What was your earliest exposure to fairy tales? Many of us have memories of someone reading us the Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Andersen. Perhaps you remember an oral retelling of the three bears or watching Disney’s classics for the first time. I have these memories too, but there’s another fairy tale adaptation that I adored as a kid and I still love now: Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre.
Where Faerie Tale Theatre Began
I’m not gonna lie, this series has been on my list of things to write about since Snow White Writes started. And if you’ve never heard of Faerie Tale Theatre, I am going to fix this egregious wrong in your life RIGHT NOW.
Most people are familiar with Shelley Duvall from her starring role in The Shining (1980), but Duvall was in another movie that same year: Popeye (1980) based on the popular cartoon. And she costarred with her good friend Robin Williams. During the filming, Duvall was reading a collection of fairy tales and asked Williams what his opinion was on the story “The Frog Prince.” He said he thought it was hilarious.
Just two years later, Duvall produced and released the pilot episode of Faerie Tale Theatre, which was (you guessed it) “The Frog Prince” starring Robin Williams in all his witty, comedic glory. Duvall adapted 26 different fairy tales for the series, but she couldn’t have predicted just how beloved Faerie Tale Theatre would become.
It Was Great Then—and It’s Great Now
I’m certainly biased since I grew up with Faerie Tale Theatre, but it’s not hard to see why this series became so famous.
First of all, the casting is to die for. Every single episode features well-known actors, writers, and directors giving everything they’ve got to their roles, no matter how ridiculous. Aside from its star-studded cast, this series has a unique combination of childlike wonder and adult humor. The writers don’t miss a single opportunity to add jokes for the parents.
But despite its subtle comedy and nonstop eighties schmaltz, Faerie Tale Theatre clearly holds its source material in high regard. Most episodes follow the original fairy tales impressively closely while softening the grimness of the originals with cute, child-friendly filler. I have many fond memories of checking out the VHS tapes from our local library and watching the episodes ten times before we returned them. In a word, this series is downright delightful.
It’s Also Weird, but I Do Not Apologize
Although Faerie Tale Theatre is an uncontested cult classic, I admit that it isn’t for everyone. If you are allergic to cheesiness, you’ll probably break out into hives a mere five minutes into watching this.
However! I firmly believe that this series has something to offer most viewers. Some episodes are pure, unashamed magic. Others are straight up farcical gold. And some are strangely artistic in their bizarre style choices. If you hate the first episode you stumble across, I’d encourage you to seek out recommendations from a diehard fan before you give up.
If nothing else, definitely glance through the casting list for Faerie Tale Theatre to see if any of your favorite actors are in it. Because they just might be.
Which Episode Is My Favorite?
Because I can’t pick just one, I’ll give you a little tour through my top list of standouts. This list is in no particular order and based purely on my opinion.
Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs
First up is Duvall’s earnest and lovely adaptation of Snow White, definitely one of the best installments of the series. Elizabeth McGovern is the first Snow White I’ve seen who captures the innocence of the character while also being believably gorgeous enough to make a grown woman green with jealousy. Vanessa Redgrave as the evil queen and the formidable Vincent Price as her magic mirror are committed to their roles here. And Prince Charming has an ongoing friendship with the seven dwarfs that was actually a very nice addition to the story. The ending of this version is a departure from the Grimms’ red hot shoes, but the choice is SO correct in a Karma sense. I won’t spoil it for you. (Watch It Here)
The Three Little Pigs
If you’re looking for an episode that’s total farce and nonstop jokes, this is it. It takes a moment to get used to an entire cast of adult actors scampering around in animal suits, but I beg you to give it a chance. My brothers and I found it absolutely hilarious when I was a kid. Even as an adult, listening to the Big Bad Wolf bicker with his ornery off-screen wife makes me snort. Plus, the pig who builds the brick house is played by Billy Crystal. The same guy who was Miracle Max in The Princess Bride? Yes. You should really try this one. (Watch It Here)
Rapunzel
A pure nostalgia pick starring Shelley Duvall herself! I seriously love this adaptation for all the reasons. Its depiction of the full saga of Rapunzel’s parents and her mother’s terrible pregnancy cravings. Its beautiful storybook styling. Gena Rowlands as the conniving witch, and Jeff Bridges as the handsome prince. If you’re looking for romance, witching magic in a land far away, and a bizarre dream sequence of a cannibal radish-eating radish (I’m not kidding), then I highly recommend this version of Rapunzel. The love-at-first-sight scene is so sweet it will melt your heart. (Watch It Here)
The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers
This installment of Faerie Tale Theatre is one I saw for the first time as an adult and LOVED. This is an obscure fairy tale from the Grimms’ collection about a fearless boy who wants nothing more than to learn what fear feels like. This adaptation comes with Gothic ambience, a haunted castle, humor, and horror vibes. We even get the always-sleek Christopher Lee as our villain—a.k.a. Saruman from The Lord of the Rings. This adaptation is both charming and spooky all at once, a perfect pick for Halloween night. But it may be a little too scary for tiny viewers. (Watch It Here)
The Snow Queen
For all you Frozen fans out there, this adaptation is close to my heart. It’s also the episode of Faerie Tale Theatre that I watched the most as a kid because it truly is pure magic. In it, two children named Gerda and Kay are the best of friends. When the little boy is abducted by the Snow Queen fairy, his little friend Gerda goes on a cold and dangerous journey to bring him home. Even though both kids are played by grown adults (Melissa Gilbert and Lance Kerwin), their performances are so sweet. Both the sets and writing of this episode are teeming with beauty and sincerity. I can’t even explain why I love this adaptation so much, but it’s definitely worth a watch if you’re curious. (Watch It Here)
Some Other Honorable Mentions
Because Faerie Tale Theatre has so much to offer, here are a few more picks that I enjoy too:
The Frog Prince
How could you possibly miss out on Robin Williams? He’s seriously funny in this adaptation even without the frog suit getup, and Teri Garr as the spoiled princess is fantastic opposite him. Be forewarned that this installment has a bit more adult innuendo than the other episodes. Fair warning. (Watch It Here)
The Dancing Princesses
What a relief for the wardrobe designers that this adaptation features only six princesses instead of the customary twelve. Even with that many girls, they each have a distinct personality. Leslie Ann Warren shines as the oldest and cleverest sister, and the clandestine midnight balls absolutely glitter. (Watch It Here)
Puss in Boots
I’ve always loved this fairy tale, and this version of the rags to riches story is filled with humor and quirkiness galore. This episode of Faerie Tale Theatre is also a standout because it features an all-black cast. My favorite casting choice is Brock Peters as the ogre with his silky, commanding voice. (Watch It Here)
Cinderella
This version of Cinderella is nostalgia central for me. It wastes no opportunity for understated humor, and I absolutely ADORE that this fairy godmother requires Cinderella to scrape the seeds out of her own pumpkin before it can become a coach. Also Jennifer Beals and Matthew Broderick portray Cinderella and Prince Henry’s fast puppy love with perfect innocence. (Watch It Here)
Sleeping Beauty
This adaptation goes all-out with its Russian setting, which I absolutely love. Christopher Reeve makes a dreamy prince charming, and Bernadette Peters is both sweet and unexpected as sleeping beauty. This is another installment with some—ahem—innuendo . . . But for the record, it went completely over my young head. (Watch It Here)
Thumbelina
This endlessly charming adaptation stars Carrie Fisher—yep, Princess Leia!—as the lovely Thumbelina. As she’s coerced into multiple unwanted marriages with woodland vermin, Carrie delivers one of my favorite lines in all of Faerie Tale Theatre: “It’s just that I’m always the bride and never the bridesmaid.” (Watch It Here)
Little Red Riding Hood
This pick is straight up cute. Mary Steenburgen is perfectly cast as Little Red—or Mary since she keeps her name. I actually love the original content Duvall added to this adaptation, filling out the heroine’s relationships with her family and adding a cute little love story to boot. (Watch It Here)
The Princess and the Pea
A pick you should sample for its artistic styling alone! This episode is fascinating to look at with a minimalistic black-and-white palette for both its sets and costumes. It doesn’t shy away from the weirdness of this fairy tale, and yet somehow the cast still makes the story so heartfelt and satisfying. (Watch It Here)
If I’ve piqued your interest, you can watch all of Faerie Tale Theatre for free on YouTube. ❧
