Search - Oscar Hammerstein II :: Cinderella (1957 Television Cast)

"Impossible"- to listen to any other version! This one ROCKS

Skye | Julie Andrews Land | 03/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"OH! This is AMAZING! WOW! :-)
As a child, I was simply entrancing with the cartoon Disney Cinderella, as most children are. I would watch it OVER and OVER and OVER again...the tape was practically worn out by the time I was 5 years old! I think I own about 4 tapes because of the constant wearing out problem. But as I got older, I developed into a MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR (!!! emphasis on major) fan of Ms. Julie Andrews!! When I found out the Rodgers and Hammerstein WROTE Cinderella for her, I was positively THRILLED. For a few reasons.
1) I was in LOVE with everything "Cinderella"
2) I was (AM) in love with everything Julie Andrews
3) Rodgers and Hammerstein are a brilliant team
4) They wrote it FOR Julie!
So, I was determined to buy it. But as a normal, BROKE 13 yeard old, I had to wait. One day I was just browsing "Borders" and guess what I saw? CINDERELLA! With Julie! I practically screamed and grabbed it. Many, many people looked at me funny. I didn't care. I FLEW over to my mom--preparing myself to get into begging mode on the way. I begged and she agreed! I was flying in air!
We got into the car, I frantically unwrapped it and popped it in the car CD player. I went crazy for it! It's absolutely marvelous!
(I'm 15 now by the way)
I HIGHLY HIGHLY reccomend this. You will NOT regret it!!!!
I PROMISE!
:-)
Meanwhile, I'll be meandering along humming "In My Own Little Corner!"
Au Revoir!"

Julie Andrews as Cinderella; heavenly!

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 10/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA was first transmitted live on television in 1957. All that remains of that historic telecast is a grainy kinescope taken by the technicians and the sparkling cast album recorded just days before the musical went to air.Julie Andrews, fresh from the Broadway run of MY FAIR LADY, is a radiant Cinderella. Rodgers and Hammerstein's cotton-candy score is well-suited to her lovely voice. The amazing cast also includes Alice Ghostley (NEW FACES) and Kaye Ballard (THE GOLDEN APPLE) as the Stepsisters, Ilka Chase as the Wicked Stepmother, Edie Adams (WONDERFUL TOWN) as the Fairy Godmother and Jon Cypher as the Prince.The romantic score gave rise to a number of memorable songs including "In My Own Little Corner", "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?", "A Lovely Night", "Stepsisters' Lament" and "Waltz For a Ball". The instrumental dance number "Gavotte" is heavenly, too.2 years later the musical was staged in London as a Christmas pantomime starring Tommy Steele and Yana (cast album from Bayview Records), and in 1966 was taped for prosterity in an all-new production starring Lesley Ann Warren and Stuart Damon.However, the magic is palpable still in the gorgeous 1957 cast album of this lovely score. Highly-recommended."

Enchanting! What more can one say?

Mark Andrew Lawrence | Toronto | 01/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"By conservative estimates more than 100 million people watched Julie Andrews in the live telecast of CINDERELLA on March 31, 1957. And most of them went out the next day and bought the Lp - the can be no other explanation as to why well-worn copies turn up in even the smallest of used record stores. This newly re-mastered Cd has rendered the Lps obsolete...but the score and performances live on. (Good news for fans: The original kinescores are scheduled to be released on VHS and DVD later this year, Until now they were only in the hands of a few collectors who would charge outrageous prices to make you a poor quality copy!)This recording - made 2 weeks before the telecast - finds everyone in excellent voice. This is not taken from the broadcast...by the time the telecast happened a few changes were made. "The Prince is Giving a Ball" was used as the opening number, followed by "Overture" (or, to use the proper title, "The Mother daughter march") and some of the lyrics were re-written. No matter, the story comes through in these tracks and as a bonus we hear four selections from an earlier demo album sent to radio stations in advance to promote the broadcast.Julie is - as always - a joy. She IS Cinderella. Edith Adams is perfect as the fairy Godmother. The whole cast right down to Dorothy Stickney and Howard Lindsay as the Queen and King not only bring the characters to like but seem to be thoroughly enjoying the task. It is a disc for music lovers of all ages!"