The Emperor's New Clothes

Let’s wrap up the Easter series of films with the Emperor’s New Clothes.

You might be asking, “Didn’t I review Emperor’s New Clothes earlier, and what does this have to do with Easter?” Yes I reviewed the condense version as part of my Daydreamer review, but this is an extended remake. As for the Easter part, it’s not particularly an Easter film, but it’s a spin-off film with Peter Cottontail’s host, Danny Kaye in the same performance and model, just like Fred Astaire in Easter Bunny Is Comin’ To Town, so I’m counting this as an April Fool film. So this film is a remake and a spin-off, and yet tells it different than the other remake and spin-off.

Danny Kaye is the host and the main tailor of the story named Marmaduke…..

(OK, for the sake of the story. I’m not calling him that. While I’m not calling Peter Cottontail Jr. as he’s just a weaker copy. I hear the name “Marmaduke”, and I see a Parade Comic Dog that Daria’s Dad wish he was dead. 

So for the start of the review, I’m referring him as Mr. Sassafras, since he’s the same likable character. No one can capture that, not even Christopher Lloyd. Let’s back to the story!)

Mr. Sassafras and his partner, Mufti is a traveling tailors. They went to Bibbentucker to win One Million Grinklens from the vain Emperor Klockenlocher (voiced by Cyril Ritchard). Mr. Sassafras gains a connection with the emperor’s daughter, Princess Jane. She tells the animated backstory (very well animated) of how the Emperor was advised by Jasper the Jestor of he was best for the pretty clothing, as the budget was spent on the clothing and Jasper.

Sassafras and Mufti was thrown by the guard Ivan to the Boulevard of Rogue with an orphan he adopted as he became an uncle, Mufti the grandpa, and the orphan as his apprentice. They manage to escape to get to the emperor to show them their new clothes. As the visible cloth failed the emperor’s standards, the invisible clothes enchanted to the emperor’s surprise. Only the cloth is seen to though who isn’t stupid and unfit to the office. This leads the emperor doubting himself as he has enlightenment through a trippy depth of a sequence assuming with snuff (yes that exist in this film.) as throughout the film he’s studying books to be smarter.

Mr. Sassafras gets closer with Princess Jane with more detail with Jasper reason to be of royalty, even if she unintentionally kills him.

If you see the Daydreamer review and the story before, then there’s no point putting up the suspense.

Once again, Danny Kaye is perfect as the host and the main tailor, even better than Victor Bory. He’s a lot quicker to be convincing to be a fine tailor than using a violin to be charming. His music is just as good as his music in Peter Cottontail. They’re not as memorable, but it sound nice. The slapstick and his reaction to the princess’ action through sports are funny. Princess Jane is pretty cute, funny, and strong. Not entirely strong will for being married within three days as standards for Hans Christian Anderson story, though not a complete sucker, but strong enough to lift heavy weights and a bowling ball, despite it would be useful for the story.

 

I like how the straight man and the funnyman from the originals in Daydreamer are reversed. Instead of the tailors being the straight men, one is the funnyman, and the emperor went from funnyman (I think, given it is Ed Wynn.) to a straight man. Emperor Klockenlocher is dignified and boastful. The emperor’s reaction when he realizes the truth on the clothes is priceless.

The downside is Jasper the Jestor. How can you have a clown to be an advisor and take him seriously? Unless you’re Batman’s Joker, you’re not convincing enough that only an idiot will fall for him. Oh wait, that’s the ideal with the Emperor! He’s not even funny clown, so he’s unfit for either jobs. The only jobs he can do are to make the tailors less villainous by comparison and to pad out this short story.

Mufti and the orphan aren’t memorable either. Mufti couldn’t top Terry- Thomas as a tailor, but then again, Terry – Thomas is one of many original actors who were in the earlier version hard to beat playing better. Yet the orphan has more of the personality of being cheerful, purpose, and expression than Chris in Daydreamer.

This film is a funny one that I don’t mind popping once in a while. This is one of many Rankin Bass that was released in DVD recently in 2005, and has never reaired on TV, mainly range from nudity in stop-motion as part of the reason that Daydreamer wasn’t on TV either, to the fact it’s not a holiday special. If there’s a channel or collection in DVD that can show every single Rankin Bass films in TV shows, Holiday special, and non-holiday, then that would be worth the effort for either Dreamworks Animation or Shout Factory to sell to the market. This is one of the better non-holiday specials that deserved to be viewed more.

Thus conclude the Easter Special for the Rankin Bass review. Join me next time as hoping the next one isn’t a dud. Oh look, the Red Baron is next! Though who else is producing this film?

*looking through IMDB, (What you do instead of things!) and spotted Filmation as the producer*

Oh geez, what have I done? Time to get some frozen pizza!