The Slipper and the Rose (1976) was a reimagining of the classic "Cinderella" fairy tale by Charles Perrault, directed by Bryan Forbes. It starred Gemma Craven as Cinderella, Richard Chamberlain as the Prince, and a host of respected British actors, including Michael Hordern, Edith Evans, Kenneth More, and Annette Crosbie.

The songs were by Richard and Robert Sherman, most famous for writing for Disney films like Mary Poppins (1964) and The Jungle Book (1967), who also co-wrote the script with Forbes, and supposedly, talk show host David Frost, who was the executive producer.

Chamberlain plays Prince Edward of Euphania, who refuses an arranged marriage to the Princess Selena, telling his parents (Hordern and Lally Bowers) that when he marries, it will be for love, not politics. Cinderella (Craven), mourning the death of her father, is forced to act as servant to her stepmother (Margaret Lockwood) and her evil stepsisters Isobella (Rosalind Ayres) and Palatine (Sherrie Hewson). Edward's parents hold a ball for their son to meet and become engaged to one of the princesses from neighboring kingdoms, but few of them accept the invitation. Instead, local noblemen and women are invited, including Isobella and Palatine. Through the magic of Cinderella's fairy godmother (Crosbie), Cinderella is transformed from rags to riches - but only until midnight.

The film was chosen by the Royal Family to be shown at the Royal Command Performance on March 24, 1976, where the Queen Mother told the Sherman Brothers, "The waltz you wrote for the ballroom scene is the most beautiful song I've ever heard." When the film was released in the United States by Universal, the songs "What Has Love Got to Do with Being Married?" and "I Can't Forget the Melody" were cut from the film and the US soundtrack.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences viewers nominated the Sherman brothers for Best Music, Original Song for the waltz the Queen Mother loved, "The Slipper and the Rose Waltz (He Danced With Me/She Danced With Me)". They were also nominated for Best Music, Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score (with Angela Morley), as well as a Golden Globe. The film was later made into a stage show in 1984, and still plays occasionally.

By Lorraine LoBianco

SOURCES:
The Internet Movie Database
"Robert Sherman" The Telegraph 6 Mar 12