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Your kids are watching something right now, a show, a commercial, even a cartoon, and quietly forming a picture of what love is supposed to look like. Most of what's on screen today is giving them the wrong idea. Today I have a 1965 live action musical that gives them the right idea. No sex, no nudity, no language. Clean, beautiful, and one of the most overlooked family picks on streaming right now. Plus one of the actresses in this movie went on to voice one of Disney's most iconic villains. Welcome to Wholesome TV Picks. The only podcast where every recommendation is backed by 35 years of watching wholesome TV, so you never waste another night on the wrong pick. Let's get into it. Leslie Ann Warren who played Cinderella gives a magnetic performance that is just so pure and innocent. With all the versions of Cinderella out there,

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how is this one any different? Here are three reasons. First, the music. Rogers and Hammerstein wrote some of the most beloved songs in musical theater history, and this movie is full of them: Impossible, 10 Minutes Ago, and In My Own Little Corner. The songs are lively, uplifting, catchy, and just add that extra oomph to the story. Your kids will probably wanna rewind it and listen to the songs again. You may also find yourself singing along. You can even find the soundtrack on iTunes. If you're an I Love Lucy fan, Rogers and Hammerstein is mentioned in a couple of episodes. They were so popular that the biggest TV show in history just had to mention them. Second, the romance. Much of what's on screen today teaches kids that romance is

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about, well, you know, and that's not even romance. This movie does the complete opposite. Your daughters see a young woman who doesn't compete for attention or change herself to earn it. Your sons see a young man who doesn't want to be admired for his title. He wants to be known for who he is on the inside. This version of Cinderella gives them a picture that says love is respectful, love is patient, love is rooted in character. That is incredibly hard to find on screen today. There's a scene that shows another really important value. The prince tells his parents he's discouraged after dancing with every eligible girl at the ball. His father asks: "Discouraged. Why? With all the fairest young maidens of my kingdom here." The prince replies: "It would not be so bad if I saw them as fair young

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maidens." "Well, how else do you see them?" "As contenders for a prize? And I am the prize." That line says everything. He doesn't want flattery. He wants sincerity. You feel the yearning in his heart, that he is searching for love and romance. Boys don't just need heroes with swords. They need to see men who value depth, men who show them how to love a girl. This isn't just a princess story. It's a story about two people who both want something genuine. The romance is perfectly captured in the song 10 Minutes Ago, where both Cinderella and the Prince sing about that moment of love at first sight. "10 minutes ago I saw you, I looked up when you came through the door, my head started reeling, you gave me the

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feeling the room had no ceiling or floor. 10 minutes ago I met you and we murmured our How do you Dos. I wanted to ring out the bells and fling out my arms and to sing out the news." Songs aren't written like this anymore. There's a depth to these songs and nothing about physical beauty is ever mentioned. My hope is for both your and my children to experience something like that one day. That's what this movie gives that is so lacking in media today. Did I mention that the Prince is played by Stuart Damon? Here's a little inside secret. I had a little crush on Stuart Damon when I was a kid. So young Jennifer was very happy to see him show up as the Prince. I mention that because when I was my daughter's age, this was the picture of romance I carried around in my mind. Looking back, it's mattered more than I

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realized. The third reason, the heart. Cinderella is treated horribly in this movie by her pompous stepmother and equally annoying stepsisters. It is not subtle at all, but she remains respectful. She holds onto hope, even though they continually put her down. Her fairy godmother, played by Celeste Holme, sings Impossible. The song says every single thing people tell you can't happen — well, it's happening right now somewhere. Your kids need to be reminded that the belief that things can change in life if you wish and dream them hard enough can happen. The costumes are gorgeous. I remember as a young girl looking at Cinderella and being just completely in awe of her ball gown. I thought I want that ball gown too. The sets are simple and charming. The stepsisters played by Pat Carroll and Jo Van Fleet do a wonderful job being hilarious and

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memorable in the movie. Even though they're mean you love them. The mother does a really good job of being really mean. It's a bonding experience for the whole family, and it's worth it for everybody to sit down and enjoy this one hour and seventeen minute movie because it's something you'll carry in your heart for the rest of your lives. Now, that Disney connection I mentioned at the beginning of the show — Pat Carroll, who plays Prunella, one of the stepsisters, is also the voice of Ursula in The Little Mermaid. I remember watching a behind-the-scenes thing a long time ago and saw Pat Carroll with the headphones voicing Ursula. It's just really interesting when you look at this movie and you see her a lot younger, and you're like, oh my gosh, that's the woman who played Ursula.

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Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella is a 1965 classic. Clean, beautiful, and the kind of wholesome family entertainment you can press play on with zero hesitation. This is a great pick for family movie night when you want something with real heart. You can watch it for free on Tubi TV and Pluto TV, and you can also catch it on Prime Video. I'll leave all the links in the show notes. If this show has helped you find family entertainment you can enjoy with your family, do me a favor, take about 30 seconds and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It really does help other families find the show. Join me next week for a nostalgic eighties cartoon that's pure magic. Perfect for younger kids who love princesses and great stories that'll remind you why Saturday morning cartoons used to be so special. So don't miss it. Thanks for listening. Have a great rest of your week. Remember, your values matter and your TV should too. I'll catch you next week.