Hitting your local dvd shop on May 23rd!

“The series is both provocative and entertaining, a mix of superb craftsmanship and inspired yarn spinning.”
-Chris Vognar, DALLAS MORNING NEWS

A Timeless Anthology of Fairy Tales and Myths Featuring Academy Award® Nominees John Hurt, Miranda Richardson and Brenda Blethyn

Jim Henson's The Storyteller: The Definitive Collection
The Complete Emmy Award Winning Series Debuts in a 2-Disc DVD Set May 23rd

Culver City, CA, March 13, 2006 – From The Jim Henson Company and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment comes JIM HENSON’STHE STORYTELLER: THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION, a 2-Disc DVD compilation featuring all 13 spellbinding episodes of this Emmy® Award winning¹ television series, available May 23 for the SRP of $19.94. Featuring an all-star cast including Academy Award® nominees John Hurt² (V for Vendetta, Hellboy), Miranda Richardson³ (Spider, Sleepy Hollow) and Brenda Blethyn⁴ (Secrets & Lies), JIM HENSON’STHE STORYTELLER: THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION also includes stirring performances from Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings), Gabrielle Anwar (Scent of a Woman) and Jennifer Saunders (TV's "Absolutely Fabulous").

Blending a rich literary base of classic stories with the magical effects and animatronics of The Jim Henson Company (The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and the newly released DVD/PSP Mirrormask), JIM HENSON’STHE STORYTELLER: THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION offers a rare combination of ancient tradition and modern technological artistry. Disc One features the first nine episodes of the series and tells classic fables and fairy tales. Disc Two features the retelling of four popular Greek myths. The series launched to critical acclaim on NBC in 1987 and then re-aired in its entirety in 1999 on HBO. This collection is filled with wonderful creatures that have a wisp of J.R.R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings) fantasy, and all but four of the episodes were written by Academy Award®-winning⁵ writer/director Anthony Minghella (The English Patient, The Talented Mr. Ripley).

EPISODE GUIDE:

Disc 1: THE STORYTELLER

Episode 1: “The Soldier and Death” - A soldier returns from 20 years of war with nothing but three biscuits in his sack. Soon he must outwit devils, save a kingdom and try to outwit death.

Episode 2: “Fearnot” - The Storyteller recounts the adventures of a boy who goes out into the world to learn what fear is.

Episode 3: “The Luck Child” - An evil king sets out to kill a ‘luck child,’ the seventh son of a seventh son, whom it is prophesized will one day be king. The child's luck is a gift and cannot be undone. The same is true of prophecies.

Episode 4: “A Story Short” - An adaptation of the stone soup fable, the Storyteller must spin tales to stay alive.

Episode 5: “Hans My Hedgehog” - A woman bears a hedgehog-child, who grows up to live alone in a castle until he does a king a favor—and gets the princess's hand in return.

Episode 6: “The Three Ravens” - A princess must keep silent while she works to free her brothers from an evil spell.

Episode 7: “Sapsorrow” – To avoid marrying her father, a princess runs away and disguises herself as an ugly forest creature—until she meets a handsome prince.

Episode 8: “The Heartless Giant” - A young prince sets out to help a heartless giant find his heart.

Episode 9: “The True Bride” - A wicked troll treats his orphan servant cruelly, but the girl has a destiny – she is the True Bride. One day, a lion with magic gifts appears to help her on her way.
Directed by Jim Henson, Steve Barron, Jon Amiel, Charles Sturridge, Paul Weiland and Peter Smith; cinematography by John Fenner; edited by David Yardley; music by Rachel Portman; produced by Jim Henson, Duncan Kenworthy, Mark Shivas and Martin G. Baker.

DisC 2: THE STORYTELLER: GREEK MYTHS

Episode 1: “Perseus and The Gorgon” - When the evil king threatens Perseus' mother, he must bring back the head of Medusa - whose stare will turn anyone who looks upon her to stone. Will the help of the gods be enough to aid in this seemingly impossible task?

Episode 2: “Daedalus and Icarus” - Daedalus, one of the greatest inventors of ancient Greece, and his son Icarus are betrayed by cruel King Minos, and must flee for their lives. To escape, Daedalus creates wings so they can fly to safety, but will the young Icarus heed his father's instructions or will their dreams melt away?

Episode 3: “Theseus and The Minataur” - With the help of a beautiful princess, Theseus tracks down the man-eating Minataur—half-man, half-bull—tto prove his courage and loyalty. A fight to the death ensues and a shocking secret emerges.

Episode 4: “Orpheus and Eurydice” - The great musician Orpheus vows to bring back the soul of his beloved Eurydice from the depths of Hades. But the task he must complete to reunite with his love turns out to be as torturous as the fate he will have to endure.
Directed by John Madden, David Garfarth, Tony Smith and Paul Weiland; cinematography by Roger Pratt; edited by David Martin, Laurence Méry-Clark and Ian Weil; music by Rachel Portman; produced by Jim Henson and Duncan Kenworthy.

Rated: NR
Color
Closed Captioned
Running Time: 301 minutes

DVD Catalog #: 13738
DVD UPC Code: 043396137387
DVD Order Date: 4/20/06
DVD SRP: $19.94

1. Outstanding Children's Program for: episode "Hans My Hedgehog" (1987)
2. Best Actor in a Leading Role for: The Elephant Man (1980); Best Actor in a Supporting Role for: Midnight Express (1978)
3. Best Actress in a Leading Role for: Tom & Viv (1994); Best Actress in a Supporting Role for: Damage (1992)
4. Best Actress in a Supporting Role for: Little Voice (1998); Best Actress in a Leading Role for: Secrets & Lies (1996)
5. Best Director for: The English Patient (1996)