JIM HENSON'S "THE STORYTELLER": SAPSORROW (TV)
Summary
One in this series of folk tales and legends narrated by "the Storyteller," featuring fantasy characters from Jim Henson's Creature Shop. In this episode, the Storyteller draws from a German fairy tale which follows the shifting fortunes of the gentle Princess Sapsorrow, who becomes a queen only after enduring great hardship. A king who is a widower tells his three daughters -- Sapsorrow and her two foul-tempered sisters -- that he wishes to remarry. He issues a decree stating that he will marry the first woman whose finger can fit into his late wife's wedding band. Unwilling to share the kingdom's wealth with a new queen, Sapsorrow's sisters scheme to foil their father's plan while they examine the coveted ring. Startled by the sudden entrance of the king, the two girls drop the ring and Sapsorrow hastily slips it on to shield her sisters from their father's displeasure. When it is discovered that the ring fits the princess's finger, the king is forced to comply with terms of his decree, and mournfully plans to marry his own daughter. In order to avoid this unnatural union, Sapsorrow -- aided by her animal friends -- constructs a dress of fur and feathers and escapes from the kingdom before the wedding can be held. Disguised as a furry creature, she finds refuge as a scrub woman in the palace of a handsome prince. Although the prince is initially repulsed by her appearance, he is eventually surprised to discover her true identity. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: July 30, 1989
- RUNNING TIME: 0:24:03
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:24486
- GENRE: Children's; Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Children's programs; Drama, fantasy/science fiction; Fairy tales; Puppets
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1987-1989
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jim Henson … Executive Producer
- Duncan Kenworthy … Producer
- Martin G. Baker … Associate Producer
- Steve Barron … Director
- Anthony Minghella … Writer, Screenplay by, From an early German folk tale
- J. Nigel Pickard … Series Consultant
- John Stephenson … Creative Supervisor, For Jim Henson's Creature Shop
- Chris Carr … Production Supervisor, For Jim Henson's Creature Shop
- Brian Froud … Conceptual Designer
- Roger Hall … Production Design
- Rachel Portman … Music by
- Carolyn Choa … Choreographer
- John Hurt … Cast, the Storyteller
- Alison Doody … Cast, Sapsorrow
- James Wilby … Cast, the Prince
- Jennifer Saunders … Cast, Badsister 1
- Dawn French … Cast, Badsister 2
- Geoffrey Bayldon … Cast, the King
- Tim Barker … Cast, the Minister
- David Greenaway … Cast, Badger, Squirrel and Birds
- Robert Tygner … Cast, Badger, Squirrel and Birds
- Mak Wilson … Cast, Badger, Squirrel and Birds
- Brian Henson … Cast, the Storyteller's Dog
- Kate Williams … Cast, the Chief Maid
- Angus Barnett … Cast, Servant 1
- Dawn Archibald … Cast, Servant 2
- Edward Tudor-Pole … Cast, the Page
- Robin Summers … Cast, the Town Crier
- Craig Givens … Cast, a Dancer
- Anita Griffin … Cast, a Dancer
- Matthew Hawkins … Cast, a Dancer
- Caroline Pope … Cast, a Dancer
- Barbara Rhodes … Cast, a Dancer
- Arthur Sweet … Cast, a Dancer