Fol-de-Rol (1972) (TV)

Director:

Tony Charmoli

Writers:

Dennis Klein (writer)
Marty Krofft (creator)

Release Date:

27 February 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Family

Plot:

A filmed version of Sid and Marty Krofft's 1968 live puppet show, set at a medieval fair. |

Plot Keywords:

Abbess | Mother Superior | Nun

Cast

Cyd Charisse	...	Various Characters
Howard Cosell	...	The Storyteller
Totie Fields	...	Mother Superior / Goddess of Love / Noah's Wife / Witch Penelope
Milt Kamen	...	The Town Crier
Guy Marks	...	The Baron / Torture Victim
Ricky Nelson	...	The Minstrel (as Rick Nelson)
Mickey Rooney	...	The Executioner / Noah
Ann Sothern	...	Queen Gertrude
Yma Sumac	...	Various Characters
Billy Barty	...	Artist / Costumed Characters
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lamar Alford	...	Ensemble
Joan Gerber	...	Various Characters (voice)
Danny Goldman	...	The Executioner's Son
Judy Kaye	...	Maiden
H.B. Kennedy	...	Ensemble
Monte Landis	...	Ensemble
Bill Miller	...	Ensemble
Lenny Schultz	...	Jack Spratt / Jester / Ensemble
Robert Shields	...	Mime
Swen Swenson	...	Ensemble
Lynne Thigpen	...	Witch / Ensemble
Lennie Weinrib	...	Various Characters (voice)
The Willis Sisters	...	The Nuns

Also Known As:

Sid and Marty Krofft Present Fol-de-Rol (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

USA:60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Sid & Marty Krofft Television Productions

Soundtrack:

Life

Patented Krofft wackiness and tackiness!

Brothers Sid & Marty Krofft had successfully transitioned their puppet shows from live venues to Saturday morning television ("H.R. Pufnstuf," "The Bugaloos") and were looking to cross over to prime-time with this special, which was a pilot for a weekly series. In typical fashion, they recycled ideas, basing the special on the live show of the same name that they'd debuted at HemisFair in 1968, and redressed some puppets used in previous productions.

After a beautiful opening sequence, which includes famous mime Robert Shields magically creating a Renaissance Fair and minstrel Ricky Nelson walking through the streets singing and bringing the townsfolk to "Life," the special immediately degenerates into a disjointed Krofft free-for-all, complete with a cheesy laugh track, tacky jokes, unstable sets, bizarre musical numbers (including a group of nuns singing George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" as Mickey Rooney and Totie Fields recreate the story of Noah's Ark with a wigged Howard Cosell narrating), corny puppets, the obligatory coven of witches, celebrity cameos galore -- and they even managed to sneak in a drug reference. There really isn't a plot, it's basically just a series of skits, kind of like a (very unique) variety show. Many of the actors played multiple roles (Totie Fields managed to steal every scene, no matter which character she was playing), though those who didn't (like Ricky Nelson and Ann Sothern) each appeared in multiple scenes and were perfectly suited for their parts.

For fans of the Kroffts and the actors involved, it's all great fun... but anyone else should beware! Of course, that's not really a problem, considering "Fol-de-Rol" only aired once and was never seen again. That's sort of a shame. I don't know how they could have possibly done this show on a weekly basis, but it's a product of a time when TV was far more innocent (and MUCH weirder) that would look great on a DVD shelf next to similarly one-of-a-kind fare like "The Paul Lynde Halloween Special" and "Pink Lady and Jeff."