Product Details

• Actors: T. J. Hargrave, Ruth Gordon, Brooke Shields, Lisa Blake Richards, Dan Hedaya
• Directors: Harvey Hart
• Format: NTSC, Color
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: USA Home Video
• Run Time: 74 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000NVH6W6
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #260,101 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This is why ABC made Afterschool Specials!, July 16, 2007

By 

Flick Chick (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Prince of Central Park (1976 TV-movie) (VHS Tape)

I loved the book, and remember being excited to rush home and watch this ABC Afterschool Special. Although the story was tampered with (adding a younger sister), it followed the story fairly faithfully: JJ is a 'tween in the NYC foster care system, with a foster mother who cares more about the check she receives than the children in her care. He decides to escape, and finds a treehouse in ruins in the middle of Central Park (a relic of the Depression-era "Hooverville" of the homeless) as his "castle".

TJ Hargrave is charming and convincing as JJ; Ruth Gordon is a park regular he befriends. There's a fringe drug dealer who tries to pull JJ into his crew; adds peril to the plot, and a good chase scene. Overall, a sweet film that touches on the struggle for survival, the search for love & acceptance, and the ways we create the family ties we are not born with.

It's been years since I've seen this film running on cable, but every time I see the title I check to see if it's this version, and not the deplorable 2000 Kathleen Turner/Danny Aiello film that uses only an iota the original story. A sad note: the young star of the film, Timothy John "TJ" Hargrave, was killed on September 11, 2001 at age 38; he was a vice president at Cantor Fitzgerald in the World Trade Center.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars dvdrightnow, August 27, 2010

By 

Darrell Owens "big o" (Atlanta, GA U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Prince of Central Park (1976 TV-movie) (VHS Tape)

Let's get this movie on DVD. I remember this one as a kid my self. As one who was fascinated with Tree Houses and Scooters, this was an inspiration to me. I'd love for my children to see this one.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Afternoon Movie., March 9, 2008

By 

Brent Hilton (Layton, Utah USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Prince of Central Park (1976 TV-movie) (VHS Tape)

what memories came when i popped in this movie i forgot alot of the stuff the bully , Mrs. miller , the Merry go around scene, no no i take that back about Mrs. miller who could forget her and the treehouse. this is just a delightful film i hope that someday it will get put on DVD. it's about two orphans that run away and hide in Central Park this movie is about love,trust and honor a very moving picture.

Highly Recommended Title For Kids.