Starring Brent Sudduth, Susan Egan, Richard Kiely, and Barry Boswick
Directed by Micky Dolenz
Music by Jim Eiler and Jeanne Bargy; Lyrics by Jim Eiler
If this seems like a really strange production for a Disney Channel movie, it actually has a much older pedigree. The Prince Street Players began in a loft on New York's Prince Street in 1965 as a repertory company for original children's musicals. According to musical history site Musicals 101, at least three of their shows were filmed and broadcast by CBS in 1966 and 1967, including their version of Aladdin. Interestingly, it has a lot more in common with the earlier 1958 Aladdin with Cole Porter music than Disney's own animated movie from two years later, including the Asian setting. Let's start with Aladdin (Sudduth) to see just how different this TV production is...
The Story: Aladdin is a street urchin in Old China who prefers flying his kite with his buddies to taking a job. His mother (Jane A. Johnston) is in despair he'll ever grow up or make enough money to take care of her. His runaway kite lands right in the Emperor's garden, leading him to his lovely daughter Mei-Ling (Egan). They fall in love, but the Emperor (I.M Hobson) demands she marry a man who is wealthy but unattractive.
Aladdin's now determined to become rich and win her hand. He follows a man who claims to be his uncle (Richard Kiley) and can produce untold treasures. He really wants Aladdin to retrieve a magical lamp from a cave. After Aladdin is shut up in the cave, the goofy genie (Boswick) is able to not only free him, but gives him a dancing doll (Donna McKechnie) that pleases the Emperor enough to win Mei-Ling's hand. The magician won't let go as easily, though, and figures out a way to trick Aladdin's mother and get his own hands on the lamp. But Aladdin has one last surprise - and a final genie - in reserve.
The Song and Dance: Attractive songs and performances from rarely-seen stage veterans highlight this made-for-cable production. Egan is a sweet and dear princess, and Kiely makes for a quite menacing magician. Johnston has her own fun as Aladdin's pushy mother, especially when she insists on selling the lamp because she's never been able to see or hear the Genie. I also appreciate this is another Aladdin that sticks to the original Arabian Nights story. Not only does this retain the Chinese setting, but it also has the second Genie of the Ring (also Boswick) who rarely turns up in most movie retellings.
Favorite Number: We open with Aladdin and his friends doing backflips in the street as they tell one and all why they're "Flying My Kite" instead of doing more productive work. Mei-Ling talks about it being "A Lovely Morning In China," which is reprised for her wedding procession with Aladdin later. The Genie's manic "In the Wink of an Eye" is almost as strange as a later, bluer genie's numbers, with Boswick manically mugging as he builds a very early CGI home for the newly-rich Aladdin. McKechnie has two instrumental dances as "Fatima, the Dancing Doll" when she's introduced to Aladdin, and later when given to the Emperor, that are fairly well-done.
Trivia: This was Brent Sudduth's only appearance on film.
It was called Aladdin In China when it ran in Europe to separate it from versions of the story set in the Middle East.
What I Don't Like: It's obvious that this is a cheap cable production. The cardboard backdrops and the very, very poorly done early CGI palace and magic carpet during the "Wink of an Eye" numbers scream "low-rent Asian high school production in the late 80's." Some people may enjoy Boswick's mugging, but I find him to be way over the top and annoying as the Genie of the Lamp, lacking Robin Williams' warmth and Will Smith's wit. Suddoth basically fades into the woodwork as the supposedly cheeky street urchin. No wonder this was his only film. This also has the same problem as the 1958 Aladdin of featuring white actors in Chinese roles.
The Big Finale: I'm going to say this is only for those who have fond memories of catching it on The Disney Channel in the early 90's or who are desperately looking for a musical for young children and aren't too particular. (It does make me wish CBS/Paramount or The Prince Street Players would dig up the original 60's shows so we can compare them, though.)
Home Media: On DVD, but it's expensive. You're better off catching this one on streaming company Tubi, where it's free with commercials.
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