THE DANCING PRINCESSES [1978]:

Once upon a time there was a kingdom ruled by a widower King with six beautiful unmarried daughters between the ages of 15 and 21.

Although his palace is a dismal place, lacking both the elegantluxury and the liveried flunkies usual in such surroundings, the King's main concern is his daughters' disconcerting habit of each wearing out a new pair of dancing slippers every night, so much so that the Shoemaker is becoming one of the richest men in the kingdom.

So vexed is the King that he offers the hand in marriage of any daughter a suitor desires if the mystery of the dancing slippers can be revealed. But failure results in the painful severance of head from shoulders.

Into their land comes a handsome stranger, a Soldier in the Hussars who is the sole survivor of a battle. He meets a beautiful woman he believes to be a witch, who tells him he could win the hand of a princess.

Each night, she says, the six princesses are locked in their room. None are seen to leave, yet each morning their slippers are worn out, as if they had been dancing from dusk till dawn.

A unique TV adaption with music provided by Jack Parnell and his Orchestra.

Cast:

Jim Dale ... The Soldier
Freddie Jones ... The King
Peter Butterworth ... The Chamberlain
Gloria Grahame ... The Witch
Lesley Collier ... Dancing Princess
Wayne Eagling ... A Prince
Jane Darling ... Dancing Princess
Lavinia Lang ... Dancing Princess
Lorna Nathan ... Dancing Princess
Mo Willshire ... Dancing Princess
Jane Winchester ... Dancing Princess
Lance Aston ... A Prince
Nicolas Chagrin ... A Prince
Vince Logan ... A Prince
Ludovico Romano ... A Prince
Barrie Young ... A Prince
Peter Benson ... A Shoemaker
John Vine ... A Soldier
Fred Evans ... A Distraught Prince
Reuben Martin ... An Executioner

Originally transmitted: ITV 1978