Search - Faerie Tale Theatre - Little Red Riding Hood on DVD

An enchanting FAERIE TALE

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 10/28/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Straying from the path and talking to a stranger can be a dangerous thing, so learns the heroine of FAERIE TALE THEATRE's retelling of LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD.



Mary (Mary Steenburgen) lives with her parents (John Vernon and Diane Ladd) in the middle of the forest where her father works as a woodcutter. Her only friend is her absent-minded Grandmother (Frances Bay) and she yearns for the adventure and exitement she has only ever read in fairytales.



When she strays from the path to Granny's house, she happens across a Cockney Wolf (Malcolm McDowell). Should she trust this magical new 'friend' or run while she still can?...



A charming entry in the series. Steenburgen and McDowell (married in real life at the time) have a marvelous time with the script. Frances Bay is delightful as Grandmother and the episode also features Darrell Larsen."

A HILARIOUS GEM FROM "FAERIE TALE THEATRE"

DEWEY MEE | ELLENSBURG, WA, | 06/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mary Steenburgen and Malcolm McDowall (who were married at the time) have a wonderful time playing Little Red Riding Hood (Mary) and Narrator and the Big Bad Wolf in this hilarious gem from Shelley Duvall's outstanding "Faerie Tale Theatre" series.

The teleplay, by J. David Wyles, Mark Curtiss, Rod Ash, and directed by Graeme Clifford, expands the familiar story to become a coming-of-age tale. Mary is rather overprotected by her parents, so it's little wonder that although she's been told not to talk to strangers she dearly wants to. Dad has some rather old-fashioned ideas about gender roles; what jobs are "appropriate" for "men and women", and Mom (Diane Ladd) comes across as a bit of a domestic airhead. Pretty Steenburgen is easily connvincing as a young teen-ager, so the slight suggestion of a budding romance between Mary and Christopher, her dad's woodchopping assistant, is added.

Frances Bay is a hoot as beloved Granny, who likes to drink wine. On her way to Mary's birthday party with a little red riding hood as a gift, she encounters McDowall as Reginald Lupine, the Big Bad Wolf, and really lets him have it. McDowall, wearing superb make-up and utilizing a hilarious Cockney accent, calls Granny an old "scag-bag." He does get some revenge on both Granny and Mary. But Christopher comes by and cuts the sleeping wolf's expanding stomach open with scissors. Mary and Granny are both safe and sound inside, but I laughed when Granny actually yelled, "I damn-near suffocated." Mary devises a plan to make the wolf pay for his wicked ways. So, in the end, Mary is as wise as she is pretty. A delightful treat for all ages.

RUNNING TIME: 57 Minutes."

Little Red Riding Hood Review

Adam Ogren | Kennewick, WA USA | 01/20/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This version of Little Red Riding Hood is one of the better ones you will see, it is comical but sticks to the traditional story of this fairy tale. Though it isn't the best Faerie Tale Theatre production it still is fun and appropriate for people of all ages. The crew does a good job of acting and giving the characters personality. The costumes are wonderful and you will love the Big Bad Wolf in fact you might EAT HIM UP."

Faerie Tale Theatre on DVD

Heidi Anne Heiner | SurLaLune Fairy Tales.com | 09/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After years of waiting, Faerie Tale Theatre fans can finally own the series on DVD. Shelley Duvall's series originally appeared on Showtime 20 years ago and featured well-known and rising stars of the time. The series' enthusiastic interpretations of beloved fairy tales has made it a cult classic. Better yet, the DVD prices are affordable, especially after the high prices the used VHS copies have been earning in recent years.



About this episode:



Here's the classic story of a young girl who meets a big, bad wolf on her way to Grandmother's house. Should she stop and visit or hurry away from this intriguing stranger?



Cast:

Malcolm McDowell ... Big Bad Wolf

Mary Steenburgen ... Little Red Riding Hood

Frances Bay ... Granny

Diane Ladd ... Mother

Darrell larsen ... Chris

John Vernon ... Father"