Customer Reviews

The Shirley Temple Storybook Collection: Land of Oz/The Reluctant Dragon

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"Shirley Temple's Storybook" was a successful television series (that ran in colour on NBC between 1958 and 1961) where Miss Temple hosted and more often than not, starred in, adaptations of fairy tale classics and other works of children's literature. Serving as the precursor to other shows like "Faerie Tale Theatre" and "Tall Tales and Legends", "Shirley Temple's Storybook" boasted a galaxy of stars from stage and screen, elaborate production values and lavish costumes.

"The Land of Oz" - (original air-date 18th September 1960). Based on "The Marvelous Land of Oz" by L. Frank Baum. Princess Ozma is transformed into a boy called Tip, by the witch Mombi. Growing up as a mischievous young man (instead of being the future ruler of Oz), Tip frees the enchanted Jack Pumpkinhead and unwittingly embarks on a thrilling adventure to overthrow evil Lord Nikidik. With Shirley Temple (Tip/Princess Ozma), Agnes Moorehead (Mombi), Jonathan Winters (Lord Nikidik), Sterling Holloway (Jack Pumpkinhead), Ben Blue (Scarecrow), Gil Lamb (Tin Woodsman), Frances Bergen (Glinda), Mari Lynn (Jellia Jamb) and Mel Blanc (as the voice of the Sawhorse). This special episode was timed to coincide with the annual television screening of "The Wizard of Oz".

"The Reluctant Dragon" - (original air-date 13th November 1960). Based on the book by Kenneth Grahame. The tale of a special friendship between a young boy and a nervous dragon. But when the rest of the townspeople learn of the dragon, the boy must find a way to save him. With John Raitt and Arthur Treacher.

TECHNICAL DETAILS:
Single-sided, dual-layer disc
Keep case
Audio: 2-channel stereo

The photography for this 1960 (?!) tv show is fantastic----almost dayglow colors for the sets and costumes. The photography is certainly the best thing about this disc.

Way back then one hour shows were actually 50 minutes long, not the 45 or less minutes now days, so for one disc and two episodes it's akin to a full lenth movie. For a kids' show, the sets are cheap, but that's part of its charm.

The Oz episode is the best of the two, for the obvious reason that Temple lost out to Garland in the movie version, though here she's playing a different role. And Arthur Treacher is in this episode too, after he and Temple were in a John Ford (!) movie together. Arthur Treacher, of his fish and chips fast food chain, and Merv Griffin's talk show sidekick.

It's probably only worthwhile for a curio, Shirley Temple as an adult with some cleavage, and an nbc 1960 (?) show in peacock color, but I paid less than 25 cents for my copy, so, for that price you can't go wrong.