The Little Prince [DVD] [1974] Gene Wilder

R2 originaali, ei suomitekstejä. Tekstit englanniksi. 

This unique little musical is based on the beloved tale by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. A pilot, forced to make an emergency landing i n the desert, has a remarkable encounter with the Little Prince, an enchanting monarch from a tiny planet. Oscar winner Bob Fosse d oes some limber dancing as "The Snake", comedian Gene Wilder is engagingly timid as "The Fox", and Broadway star Donna McKechnie sin gs and moves gracefully as "The Rose." Featuring an Academy Award-nominated score by Lerner and Loewe.

Product details

• Actors: Richard Kiley, Steven Warner, Joss Ackland, Clive Revill, Victor Spinetti
• Directors: Stanley Donen
• Writers: Alan Jay Lerner, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
• Producers: Stanley Donen, A. Joseph Tandet
• Format: PAL, Colour, Anamorphic, Widescreen, Dolby
• Language: English, German, Spanish
• Subtitles: English, Arabic, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch
• Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Classification: U
• Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: 28 Jun. 2004
• Run Time: 85 minutes

I came across Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's short novel "Le Petit Prince" quite late, when I inherited the teaching of this particular book from a departing teacher at the school I had just joined. I fell in love with it instantly, especially the way in which it explores the themes of wisdom, experience and innocence and how it urges us to seek the child within and not to lose sight of what really matters in life. Although it is on the face of it a fairy tale, it has a message for us all and, with its range of larger than life characters, would surely translate successfully into a workable opera or, at least, a musical.

The BBC television production of 2004 came, therefore, as no real surprise and it was with some anticipation that I tuned in. Would it work as an opera, albeit one ostensibly for children? In reply, I can only offer a guarded "yes", even though I liked it well enough to buy a copy of the DVD years later, albeit at a bargain price.

I like Francesca Zambello's production, but although Rachel Portman's music is pleasant enough, it neither has the emotional depth of a "proper" operatic score, nor does it really hit the heights of a top musical. This is a pity, as some of our best opera singers embody Saint-Exupéry's grotesque adult characters. Especially memorable are Tom Randle's Snake, Willard White's King, Timothy Robinson's Lamplighter and Richard Suart's Businessman. Leslie Garrett, who I would suggest is an underrated performer, does well as the Fox, but I would have allocated the part to a different voice type. Joseph McManners is a convincing Prince, but while Teddy Tahu Rhodes fields an engaging presence and a robust baritone as the Pilot, his diction is not as clear as some of the other singers.

Obviously, this cannot compare with the book (I love the author's illustrations), but I suspect that it is preferable to the film version featuring Bob Fosse and Gene Wider and I would certainly recommend giving it a try. Try to pick it up cheaply, however!

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