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Fairy Tale - A True Story | 
 enlarge | Director: Charles Sturridge
Actors: Paul Mcgann, Florence Hoath, Elizabeth Earl, Harvey Keitel, Jason Salkey
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $9.98
Buy New: $4.36
You Save: $5.62 (56%)
New (41) Used (11) from $4.36
Rating:  78 reviews
Sales Rank: 4184
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 99
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: PARD050544D
ISBN: 079219411X
UPC: 097360505443
EAN: 9780792194118
ASIN: B0000AUHQR
Theatrical Release Date: October 24, 1997
Release Date: November 11, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New and Factory Sealed Item Fast Shipping
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Product Description
Two children in 1917 take a photograph believed by some to be the first scientific evidence of the existence of fairies. Based on a true story. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 03/28/2006 Starring: Harvey Keitel John Bradley Run time: 99 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Charles Sturridge
Amazon.com
When her father is declared missing in action during World War I, Elsie Wrigth (Florence Hoath) goes to live in England with her cousin Frances Griffiths (Elizabeth Earl) for whom the topic of fairies is forbidden. Immediately, the girls discover the winged creatures in the garden and photograph them for Frances's startled parents. This leads to another kind of adventure for the girls. They become the toasts of London as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Peter O'Toole) and Harry Houdini (Harvey Keitel), who have seen the photographs, escort them around town. Mildly villainous reporters chase the girls and curious spectators invade their garden after the pictures are printed publicly. Although fairies are the visible subjects, the enchanting video is really about faith. Frances's parents (Phoebe Nicholls and Paul McGann) recently lost their son, Joseph, who had originally discovered the fairies and would like to think he may be an angel. Sir Arthur also lost his son and is courted by clairvoyants who claim they can talk to the boy. Elsie waits patiently for her father to come home, although it appears hopeless that he will. Harry Houdini is an illusionist but acts against the fraudulent claims of greedy mediums and the like. They are all touched by a need to truly believe in what remains hidden. The story is very loosely based on an early 20th-century controversy involving the real Frances and Elsie who faked pictures of fairies similar to the ones in the video. The real girls never confessed, but the video suggests the manner in which the real life photos may have been produced. --Margaret Griffis
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| Customer Reviews: Read 73 more reviews...
 Cute story January 7, 2009
Fairy Tale is a cute story for families. The video is well produced with clear audio and video. Although it purports to be true I have my doubts. Still it is worth watching. A little fantasy these days can help one forget for a little while the realities which face us all.
Important and delightful January 2, 2009
A charming tale of magic and mystery, "FairyTale - A True Story" is based on the remarkable reaction that swept WWI England, after two young girls took photos of the fairies living at the bottom of their garden. Their family, like so many in wartime, is mourning the loss of their son, and they are far from alone in wishing for proof that death is not the end. Electricity and photography are new sciences, and "Spiritualistic" fraud abounds. When Arthur Conan Doyle investigates and sanctions the authenticity of the story, the country accepts it as genuine. Like all good fairy tales, the movie has a message that underlies the fantasy elements; the human race frequently finds itself in need of reasons to believe in the ability to transcend pain and death. As Polly Wright, the mother and aunt of the girls, confides in her husband, she is afraid to believe that the pictures are real, and afraid not to.
The cast of Fairy Tale was well chosen, from luminaries such as Peter O'Toole as Doyle, to newcomers Florence Hoath and Elizabeth Earl as the budding photographers. Not a single performance is poor or overdone. Beautifully filmed in soft colors, with appealing special effects, it evokes life in rural England nearly century ago. The original music adds to the ambience, and the blending of reality and illusion is seamless. Recommended for all but the most jaded of viewers. Relax and enjoy.
Highly Recommended December 8, 2008
"Masters of illusion never reveal their secrets" says Harry Houdini (Harvey Keitel) in the lyrical fantasy ''Fairytale--A True Story'' (1997). And pay attention to the things Houdini says like: "Never try to fool children. They expect nothing and therefore see everything", because his character exists to articulate the film's themes. These revolve around the need for many people to believe in the existence of spiritual concepts, the wisdom of not challenging these beliefs if they give sustenance, and how loss of the ability to see much that is hidden goes along with our loss of innocence.
In its best montage the film moves between, Houdini's fabled "The Chinese Water Torture Cell" illusion, a chess match, and the first-hand spiritual education of an investigative reporter.
The film loosely documents the "Cottingley fairies" incident in 1917 when two English girls produced photographs that showed themselves in the presence of fairies. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (insert Sherlock Holmes here) published the photographs when he and various experts became convinced they were authentic. Many years later the girls would confess that they had faked all but one of the photos, but they continued to claim that their fairies actually exist.
12-year-old Elsie Wright (Florence Hoath) and 8-year-old Frances Griffiths (Elizabeth Earl) are the girls. It is late in WW1 and Francis has come to live with her Aunt and Uncle because her father is missing in action on the front lines. The Wright's too are dealing with a recent loss as Elsie's brother has passed away. So both children and Mrs. Wright (Phoebe Nicholls) are primed for belief in the other world.
Yes there are fairies, the viewer sees them when no people are around and we see them leaving the area when Doyle's revelations cause the property to be trampled by a hoard of both believers and skeptics.
The production design and the special effects are impressive and the film is absorbing from scene to scene. The target audience is a little hard to pin down as the subject is geared to children but much of the story a bit confusing if you are not already familiar with historical figures like Houdini and Doyle. The film utilizes the tried and true device for connecting with children by giving them a story about young people who know stuff is real, even though adults don't get it.
In the film the age gap between the two girls is slightly less than it was in real life, which gives their relationship a bit more believability. Even more impressive is how successful the director was in the subtle creation two very distinct personalities. Elsie is shy and artistic. Frances is confident and social. Their interplay is the film's real strength; apparently the director sensed this dynamic and worked very hard in his acting for the camera direction of the two young actresses. He kept them in character and added behavioral elements they give their characters considerable depth and dimensionality.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
 Fairy Tale December 6, 2008
Not yet viewed, no time. Took a guess at rating.
sorry.
Fairy Tale - A True Story October 19, 2008
This has been one of my favorite movies for several years. I just bought a copy for each set of grandchildren. It would not keep the attention of very young children, but is perfect for 6 year olds and above. Look for the uncredited appearance of Mel Gibson at the end of the movie.
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