Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre: The Complete Collection
I became a fan of fairy tales before I ever had children. As a first grade teacher in Beijing, China, I began exploring traditional Chinese folk tales, which in turn gave me a greater appreciation for my own western heritage in Grimm’s Fairy Tales.
Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre: The Complete Collection has been newly released as a 7-DVD boxed set from Koch Vision.
Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre first aired from 1982-87, specially produced for Showtime.
Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre: The Complete Collection is live-action renditions of 26 classic faerie tales (or fairy tales, depending on where you are from), featuring familiar actors.
These programs have been remastered and digitally restored, ready to be shared with your children and grandchildren.
Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre appeals to children because of the stories, but adults enjoy the nostalgia, the witty dialogs, and the stars!
Do you remember what life was like before Disney Princesses? You do know that fairy tales have been around for hundreds of years, right? It is so refreshing to see these real, theatrical performances of familiar tales we all know and love.
Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre is very true to the original tales; many of them being very dark. I do have memories of watching parts of this as a child and being terrified. Use judgment about whether your child can handle scary scenes with witches and intense violin music!
Though they are fantastically done, “Rumpelstiltskin”, “Rapunzel”, and “Hansel and Gretel” are rather intense in some scenes, and a little frightening.
Not all of the tales are dark, of course. In “The Tale of the Frog Prince”—– A chance meeting between a beautiful but spoiled princess (Teri Garr) and a fun-loving frog (a very young Robin Williams) results in a dinner date.
One of my favorite stories is “Pinocchio”; with the lead character being played by Paul Reubens (Pee-Wee Herman)! Actually, the “Pee Wee” voice never comes forth, and Reubens a sweet, innocent wooden puppet. Oscar-winner James Coburn plays a crazy gypsy.
It is also exciting to see familiar stories like “Sleeping Beauty”, with the Princess played by Bernadette Peters, and a dashing Christopher Reeve as the handsome prince!
Tatum O’Neal plays the role of Goldilocks in “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”, and this version includes appearances by Goldilocks’ parents, who are played by John Lithgow and singer Carole King.
In “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”—– Elizabeth McGovern is Snow White, and the story is narrated by Vincent Price (remember, the scary voice from Micheal Jackson’s Thriller?), who also plays the magic mirror (he does have the perfect omniscient mirror voice, after all).
In “The Three Little Pigs” Billy Crystal plays the pig who builds his house out of brick and Jeff Goldblum is the big bad wolf. This wolf is snarky and smart-aleky, making for some funny exchanges.
“Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp is directed by Tim Burton, both genies are played by James Earl Jones, and the evil sorcerer is played by Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame.
Other stars in this set are Jeff Bridges, Bud Cort, Liza Minnelli, Susan Sarandon, Klaus Kinski, Matthew Broderick, Gregory Hines, Eric Idle, and Mick Jagger, to name a few!
As part of this “Complete Collection”, you also get extra footage including a Lost Episode: “Faerie Tale Theatre’s Greatest Moments” (”Grimm Party”), Vintage Faerie Tale Theatre Presentation Reel with Shelley Duvall, and B-Roll Promo Footage.
To make sure this collection really, truly is complete, you also get a 112-Page Storybook with lots of photos and fun facts, and a “3-In-1″ Faerie Tale Theatre Game (custom playing cards, memory match and trivia).
I searched to find some online video clips to let you see some previews, and all I came up with was a commercial for when this collection was first released on VHS twenty years ago! So, enjoy this preview and think how much more amazing it would be to watch on DVD with eye-popping color and no graininess!
Twenty six fairy tales, including old familiar favorites, and some new ones to enjoy, too!
Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre: The Complete Collection is available for $52 at Amazon.com.
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03 December 2008, 4:38 am
We borrowed these from the library and Roo was sort of non-plussed. I wish the sound quality was better.
03 December 2008, 2:39 pm
OMGosh
I was actually looking for these a while back! I remember watching them whenever I would visit my aunt (she had cable AND a vcr lol we had 3 channels and 2 of them were all snowy) If it weren’t for still having a couple gifts to buy for my kids & nephews, I would SO be buying this set! I think Koch Vision needs to sponsor a giveaway at mom most traveled! 
Thanks for the review 
my favorites were always the frog prince and 3 little pigs lol
03 December 2008, 2:48 pm
hahahaha I forgot about Jack & the Beanstalk, Hansel & Gretel, and that Matthew Broderick was the adorable heart-throb prince…sigh…OH and the Princess and the Pea!…..sorry for the 2nd post but after watching the lil blurb video so many giddy childhood memories of those movies came rushing back!
Thank you for the walk down memory lane this morning!…I think my dd would love these, and I would love rewatching them!
03 December 2008, 6:24 pm
hahah oh my word.. I have got to buy these.. these takes me way back.. I didn’t realize they were even on DVD.. wow. lol They are so corny but I love them. Thanks for the review.