Search - Shirley Temple Storybook Collection: "The Little Mermaid" on DVD

Shirley dazzles in rare version of a fairytale classic!

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 06/11/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Shirley Temple's Storybook" was a successful television series (that ran in colour on NBC between 1958 and 1961) where Miss Temple hosted and more often than not, starred in, adaptations of fairy tale classics and other works of children's literature. Serving as the precursor to other shows like "Faerie Tale Theatre" and "Tall Tales and Legends", "Shirley Temple's Storybook" boasted a galaxy of stars from stage and screen, elaborate production values and lavish costumes. The series later ran in syndication under the "Shirley Temple Show" title.

In "The Little Mermaid", Shirley Temple stars in the title role. Based on Hans Christian Andersen's tender fairytale of selfless love and sacrifice. While living in a kingdom at the bottom of the ocean can be very pretty, the Little Mermaid feels there is something more that life has in store for her. During a brief visit to the surface, she rescues and falls in love with a handsome prince (Donald Harron), and vows to become a human. A bargain with the Merwitch (Nina Foch) is the obvious answer to her dilemma, but will the Little Mermaid risk her very life to become part of the prince's world?...

Shirley Temple brings a lot of depth and feeling to her portrayal of the title role. Legendary actress Cathleen Nesbitt plays dear Granny Mermaid to perfection. With Nancy Kulp, John Hoyt, J. Pat O'Malley, Torin Thatcher, Ray Walston and Francine York. Original air-date 5th March 1961. Adapted from the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale by Bernard C. Schoenfeld."