“Yesterday was General Hospital's 50th Anniversary and I couldn't be more proud to call myself part of their family. GH is where I learned everything about my craft- the art of emotional intelligence, of listening, of interpreting, of setting a scene on fire. Its where I held Stuart Damon and wept when my real life Grandmother passed away, and where Stuart Damon held me and wept when Anna Lee passed away. Its where I learned how to be disciplined in what I do. Where I found myself, as an actress, as a woman, and as veteran. Its where I learned what having REAL fans in your corner can do for you: carry you into a confidence that most actresses only dream of. On GH, we burned for them and they for us. I absorbed the skilled techniques of John Homa, the turbulent genius of Maurice Bernard, the soft golden simplicity of John Ingle. Its where I had my first real life teenage secret crush (Shout out to you, Jonathan Jackson) and where I developed sister-strong bonds (double shout out, Kimberly and Becky). General Hospital is more than an America staple. Its the staple gun. I hope every actor has a chance to experience working on a Soap, and every kid gets to grow up watching one with family. Today I am thinking only of GH and this incredible, historic milestone.”
—Amber Tamblyn (is perfection)
I think we can all agree
That the 1965 version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella is THE BEST EVER. The 1997 version with Brandy doesn’t even come close (although I do love me some Bernadette Peters) and while the 1957 version with the wonderful and amazing Julie Andrews is a classic, nothing holds a candle to Lesley Ann Warren and Stuart Damon as Cinderella and the Prince, respectively.
Aside from the gorgeous music which is featured in all three films, allow me to list what sets the 1965 version apart.
1) Lesley Ann Warren as Cinderella - She’s so mousey and endearing and has this sort of swan-like elegance about her. All good things if you are playing a soot-covered-maid-turned-princess I say.
2) Stuart Damon as the Prince - Okay, so the man’s not a household name, but he sure was dreamy and could sing and has had a pretty active career (in soap operas) since. Besides, I could never believe 1997’s Paolo Montalban as the Prince. Paolo gave it his all, but it just didn’t work for me. Maybe it was because Victor Garber and Whoopi Goldberg were cast as his parents? Maybe becuase the casting in general for this version was a grab-bag of B/C list celebrities with marginal vocal talents (again, Bernadette is the exception).
3) The costumes - Yes, the costumes were lovely and the ballgowns and headpieces were exquisite, but the real triumph in this regard are the multitude of colorful stockings the Prince encounters with glass slipper in hand, searching for Cinderella. Who knew that 17th century synthetic fiber weaving technology was so sophisticated and vibrant?!
4) The sets - Ah yes, those wonderful cardboard-based sets. I’m pretty sure you can go to any high school drama department and find exact replicas of the sets used in the 1965 version anytime they put on a production of Romeo and Juliet or South Pacific, or anything really.
5) The wicked stepmother and stepsisters - Never in the history of cinema have there been better casting decisions (tell me you remember the over-the-hill-three-pack-a-day-raspy-voiced stepsister Prunella). I mean, just LOOK:
Watching the 1965 TV version of Cinderella. I was obsessed with this movie growing up. Mom had it recorded on a VHS tape. I would watch it all the time. It’s probably safe to say it’s why I love musicals so much today. Rodgers and Hammerstein were amazing!! The music was wonderful, the costumes were gorgeous. I always thought Stuart Damon was so handsome and I still think he has one of the best voices. I still have all the songs memorized. I also find myself singing along. There was just something so magical to me about this musical. It will ALWAYS be one of my all time favorites!
