Customer Reviews

Kukla, Fran and Ollie: Madame O's Merry Musicale (1970) [VHS]

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I was a big fan of KF&O as a kid. I find that I enjoy them as much if not more as an adult. This video starts out with several of the Kuklapolitan Players (sans Kukla and Deloras Dragon) singing *together* for the first time (for those who don't know, Burr Tillstrom did all the voices and usually all the puppetry as well. He must have been taking advantage of new advances in recording to do this). The story is reminiscent of A Charlie Brown Christmas, with Ollie bringing home a really ugly little tree that he felt sorry for. With some help from Beulah Witch, he transforms it into a thing of beauty.
The puppets aren't as advanced as Hensons. Tillstrom had the gift of making you believe they're real. Their personalities reel you in and soon you're just enjoying yourself watching these adorable "kids" do their stuff. No violence, sex (except for some passionate kisses between Madame O and Colonel Crackie) or computer generated anything. Just pure entertainment.

I was surprised and delighted to find that our granddaughter loved this 1950's classic TV show. She loves all the Kuklapolitans, finds them cute and funny, and, unlike so many Disney DVD's, we don't need to fast forward through any scary parts.