This is a great version of 'Cinderella' and I've seen many of them! I'm so fond of Julie Andrews and this is a really special version. I'm hoping many people can see this and enjoy it! Even if this was made many years ago, it was a clever story with great singing. Too bad the movie found was in black and white. My 11 year old decided he didn't want to watch it! I wonder how many people still remember watching it? The step-mother almost reminded me of Anges Moorehead. It's nice to see these old movies once in a while. I'm glad there are some movies that we can enjoy once in awhile. What part I liked was, well, all of it! Thank you for your time!

This is, in my opinion, Rodgers and Hammerstein's masterpiece! Based on the beloved fairy tale, Cinderella comes to life in this spectacular TV production! Julie Andrews (who would later star in MARY POPPINS and THE SOUND OF MUSIC), is a joy to watch, and Jon Cypher as the Prince is great too. Other fine performances come from Howard Lindsay and Dorothy Stickney as the King and Queen, Ilka Chase as the Stepmother, Kaye Ballard and Alice Ghostley as the Stepsisters (they are HILARIOUS), and Edith Adams as the Fairy Godmother. The sets and costumes are good. The score is one of R+H's best. Everything about this production just impresses me.When broadcast on March 31, 1957, it got an audience of about 107 million people! Unfortunately, it was broadcast on that night only, so, in 1965, it was remade with Lesley Ann Warren playing Cinderella (this version was great too). It was also remade in 1997, with Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother and Brandy as Cinderella (again, another great production). Finally, in 2004, this classic 1957 version was finally released on DVD! The disc, released by Image Entertainment, has good picture and sound quality, and extras including interviews, galleries, and an appearance by R+H on THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW. A treat for musical fans everywhere! Recommended. 10/10

Due to the 1950s style production values of the sets I am limiting this to 1n 8, but if it had had 2005 set values it would be a 10.Cinderella is one of the few fairy tales we grow up with that actually have been successfully used in entertainment mediums. Most people think of the Disney cartoon feature film of the early 1950s, but there was also THE GLASS SLIPPER, a full length film that appeared in the middle 1950s, the early 19th Century opera LA CENERENTOLA by Rossini, and even modern variations in film (MIDNIGHT in 1939 and CINDERFELLA in the 1960s). Then came this 1957 Rodgers and Hammerstein triumph. It was their only joint musical venture for television (although Richard Rodgers had done the them music for VICTORY AT SEA), and it proved so successful that it was shown again in 1965 with another cast led by Leslie Anne Warren, Walter Pigeon, and Ginger Rogers.At the time the original television production was shown in 1957, it came at a critical moment for the lyricist and composer. They were doing well as producers, and they had a string of mighty successful works behind them (OKLAHOMA, CAROUSEL, SOUTH PACIFIC, and THE KING AND I), and they were very busy with the Hollywood productions of CAROUSEL and SOUTH PACIFIC at this time. But they were human: Several of their productions were not as successful. ALLEGRO (from the late 1940s) had an interesting book, but the music did not catch on (except one tune which was saved for SOUTH PACIFIC). ME AND JULIET, a backstage romance, had a middling run. PIPEDREAMS (based on the same stories of John Steinbeck that TORTILLA FLATS came from) was a total flop. Cinderella would be their first successful musical in five years. Soon FLOWER DRUM SONG would restore the pair to their Broadway leadership positions, capped off by their last masterpiece THE SOUND OF MUSIC.They were fortunate to discover for their lead Julie Andrews, she of the pure human voice that comes closest to a bell. She does well acting the role of Cinderella, as well as singing the score from her first big number (in the rocking chair by the fire) to the end. Edie Adams is having fun as a rather mischievous fairy godmother, but one whose mischief has it's good motives. The young John Cypher shows that he could have been the leading man in operetta parts (fortunately for his abilities he got better dramatic roles later). His Prince Christopher is a dutiful son and a wise lover. Ilke Chase is sharp as the stepmother, but not really as vicious as her cartoon equivalent in the Disney picture. As for Kaye Ballard and Alice Ghostley, they certainly are amusing (Ballard is pretentious about her learning - her first name is "Portia", which leads her constantly dropping "The Quality of Mercy" Speech to whoever she sets her eyes on as a prospective lover; Ghostly is just very pessimistic). It came as a surprise to me that the Cinderella march tune actually has words that the two sisters sing at the ball. The King and Queen are played by two performers who are not as well known as the others. Not today anyway. Howard Lindsey and Dorothy Strickney were better known in the 1950s for their work in Broadway productions (with or without each other - they were married). Lindsey is of particular interest because he made very few appearances in movies, and rarely in a large part like this one. His best recalled work was as the co-author (with Russell Crouse) of the dramatization of Clarence Day's LIFE WITH FATHER. This was one of the longest running plays in Broadway history (it once held the record of longest running - something like sixteen years). Lindsay played the role of Clarence Day Sr. (the role William Powell plays in the movie version). As you may notice that the King in Cinderella is wearing special pince - nez eyeglasses, it was probably suggested because Lindsay wore the same glasses as Mr. Day. He and his wife, Ms Strickney, share some sweet moments together as a happily married couple, probably based on their actual connection there.Tonight was the second time PBS has shown the complete 1957 version, and as such it suggests that there may be many other nice little treasures of "lost" live performances that are waiting restoration and re-showing to today's audience.

This is the first that I had seen the original TV version. I had seen both of the other television versions -- the 1965 Lesley Ann Warren version and the 1997 Brandy version. This version is so superior to the others. The copy at the Museum of Television and Radio is in black-and-white although it had been presented in color. If you are in New York and get the chance to visit the museum, the presentation is well worth the 1-1/2 hours. Oh, yes. The commercials which are part of the recording are quite humorous.