1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wishbone: The Prince and the Pooch, August 19, 2009
This review is from: Wishbone: Prince & Pooch [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This episode is based off the book the Prince and the Pauper (written by Mark Twain), it's about how a poor boy who looks just like the prince. When he meets the prince they have a little fun and decide to switch paces, but after they get switched since no one knows who the real prince is it makes quite a predicament. In Oakdale Joe's frustrated about losing a baseball game and thinks he would be a better coach. His wish comes true when he becomes coach for a T-Ball team and finds out coaching's not as easy as it looks.
I don't think I have read the original Prince and the Pauper but I have read the Wishbone version and watched the episode because it's entertaining and got me in the mood to read the original book. You need to add this classic tale in your Wishbone collection too.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Prince and the Pooch, December 31, 2008
This review is from: Wishbone: Prince & Pooch [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I grew up watching Wishbone on the Public Broadcasting Network. I always enjoyed the episodes and how they could give the basis of the plot without being too complicated for young children to understand. For me, that was a tremendous asset since I never understood the plot of the BBC or Masterpiece Theatre classics when I was seven or eight years of age.
The Wishbone episodes provided me with the opportunity to understand the major focuses of the greatest works of English and American literature (although some episodes include a work of literature from ancient Rome, Greece, or Africa.) Some of MY most memorably episodes are: "Pantin' in the Opera", "A Bone of Contention," "Paw Prints of Thieves" (released on DVD), and "Dog Days out West" (released VHS).
This Wishbone episode is relatively interesting (at least for a child who enjoys literature). However, like all Wishbone episodes, it is geared towards children. As a 19-year-old English and Political Science major, the episode (and all Wishbone episodes) seem very simple.
For example, the Wishbone version of "The Prince and the Pauper" by Mark Twain leaves out the character of Miles Miles Herndon and his evil brother Sir Hugh. It also simplifies the major themes of "injustice" and "poverty" to leave the remaining theme of "be careful what you wish for" since Tom Canty (played by Wishbone) dreams of being Edward Tudor, the Prince of Wales (also played by Wishbone), and Edward Tudor also wishes to live Tom Canty's life for a day.
Back in Oakdale, for the modern-day comparison, Joe and David gets their wish to coach a tee-ball team and discover it is not as easy as they thought especially with Leon King (played by a different and younger actor than in "Dog Day's Out West") insisting that winning is ALL that matters.
In short, I enjoyed Wishbone episodes as a child since they acquainted me with great works of literature (especially the pronunciation of names). As an adult, the episodes appear very short and elementary.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Another great Wishbone movie!, December 11, 2011
This review is from: Wishbone: Prince & Pooch [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Wishbone, the dog, again debuts in this 30-minute movie based on the book The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain. Children, especially, will enjoy this short production highlighting the importance of contentment.
Wishbone stars as both the prince and the pooch. Neither are happy with their lives, so when there is a chance to switch places, "both" dogs eagerly jump at the chance. However, the dogs realize that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. The story also involves Joe, one of the teenaged residents in Oakdale, who is thrown into the role of coach for a little girls' t-ball team. The job isn't as easy as it looks and Joe's coaching position is met with some laughs, as the girls attempt to successfully learn the game.
This is yet another short Wishbone movie, which like the others we have watched, always includes a great lesson and is short enough to watch after the homework is finished and before dinner is served. A great show for all ages! I have added this movie to my Mom-Approved Movie Listing on my Wordpress blog.
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