Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Faerie Tale Theatre episode)

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“Goldilocks and the Three Bears”
Faerie Tale Theatre episode
Episode no. Season 3
Episode 1
Written by Rod Ash
Mark Curtis
Directed by Gilbert Cates
Original airdate January 9, 1984
Episode chronology
← Previous Next →
"Hansel and Gretel" "The Princess and the Pea"

Goldilocks and the Three Bears is the 9th episode of the television anthology Faerie Tale Theatre. The story is based on the Brothers Grimm story Goldilocks and the Three Bears and stars Tatum O'Neal as Goldilocks.

Contents

[edit] Plot

The episode features an extended story based on the events of the original fairytale, where the Goldilocks' visit to the Bears' home is only a small portion of the overall plot.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The story is being told by a Ranger (Hoyt Axton), who relates to the audience the incident of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Goldilocks (Tatum O'Neal) is introduced as pretty young girl with golden curls who has likes to play tricks on others and tell wild stories.

In the nearby wood, a family of bears consisting of Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Cubby Bear wake up from hibernation in their little cottage. One day Mama Bear cooks some porridge, but it turns out to be too hot so the family go out for a walk to let it cool off.

At this time, Goldilocks happens to be out exploring when she stumbles upon the bears' house. She invites herself in, helps herself to their porridge (Cubby's is the only bowl that is good), sits in their chairs (Cubby's breaks under her weight) and lies down in their beds (Cubby's is the most comfortable and she goes to sleep). As she is sleeping, the bear family returns and sees the result of Goldilocks' tampering. Papa Bear wakes Goldilocks up, and when she sees the bears in the bedroom she screams and runs off. When she reaches home she goes into a frenzy telling her parents about the bears, but they don't believe her.

The next day, Goldilocks' father punishes her by ordering her to pull all the weeds from their house's front lawn. When the Ranger walks by, Goldilocks claims she has no idea what to do and sweetly asks him to demonstrate. When the Ranger gets to the job, Goldilocks sneaks off to her secret hiding place in the woods.

As she's playing, Cubby Bear accidentally finds her. At first Cubby is angry at Goldilocks for what she did the day before, but Goldilocks spins another tall tale that she's an orphan and was so desperate for food and a place to stay, and that was why she broke into their house. Cubby believes her story and, feeling sorry for her, invites her back to the bear home. When Mama Bear and Papa Bear hear her story they welcome her in, but Papa Bear advises her to learn to respect other people's property and not repeat what she did. Goldilocks agrees, and jumps on their invitation to stay with them, believing that her father is still angry with her.

That night Goldilocks doesn't return home, and her parents are filled with worry.

The days pass with Goldilocks spending time with the bear family having fun and playing games. But then one day the Ranger arrives at the house, and when he describes Goldilocks' physical description, Papa Bear pulls her out from her hiding place in the bedroom. At first Goldilocks starts to tell another lie that she was kidnapped by the bear family, but she cannot go through with it because she has become genuinely fond of the bears. Goldilocks apologises for her mistakes in the past and returns home, where her parents embrace her.

The Ranger then gives an epilogue explaining that Goldilocks changed her ways, continued to be friends with the bear family, and eventually had a daughter of her own with identical golden curls.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Cast

Actor Character
Tatum O'Neal Goldilocks
Hoyt Axton Ranger
John Lithgow Father
Carole King Mother
Alex Karras Papa Bear
Brandis Kemp Mama Bear
Donovan Scott Cubby Bear


[edit] Trivia

This episode refers to the Yogi Bear cartoon with the use of a character called "The Ranger" and with a line where Papa Bear says, "If it has something to do with those stolen picnic baskets, we have nothing to do with that".

[edit] See Also

List of Faerie Tale Theatre episodes