List of Faerie Tale Theatre episodes
The following is a list of episodes of the family television anthology Faerie Tale Theatre, also known as Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre which ran on Showtime from 1982 to 1987, airing a total 27 episodes.
The series featured numerous famous Hollywood actors (particularly of the period), with Robin Williams and Teri Garr in the first episode, "The Tale of the Frog Prince". Creator and executive producer Shelley Duvall appeared in 3 episodes and narrated 3 episodes. John Achorn is credited in 11 character roles, while others, including Jean Stapleton, Mark Blankfield, Charlie Dell, Donovan Scott, and Dan Frischman, are credited in more than three episodes.
Series overview edit
Episodes edit
Season 1 (1982) edit
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Based on | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "The Tale of the Frog Prince" | The Tale of the Frog Prince | September 11, 1982 | 101 |
| A spoiled princess is forced to keep her promise to a talking frog who is an enchanted prince when he retrieves her golden ball from the bottom of a well. Starring Robin Williams as the Frog Prince, Teri Garr as the Princess, René Auberjonois as King Ulrich, Candy Clark as Queen Gwynneth, Roberta Maxwell as Queen Beatrice and Griselda, and Michael Richards as King Geoffrey. Narrated, written, and directed by Eric Idle. | |||||
| 2 | 2 | "Rumpelstiltskin" | Rumpelstiltskin | October 16, 1982 | 102 |
| A tiny man lends a helping hand to a miller's daughter who is forced to answer for her father's tall tale that she can spin gold from straw. Starring Ned Beatty as the King, Shelley Duvall as the Miller's Daughter, Paul Dooley as the Miller, Jack Fletcher as The Wizard, Bud Cort as the Page, and Hervé Villechaize as Rumpelstiltskin. Written by Gerald Ayres. Directed by Emile Ardolino. | |||||
Season 2 (1983) edit
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Based on | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | "Rapunzel" | Rapunzel | February 5, 1983 | 201 |
| A beautiful and young girl named Rapunzel is taken from her parents by an evil witch and brought up in an isolated tower that can only be accessed by climbing her unnaturally long and blonde hair until a handsome prince goes there to rescue her. Starring Shelley Duvall as Rapunzel and Rapunzel's mother, Jeff Bridges as the Prince and Rapunzel's father, and Gena Rowlands as the Witch. Narrated by Roddy McDowall. Written by David Wyles. Directed by Gilbert Cates. | |||||
| 4 | 2 | "The Nightingale" | The Nightingale | May 10, 1983 | 202 |
| A Chinese Emperor finds true friendship from a lowly kitchen maid and a plain little bird; both of whom are worth more than they appear. Starring Mick Jagger as the Emperor, Barbara Hershey as the Maid, Bud Cort as the Music Master, Mako as the Gardener, Keye Luke as the Imperial Doctor, Edward James Olmos as the Prime Minister, Anjelica Huston as Primrose, and Jerry Hall as Pansy. Narrated by Shelley Duvall (who also performs the voice of the Nightingale). Written by Joan Micklin Silver. Directed by Ivan Passer. | |||||
| 5 | 3 | "Sleeping Beauty" | Sleeping Beauty | July 7, 1983 | 203 |
| A handsome prince on the search for a princess best known as the Sleeping Beauty bumps into a woodsman who tells him the story of the Sleeping Beauty, the fabled sleeping princess. Starring Bernadette Peters as Sleeping Beauty, Christopher Reeve as Prince Charming, Beverly D'Angelo as Henbane the Wicked Fairy, Carol Kane as the Good Fairy, George Dzundza as the Woodsman, Sally Kellerman as Queen Natasha, René Auberjonois as King Boris, Ron Rifkin the Squire, and Richard Libertini as King Murray. Written by Jeffery Alan Fiskin. Directed by Jeremy Kagan. | |||||
| 6 | 4 | "Jack and the Beanstalk" | Jack and the Beanstalk | September 8, 1983 | 204 |
| A dreamer boy named Jack one day finds that his dreams have grown to enormous proportions. Starring Dennis Christopher as Jack, Elliott Gould as the Giant, Jean Stapleton as the Giantess, Katherine Helmond as Jack's Mother, and Mark Blankfield as the Strange Little Man. Written by Rod Ash and Mark Curtiss. Directed by Lamont Johnson. | |||||
| 7 | 5 | "Little Red Riding Hood" | Little Red Riding Hood | November 10, 1983 | 205 |
| An overprotected young lady named Mary learns that there is merit to her parents' advice that she stick to the path and not talk to strangers. Starring Mary Steenburgen as Mary (Little Red Riding Hood), Malcolm McDowell as Reginald Von Lupin (the Wolf), Frances Bay as Granny, John Vernon as Mary's Father, Diane Ladd as Mary's Mother, and Darrell Larson as Chris. Written by Rod Ash and Mark Curtiss. Directed by Graeme Clifford. | |||||
| 8 | 6 | "Hansel and Gretel" | Hansel and Gretel | December 5, 1983 | 206 |
| A boy named Hansel and his sister named Gretel who are left to fend for themselves in the woods and stumble upon a curious house made out of candy that belongs to an evil witch. Starring Ricky Schroder as Hansel, Bridgette Andersen as Gretel, Joan Collins as the Witch and Stepmother, and Paul Dooley as Hansel and Gretel's Father. Written by Patricia Resnick. Directed by James Frawley. | |||||
Season 3 (1984) edit
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Based on | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" | Goldilocks and the Three Bears | January 9, 1984 | 301 |
| Goldilocks a precocious girl with a penchant for telling tall tales, learns the value of honesty...and of respecting others' privacy. Starring Tatum O'Neal as Goldilocks, Hoyt Axton as the Forest Ranger, John Lithgow as Goldilocks' Father, Carole King as Goldilocks' Mother, Alex Karras as Papa Bear, Brandis Kemp as Mama Bear, and Donovan Scott as Cubby Bear. Written by Rod Ash and Mark Curtiss. Directed by Gilbert Cates. | |||||
| 10 | 2 | "The Princess and the Pea" | The Princess and the Pea | April 16, 1984 | 302 |
| A bored prince decides that the best way to cheer himself up is to get married. As he goes through his mother's list of eligible princesses, an outspoken young candidate appears at the castle with raucous claims. Starring Liza Minnelli as Princess Alecia, Tom Conti as Prince Richard, Beatrice Straight as Queen Veronica, Pat McCormick as King Fredrico, Tim Kazurinsky as the Fool, and Nancy Allen as Princess Elizabeth. Written by Rod Ash and Mark Curtiss. Directed by Tony Bill. | |||||
| 11 | 3 | "Pinocchio" | Pinocchio | May 14, 1984 | 303 |
| When lonely puppetmaker Geppetto wishes with all his might to have a real son, the Blue Fairy grants him and a wooden puppet named Pinocchio the chance to make that wish come true. Starring Paul Reubens as Pinocchio, Carl Reiner as Geppetto, Lainie Kazan as Sofia the Blue Fairy, James Coburn as the Gypsy, Jim Belushi as Mario, Michael Richards as Vince, and Vincent Schiavelli as the Priest. Narrated by Don Novello. Written by Rod Ash and Mark Curtiss. Directed by Peter Medak. Note: This production depicts The Terrible Dogfish as an enormous orca. | |||||
| 12 | 4 | "Thumbelina" | Thumbelina | June 11, 1984 | 304 |
| Thumbelina, a girl the size of a human thumb, embarks on a great adventure in the big wide world. Starring Carrie Fisher as Thumbelina, William Katt as the Flower Prince, Burgess Meredith as Mr. Mortimer Mole, Donovan Scott as Herman Toad, and Conchata Ferrell as Thumbelina's Mother. Narrated by David Hemmings. Written by Maryedith Burrell. Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg. | |||||
| 13 | 5 | "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" | Snow White and the Seven Dwarves | July 16, 1984 | 305 |
| A beautiful young princess named Snow White is forced to flee for her life, when her "crime" of simply being fairest in the kingdom arouses jealousy in the evil Queen...who also happens to be the girl's stepmother. Starring Elizabeth McGovern as Snow White; Vanessa Redgrave as the Evil Queen; Vincent Price as the Magic Mirror; Lou Carry, Tony Cox, Billy Curtis, Phil Fondacaro, Daniel Frishman, Peter Risch, and Kevin Thompson as the Dwarves; and Rex Smith as the Prince. Written by Robert C. Jones. Directed by Peter Medak. NOTE: It is revealed (although never shown) in this version of the story that, as a child, Snow White's favorite pastime was (secretly) going for swims in the moat of her stepmother's castle. | |||||
| 14 | 6 | "Beauty and the Beast" | Beauty and the Beast | August 13, 1984 | 306 |
| A merchant's beautiful youngest daughter simply named Beauty, sacrifices her freedom to save her father when he is taken captive by a "monster"...who also turns out to be a cursed prince. Starring Susan Sarandon as Beauty, Klaus Kinski as the Beast, Stephen Elliott as Beauty's Father, and Nancy Lenehan and Anjelica Huston as Beauty's sisters. Written by Robert C. Jones. Directed by Roger Vadim. | |||||
| 15 | 7 | "The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers" | The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers | September 17, 1984 | 307 |
| A boy who doesn't know what fear is sets out into the world, hoping to learn for himself what it means to be afraid. Starring Peter MacNicol as Martin, Dana Hill as Princess Amanda, Christopher Lee as King Vladimir V, David Warner as Zandor the Innkeeper, Jack Riley as the Deacon, and Frank Zappa as Atilla. Narrated by Vincent Price. Written by Bruce Franklin Singer. Directed by Graeme Clifford. | |||||
Season 4 (1985) edit
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Based on | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 1 | "The Three Little Pigs" | The Three Little Pigs | February 12, 1985 | 401 |
| The mother of three little pigs sends her sons out into the world to find their fortune in their own individual ways and The Big Bad Wolf's nagging wife sends him out to get dinner. Starring Billy Crystal as Larry Pig, Jeff Goldblum as Buck Wolf, Valerie Perrine as Tina, Doris Roberts as Mother Pig, Fred Willard as Paul Pig, and Stephen Furst as Peter Pig. Written by Rod Ash and Mark Curtiss and directed by Howard Storm. | |||||
| 17 | 2 | "The Snow Queen" | The Snow Queen | March 11, 1985 | 402 |
| A young girl named Gerda begins a perilous journey to rescue her best friend named Kay after he is taken by the fabled Snow Queen. Starring Melissa Gilbert as Gerda, Lance Kerwin as Kay, Lee Remick as the Snow Queen, Lauren Hutton as the Lady of Summer, Linda Manz as the Robber Girl, and David Hemmings as the voice of the Reindeer. Narrated by Shelley Duvall. Written by Maryedith Burrell. Directed by Peter Medak. | |||||
| 18 | 3 | "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" | The Pied Piper of Hamelin | April 5, 1985 | 403 |
| Told entirely in the original poem as a bedtime story to a young boy in 1840 England, the Mayor, Town Council and the whole German town of Hamelin in the year 1376 learns the heavy price of going back on their promise to the magical Pied Piper who helped rid their village of rats. Starring and narrated by Eric Idle. Written and directed by Nicholas Meyer. | |||||
| 19 | 4 | "Faerie Tale Theatre: Greatest Moments" | N/A | July 17, 1985 | 404 |
| Reunion episode, featuring cast/crew interviews, scripted skits, and recaps. (Note: the final episode produced, but not last to air) | |||||
| 20 | 5 | "Cinderella" | Cinderella | August 14, 1985 | 405 |
| A beautiful and young girl named Cinderella recovering from the two deaths of her father and her mother finds herself reduced to a servant in her evil stepmother and her two evil stepsisters, her new stepfamily's household, but is given the surprise of her life when her fairy godmother appears to lend a helping hand. Starring Jennifer Beals as Cinderella, Matthew Broderick as Prince Henry, Jean Stapleton as the Fairy Godmother, Eve Arden as the Stepmother, James Noble as King Rupert III, and Edie McClurg and Jane Alden as the Stepsisters. Narrated by Joseph Maher. Written by Rod Ash and Mark Curtiss. Directed by Mark Cullingham. | |||||
| 21 | 6 | "Puss in Boots" | Puss in Boots | September 9, 1985 | 406 |
| A young man and son of a wind miller, journeys from rags-to-riches thanks to his talented talking cat, Puss in Boots. Starring Ben Vereen as Puss, Gregory Hines as Edgar, Alfre Woodard as Princess Lovinia, George Kirby as King Fortuitous, and Brock Peters as the Ogre. Narrated by Shelley Duvall. Written by Jules Feiffer. Directed by Robert Iscove. | |||||
| 22 | 7 | "The Emperor's New Clothes" | The Emperor's New Clothes | October 5, 1985 | 407 |
| An Emperor in 18th Century Europe with peacock tendencies becomes the target for two con men who use his self-indulgence against him. Starring Dick Shawn as the Emperor, Alan Arkin as Bo, Art Carney as Morty, Clive Revill as the Prime Minister, Georgia Brown as Maggie, and Barrie Ingham as the Finance Minister. Narrated by Timothy Dalton. Written by Rod Ash and Mark Curtiss. Directed by Peter Medak. | |||||
Season 5 (1986) edit
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Based on | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 1 | "Aladdin" | Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp | July 14, 1986 | 501 |
| A common boy named Aladdin has big dreams, which he finds coming true when he is approached by a Moroccan magician who presents him an offer he can't refuse. Starring Robert Carradine as Aladdin, James Earl Jones as the Genie of the Lamp and Genie of the Ring, Leonard Nimoy as the Evil Moroccan Magician, Valerie Bertinelli as Princess Sabrina, Joseph Maher as the Sultan, Rae Allen as Aladdin's Mother, and Ray Sharkey as the Grand Vizier. Written by Rod Ash and Mark Curtiss. Directed by Tim Burton. | |||||
| 24 | 2 | "The Princess Who Had Never Laughed" | The Princess Who Had Never Laughed | August 11, 1986 | 502 |
| In a kingdom where all frivolity is banned, a princess who has grown up never knowing what laughter is decides that she will marry the first man who can make her laugh, but it takes a peasant's youngest son and his pig to bring out both the laughter and the truth. Starring Ellen Barkin as Princess Henrietta, Howie Mandel as Wienerhead Waldo, Howard Hesseman as the King, Sofia Coppola as Gwendolyn (credited as Domino Coppola), Michael Tucci as Lionel, Jackie Vernon as Phlegmatic Jack, and Barrie Ingham as the Tutor. Narrated by William Daniels. Written by David Felton. Directed by Mark Cullingham. | |||||
Season 6 (1987) edit
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Based on | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 1 | "Rip Van Winkle" | Rip Van Winkle | March 23, 1987 | 601 |
| The story of a lazy man who sleeps for twenty years after wandering off in the mountains and playing ninepins with unusual men. Starring Harry Dean Stanton as Rip van Winkle, Talia Shire as Wilma van Winkle, Roy Dotrice as Peter Vanderdonk, Ed Begley Jr. as Broom Dutcher, Christopher Penn as Will Tussenbrook, Tim Conway as the Mayoral Candidate, and John P. Ryan as Hendrick Hudson. Written by Rod Ash and Mark Curtiss. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola. | |||||
| 26 | 2 | "The Little Mermaid" | The Little Mermaid | April 6, 1987 | 602 |
| A young and beautiful mermaid named Pearl falls in love with a human being who is a human prince named Andrew and sacrifices everything to be with him. Starring Pam Dawber as Pearl, Treat Williams as Prince Andrew, Helen Mirren as Princess Emilia, Karen Black as the Sea Witch, Brian Dennehy as King Neptune, and Laraine Newman and Donna McKechnie as Pearl's sisters. Written by Anne Beatts. Directed by Robert Iscove. | |||||
| 27 | 3 | "The Dancing Princesses" | The Dancing Princesses | November 14, 1987 | 603 |
| Set in a fictional country during the Napoleonic Wars, A widowed king who is overly protective of his six daughters discovers that their dancing shoes are mysteriously being worn out every night, and offers to let any prince who can solve the mystery choose any of the six princesses to have as his bride, but when the cleverness of the eldest daughter proves too much for the princes, it is up to a wandering soldier to discover the secret. Starring Lesley Ann Warren as Princess Jeanetta, Peter Weller as the Soldier, Roy Dotrice as the King, Zelda Rubinstein as the Old Woman, Ian Abercrombie as the Royal Cobbler, and Max Wright as Prince Heinrick. Written by Maryedith Burrell. Directed by Peter Medak. | |||||
External links edit
- Faerie Tale Theatre at IMDb
- List of Faerie Tale Theatre episodes at epguides.com