Ignore all the negative reviews. This adaption of "Rip Van Winkle" may just as well be considered the "black sheep" of Faerie Tale Theatre, but I digress. Having watched this at a younger age, I thought it was fun, but looking back now, I understand how much more low-budget it was compared to the rest of the series. True, the visual effects are relatively cheaper in this production, but pretty much everything else makes up for it. Harry Dean Stanton is a perfect Rip Van Winkle, and Talia Shire makes a Wilma Van Winkle we all love to hate. All the other actors in this version are a very good choice for their roles (Ed Begley, Jr. as Brom Dutcher, Roy Dotrice as Peter Van Derdonk, Tim Conway as the Mayor, etc.). Of course, the sets are where this version really shines, particularly the forest and the hollow where Rip meets the ghostly sailors and falls asleep for 20 years. As zigzagging between cheap and more elaborate as they may be, they're definitely eye-catching. In conclusion, this is definitely an adaption of "Rip Van Winkle" you might want to check out.
5 Reviews
Washington Irving through the eyes of 'Faerie Tale Theatre'
TheLittleSongbird2 July 2017
There is a lot to like about the 'Faerie Tale Theatre' series. Many of their adaptations of various well-known and well-loved fairy tales are charming, clever and sometimes funny, a few even emotionally moving. 'Faerie Tale Theatre' puts its own magical spin (whether playing for laughs or straight) on the best of the episodes while still capturing the essence of the stories, while also giving further enjoyment in seeing talented performers in early roles or in roles that are departures from their usual roles.
"Rip Van Winkle" is most notable perhaps for the involvement of Francis Ford Coppola as director. Yes, you saw right. THE Francis Ford Coppola, responsible for masterpieces like the first two 'Godfather' films and 'Apocalypse Now'. It's somewhat fair to say that "Rip Van Winkle" is a long way from one of his best efforts and he has done better directing, it's still all very competent but there is the sense that he was hindered by budget and time. Similarly, "Rip Van Winkle" is not one of the best of 'Faerie Tale Theatre', for me it ties with "The Princess Who Had Never Laughed" as the weakest of the series. This said in no way is it bad, just 'Faerie Tale Theatre' at its most problematic.
It is hindered by budget. A good deal of 'Faerie Tale Theatre' episodes overcome the low budgets and still manage to make good looking adaptations, "Rip Van Winkle" is one of their cheapest and shoestring-budget-looking ones. Especially in the drab sets and sometimes laughable props, especially in the storm in the flashback and goblin scenes. 'Faerie Tale Theatre' usually doesn't suffer from pacing issues, there are a few times where it does here, some parts feeling padded and dull.
As for the script, to me it's the weakest script of the series. Some nice moments and the references to Irving's America are clever and fun, but other parts are bland and rambling complete with an environmental message that feels very tacked on and heavy-handed.
However, Carmine Coppola's music score fits beautifully and matches the at times sombre tone very well. Some of the set pieces do work very well, like with the ghosts, and there is a surprisingly surreal tone that juxtaposes cleverly with the more sombre nature of the text. Plus the concluding message resonates in quite an emotional way and the references are clever.
Furthermore the cast are good. Harry Dean Stanton is more than ideal in the title role, his bewilderment delivered with genuine pathos. Talia Shire has a marvellous ball as a love-to-hate character, while there are great performances from Ed Begley Jnr, Tim Conway and particularly Roy Dotrice.
Overall, heavily flawed but just scrapes the above average mark. 6/10 Bethany Cox
"Rip Van Winkle" is most notable perhaps for the involvement of Francis Ford Coppola as director. Yes, you saw right. THE Francis Ford Coppola, responsible for masterpieces like the first two 'Godfather' films and 'Apocalypse Now'. It's somewhat fair to say that "Rip Van Winkle" is a long way from one of his best efforts and he has done better directing, it's still all very competent but there is the sense that he was hindered by budget and time. Similarly, "Rip Van Winkle" is not one of the best of 'Faerie Tale Theatre', for me it ties with "The Princess Who Had Never Laughed" as the weakest of the series. This said in no way is it bad, just 'Faerie Tale Theatre' at its most problematic.
It is hindered by budget. A good deal of 'Faerie Tale Theatre' episodes overcome the low budgets and still manage to make good looking adaptations, "Rip Van Winkle" is one of their cheapest and shoestring-budget-looking ones. Especially in the drab sets and sometimes laughable props, especially in the storm in the flashback and goblin scenes. 'Faerie Tale Theatre' usually doesn't suffer from pacing issues, there are a few times where it does here, some parts feeling padded and dull.
As for the script, to me it's the weakest script of the series. Some nice moments and the references to Irving's America are clever and fun, but other parts are bland and rambling complete with an environmental message that feels very tacked on and heavy-handed.
However, Carmine Coppola's music score fits beautifully and matches the at times sombre tone very well. Some of the set pieces do work very well, like with the ghosts, and there is a surprisingly surreal tone that juxtaposes cleverly with the more sombre nature of the text. Plus the concluding message resonates in quite an emotional way and the references are clever.
Furthermore the cast are good. Harry Dean Stanton is more than ideal in the title role, his bewilderment delivered with genuine pathos. Talia Shire has a marvellous ball as a love-to-hate character, while there are great performances from Ed Begley Jnr, Tim Conway and particularly Roy Dotrice.
Overall, heavily flawed but just scrapes the above average mark. 6/10 Bethany Cox
doesn't live up to the tale...totally
mikecallander2 February 2002
I watched this show with my son one night. I rented it thinking it would match up to what the original story is. My son had to be put to bed early because he was either frightened of a scene or just plain bored. If your looking for a good Faerie Tale theatre episode, see the frog prince or aladdin. Rip van Winkle was obviously never at the peek of the series success. But I did think it was, "okay." It doesn't deserve much else.
kids shouldn't be subjected to this
willvaughn7018 September 2006
Maybe it's just because I watched it in an 11ths grade lit class but whatever the reason, I thought this was one of the worst pieces of film I have ever seen. It was especially surprising considering the director. I suppose Coppola was drunk. I understand that it's a kid's show but seriously, they could've done better than that. Bad acting, bad visuals, and it didn't stick to the storyline very well. All we did during the entire movie was make fun of it. At times it almost seemed like they were reading off of a cue card and had never seen the lines before. You want to expose your kids to classic stories? Try reading to them.
The Dullest of the Episodes
rachelrachel-3343130 December 2021
There's magic lost in Rip Van Winkle - the most boring episode of the entire Faerie Tale Theatre series. It's surprising, too, since it has one of the highest pedigrees of all the episodes with Harry Dean Stanton, Talia Shire, and Tim Conway.
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