Faerie Tale Theatre: Rapunzel

Faerie Tale Theatre: Rapunzel
Showtime
February 5, 1983
Fantasy, Children's
DVD
C

This episode written by David Wyles, his first of two, has a tiny cast, with Rowlands as the Witch and both Bridges and Duvall pulling double duty, as first Rapunzel's parents and then as Rapunzel and her prince.  (There are also some lineless "Munchkins," while McDowall narrates.)  Jeff and Shelley are better as the younger generation than the elder, so in some ways the second half of the 51 minutes is better, but both halves suffer from the slow pacing that plagues this series, and this time some cheesy special effects.  There may be some more minor gems in Faerie TT, perhaps as good or better than "The Frog Prince," but I don't feel like digging for them.

Gilbert Cates would direct another episode the next year.