Faerie Tale Theatre: Rumpelstiltskin

Faerie Tale Theatre: Rumpelstiltskin
Showtime
October 16, 1982
Fantasy, Children's
DVD
D+

Hervé Villechaize plays the title character in this disappointing production and was obviously chosen for his size rather than for his acting or enunciation.  Ned Beatty is miscast as an admittedly unpleasant romantic lead, the king who threatens the miller's daughter with death unless she spins gold for three nights, and then proposes marriage and is supposed to turn into a doting husband and father.  I'd argue that Duvall is also miscast, not just because she isn't conventionally beautiful  (even in an admittedly gorgeous long red wig) but because her performance is too one note.  Furthermore, this episode was only 40 minutes and still felt slow-moving.  The series now averages out to a C and I could stop here, but I'm going to give it one more shot, since three is a fairy (or faerie) tale number.

Paul Dooley, who was miscast as Wimpy in Popeye, plays Duvall's father the Miller here.  Bud Cort is wasted in the role of a Page, although his big, expressive eyes make him instantly recognizable.  Patrick DeSantis returns as a member of the Ensemble, while this time John Achorn is a Guard.  And Smidget the World's Smallest Horse plays the Unicorn.  This is the only episode directed by Emile Ardolino.