Once Upon a Mattress | 
| Director: Kathleen Marshall (iii)
Actors: Carol Burnett, Brittany Gray, Tracey Ullman, Denis O'hare, Zooey Deschanel
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Disney
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $12.50
You Save: $7.49 (37%)
New (37) Used (16) from $10.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  62 reviews
Sales Rank: 7276
Format: Ac-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 90
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: D39254D
ISBN: 0788861611
UPC: 786936273861
EAN: 9780788861611
ASIN: B000ATQYVK
Theatrical Release Date: December 18, 2005
Release Date: December 20, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: 5
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
The playful 2004 television version of Once Upon a Mattress brings everything full circle for Carol Burnett, who played klutzy Princess Winnifred, would-be fiancee of royal mama's boy Prince Dauntless, in the original 1959 Broadway cast production of the musical (as well as 1964 and 1972 television adaptations). In the new show, Burnett now essays the role of Dauntless's control-freak mom, Queen Aggravain, and is very funny in the part. An Oedipal nightmare, Aggravain is in no hurry to let the prince act his adult age, chasing off prospective wives (and queens-in-training) by putting them through unbeatable tests. Along comes Winnifred (Tracey Ullman, who manages the physically demanding role quite nicely), who turns the kingdom on its head with her goofy charm, sets Dauntless's heart aflame, and poses a serious threat to Aggravain's plans. The fun supporting cast in this tuneful take on "The Princess and the Pea" includes Tom Smothers as King Sextimus, the mute monarch who manages to impart wisdom, Zooey Deschanel as pregnant Lady Larken, who helps bring Winnifred to the castle, and Denis O'Hare (21 Grams) as the boyish Dauntless. --Tom Keogh
Description
Based on the acclaimed Broadway musical, an all-star cast brings a beloved fairy tale to life in Disney Presents ONCE UPON A MATTRESS. Queen Aggravain (Carol Burnett) sabotages the efforts of every young princess who hopes to marry her son, Prince Dauntless (Denis O'Hare) -- and no one else can settle down until he does! Honorable Sir Harry is determined to marry the lovely Lady Larken (Zooey Deschanel), so he sets off for faraway lands and returns with an unlikely candidate: Princess Winnifred from the swamps (Tracey Ullman). It's love at first sight for the Prince, so the Queen sets about planning her most difficult challenge yet. The palace is filled with merriment and mischief while everyone wonders, will Princess "Fred" pass the Queen's test?
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| Customer Reviews: Read 57 more reviews...
 Surprisingly Good April 22, 2008
I hadn't heard much about this adaptation of the stage musical when it was on TV and it's taken me this long to see it. I thought it was entertaining, well-cast and not overacted. Delightful dance numbers, too. Tracey Ullman isn't always my cup of tea, but she doesn't overdo her role here and is charming. I thought the whole cast was fine, and it was nice to see Carol Burnett in a role that suited her. Denis O'Hare is perfect as the prince.
I know the score very well and they included most of the songs, though I wish they had left in the jester's song. Kathleen Marshall as choreographer/director can be wonderful or just professional but here she captures just the right tone--the film is not too precious or too broad; instead she evokes a sweet, off-kilter and gently humorous world.
 Great singing and dancing April 17, 2008
This is a great family video with lots of singing and dancing. Who knew that Tracey Ullman could sing like that? No violence but a few mature themes (someone gets pregnant, the prince wants to know about birds and bees) but it a favourite of my four year old and me too.
 Not the original show February 28, 2008
I thought I was buying an original off-Broadway rendition of the show starring Carol Burnett but this is NOT it. She appears in this version but isn't the featured star. It's a little glitzier than the original show but the music is still good.
Once Upon A Mattress DVD August 23, 2007
I loved this wonderful DVD showcasing Carol Burnett in her role as the Queen. This musical is awesome and the costumes are gorgeous. The storyline is enjoyable by all members of the family. A huge thumbs up for family entertainment.
 Had the chance to be great, but missed it. June 13, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Everything about the show had a lot of promise, but promises weren't kept. I feel the show had 3 fatal flaws wich ultimately ruined the chance to immortalize a wonderful, hilarious play.
#1: The movie was directed by a choreographer. While the dancing is great, the life of the show comes from the comedy. I felt like the show was absolutetly stripped of the natural comedy in the origional script.
#2: The movie was made 8-year-old-child friendly. A vast majority of the humor that derives from the origional script (which they completely hashed for their PG rating) was without ambiguation geared towards an adult audience.
#3: The casting needed some serious help. Just by listening to the 1997 Broadway Revival Cast recording, you could tell what the Broadway show had that the movie didn't: Talent, and Emotion.
All in all I'm a little sad that I devoured 14.50$ plus shipping on this movie. I couldn't find it to rent it anywhere, so now it will probably just sit and collect dust on my shelf. Like I say, it had the chance to be great, but missed it.
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