Cannon Movie Tales
Encyclopedia
Cannon Movie Tales is the collective name for a series of films created in the late 1980s by Cannon Group producers Menahem Golan
and Yoram Globus
, associate producer Patricia Ruben, and executive producer Itzik Kol
. Filmed principally on location in Israel
, these stories are generally fairy tales based on material by either the Brothers Grimm or Charles Perrault, among others. Major stars, from both the U.S. and Great Britain, play the leading roles, in which they are joined by a mostly all-Israeli cast. The major Israeli-born member of the crew was the series' production designer, Marek Dobrowolski. Announced as early as May 1986 (at the Cannes Film Festival
), Cannon initiated the project as its answer to Disney
's fairy-tale offerings, and invested US$50 million on the series. Sixteen stories, each costing US$1.5 million, were originally planned; only nine were released.
The Movie Tales series launched in the United States with Rumpelstiltskin, which featured Billy Barty
in the title role and Amy Irving
as Katie, the miller's daughter. It was written and directed by Amy's brother, David Irving (not the British author of the same name
). Their mother, actress Priscilla Pointer
, portrayed the Queen, opposite Clive Revill
's rendition of the greedy King Mezzer, who performed the fittingly titled number "I'm Greedy" during the film. Rumpelstiltskin was originally scheduled for release on on November 21, 1986, but premiered several months later.
Menahem Golan
Menahem Golan is an Israeli director and producer. He has produced movies for such stars as Sean Connery, Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Charles Bronson, and was known for a period as a producer of comic book-style movies like Masters of the Universe, Superman IV:...
and Yoram Globus
Yoram Globus
Yoram Globus Yoram Globus Yoram Globus (born 21 October 1941 in Tiberias, Israel, is an Israeli director and producer who is most famous for his association with Cannon Films Inc., a company he ran with his cousin Menahem Golan....
, associate producer Patricia Ruben, and executive producer Itzik Kol
Itzik Kol
Itzik Kol , was an Israeli television and film producer considered by many to be a pioneer and originator of Israeli cinema. He died following complications from pneumonia.-Biography:...
. Filmed principally on location in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, these stories are generally fairy tales based on material by either the Brothers Grimm or Charles Perrault, among others. Major stars, from both the U.S. and Great Britain, play the leading roles, in which they are joined by a mostly all-Israeli cast. The major Israeli-born member of the crew was the series' production designer, Marek Dobrowolski. Announced as early as May 1986 (at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
), Cannon initiated the project as its answer to Disney
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
's fairy-tale offerings, and invested US$50 million on the series. Sixteen stories, each costing US$1.5 million, were originally planned; only nine were released.
The Movie Tales series launched in the United States with Rumpelstiltskin, which featured Billy Barty
Billy Barty
Billy Barty was an American film actor.-Biography:Barty, an Italian American, was born William John Bertanzetti in Millsboro, Pennsylvania...
in the title role and Amy Irving
Amy Irving
Amy Davis Irving is an American actress, known for her roles in the films Crossing Delancey, The Fury, Carrie, and Yentl as well as acclaimed roles on Broadway and Off-Broadway. She has been nominated for an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, and has won an Obie award...
as Katie, the miller's daughter. It was written and directed by Amy's brother, David Irving (not the British author of the same name
David Irving
David John Cawdell Irving is an English writer,best known for his denial of the Holocaust, who specialises in the military and political history of World War II, with a focus on Nazi Germany...
). Their mother, actress Priscilla Pointer
Priscilla Pointer
Priscilla Pointer is an American stage, film and television character actress. She began her career in the theater, including productions on Broadway. Later, Pointer moved to Hollywood to act in films and on television...
, portrayed the Queen, opposite Clive Revill
Clive Revill
Clive Selsby Revill is a New Zealand-born British character actor best known for his performances in musical theatre and on the London stage.-Early life and stage career:...
's rendition of the greedy King Mezzer, who performed the fittingly titled number "I'm Greedy" during the film. Rumpelstiltskin was originally scheduled for release on on November 21, 1986, but premiered several months later.
Titles
- Rumpelstiltskin (1987) aka "Cannon Movie Tales: Rumpelstiltskin" - USA (series title); writer-director: David Irving. Amy Irving, Billy Barty, Clive Revill, Priscilla Pointer, John Moulder-Brown.
- Snow WhiteSnow White (1987 film)Snow White is a 1987 musical film based on the classic fairytale and released as part of the "Cannon Movie Tales" series. Diana Rigg stars as the Wicked Queen.The film was released straight to video...
(1987) aka "Cannon Movie Tales: Snow White" - USA (series title), "Snow White: A Cannon Movie Tale" - USA (closing credits title); writer-director: Michael Berz. Diana Rigg, Billy Barty, Mike Edmonds, Malcolm Dixon, Sarah Patterson. - Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast (1987 film)Beauty and the Beast is a 1987 American/Israeli musical film, part of the 1980 film series Cannon Movie Tales...
(1987) aka "Cannon Movie Tales: Beauty and the Beast" - USA (series title); writer: Carole Lucia Satrina; director: Eugene Marner. John Savage, Rebecca de Mornay. - Hansel and Gretel (1987) aka "Cannon Movie Tales: Hansel and Gretel" - USA (series title); writers: Len Talan and Nancy Weems; director: Len Talan. David Warner, Cloris Leachman, Hugh Pollard, Nicola Stapleton.
- Puss in BootsPuss in Boots (1988 film)This article is about the 1988 musical, For the 1969, 1999 and 2011 films see Puss in Boots , Puss in Boots and Puss in Boots ...
(1988) aka "Cannon Movie Tales: Puss in Boots" - USA (series title); writer: Carole Lucia Satrina; director: Eugene Marner. Christopher Walken, Jason Connery, Carmela Marner, Yossi Graber. - Red Riding HoodRed Riding Hood (1989 film)Red Riding Hood is a 1989 American/Israeli fantasy film by Golan-Globus based on the fairy tale of...
(1989) aka "Cannon Movie Tales: Red Riding Hood"; writer: Carole Lucia Satrina; director: Adam Brooks. Isabella Rosselini, Craig T. Nelson, Amelia Shankley. - Sleeping BeautySleeping Beauty (1987 film)Sleeping Beauty is a 1987 American/Israeli musical film, part of the 1980 film series Cannon Movie Tales. It is directed by David Irving and stars Tahnee Welch. It is a contemporary version of the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty...
(1987) aka "Cannon Movie Tales: Sleeping Beauty" - USA (series title); writer; Michael Berz; director: David Irving. Tahnee Welch, Kenny Baker, Morgan Fairchild, Sylvia Miles, David Holliday, Nicholas Clay. - The Frog PrinceThe Frog Prince (1986 film)The Frog Prince, aka Cannon Movie Tales: The Frog Prince, Der Froschkönig , is a 1986 musical film, based on the Brothers Grimm's classic fairytale. It is rated "G" and was filmed in Tel Aviv, Israel...
(1986) aka "Cannon Movie Tales: The Frog Prince"; writer-director: Jackson Hunsicker. Aileen Quinn, Helen Hunt, Clive Revill, John Paragon. - The Emperor's New Clothes (1987) aka "Cannon Movie Tales: The Emperor's New Clothes" - USA (video title); writers: David Irving, Len Talan and Anna Matthias; director: David Irving. Sid Caesar, Clive Revill, Robert Morse, Lysette Anthony.
External links
- Cannon Movie Tales at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...