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Little Prince, The [1974]


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I Gave This a Chance despite the first viewing
Review date: 2008-01-01 Rating: 4 out of 10

I saw this film with my grandmother at Radio City Music Hall as a child back in 1974 (I think this is the year). I had not read the book at that time, and certainly did not like the movie. Since falling in love with the soundtrack of Le Petit Prince (Richard Cocciante's and Elisabeth Anais's French version), I decided to give this film another look. Also, it's considered a classic, so I thought maybe I'd like it better now.

I did like the main cast. I think Richard Kiley as the aviator was excellent and I very much enjoyed Steven Warner as the Little Prince. Gene Wilder (the Fox) like always, was great.

The movie was really bad, though. And, the musical score was appalling (I do not use this term lightly)! The Little Prince, too, is filled with poor melodies and lyrics. I am not a huge fan of Lerner and Lowe's, but these songs are just really atrocious. I wound up fast forwarding halfway through most of the songs since they sounded horrid and repetitive. Worse, they seemed to come out of nowhere with no real transition from dialogue to music. The Prince's Rose, for instance, said goodbye coyly yet gently but then belted out her obnoxious and brash goodbye song. And, it was HORRIBLE as were most all the tracks. Really atrocious stuff. I'm surprised it even passes as music.

The main message here is wonderful. The film does keep the main message, but if you don't know the book, some of the lessons learned and taught are lost in this film. You reach the same conclusion, because it's spelled out for the watcher, but some lessons (vanity, too much work-not enough play, focus on money) are lost along the way. In addition, the troubled yet charming lamplighter is absent here. Really, if time was an issue, why not cut out the horrendous musical numbers? These planetary visits the Prince makes in the book are pretty integral to the story.

Again, the scenes between the aviator and the prince were wonderful. Gene Wilder was excellent. The supporting cast was okay, but they didn't get the book's points across.

I'm surprised anyone thinks this is a classic. I have not seen the Rachel Portman's operatic version, but I can't sing the praises of Richard Cocciante's and Elisabeth Anais' version (LE PETIT PRINCE). Although it's not available with English subtitles, it is absolutely wonderful. And, the lyrics to the songs are almost the exact words that Antoine de Saint-Exupery wrote, set to music. So, if you have the book in English, you can follow along with the dvd film version without any issue. In fact, the first song, Dedicace, is the exact dedication that Antoine de Saint-Exupery wrote, set to music. And, Daniel Lavoie is perfect as the aviator. The music to this is truly sublime.

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Reviews


The last of the great musicals
Review date: 2006-08-14 Rating: 10 out of 10

I first read the Little Prince for an English course, and loved the book. OK, it was written in French, and I read ity in English, but thats life.
The author was a French aviator before ther WW2, and I believe some of his exploits may be found in the book. He flew from Paris to India, I know that, and that is the starting point for the book and film.
How do you deine perfection? Lerner and Lowe is a good starting point; a good story; a fine cast of actors and a very good actress; the Prince is wonderful, simple and full of the joy you need to make the story believable; and Bob Fosse doing his own song and dance routine, the snake in the grass.
Its a story for children, i recently watched it again with some friends children, between 7 and 14, and they loved the film.It is also a wonderful comment on our society, but that is for the adult to appreciate.
For me, the 2 best parts of the film are Bob Fosse as the snake, and Gene Wilder as the Fox. Both are very clearly enjoying themselves, and so is the boy.
There is some sadness in the film, as the way that the Prince returns home. But at the same time, there is laughter and happiness, and tunes that will stay in your head for months to come. I'm still singing the Snake in the grass routine after a week.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Bob Fosse
Steven Warner
Richard Kiley
Gene Wilder
Joss Ackland

Creators:
Richard Kiley (Primary Contributor)
Steven Warner (Primary Contributor)
Christopher Challis (Cinematographer)
Stanley Donen (Producer)
George Hively (Editor)
Peter Boita (Editor)
A. Joseph Tandet (Producer)
Alan Jay Lerner (Writer)
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Paramount Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Entertainment
EAN: 5014437852434
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2004-06-28
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 88 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1974-11-07
Language: English (Original Language)

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