairy tale with several versions. This is one of the best film adaptations of the film, faithful to the story. In this version, the frog does not turn into a prince when he is kissed but when he is thrown against the wall in disgust by the princess.

The young girl promises to help the frog if he retrieves her golden ball from a deep well. When he fulfills his part of the bargain, she runs away and tries to forget her promise. The frog is not so easily dismissed and follows her home to a dinner party where he embarrasses her with his "table manners."

Finally, when he wants to sleep in her room, she throws him against the wall and unwittingly breaks the curse he is under. They talk and become friends now that she has learned to not judge by appearances and to honor her promises.

This video also includes a short piece about the making of the film. Tom Davenport and the young actress comment on the difficulties of working with uncooperative frogs, especially in the dinner scene. Davenport shows that a big Hollywood budget isn't necessary to successfully translate a fairy tale into film.