Faerie Tale Theatre Season 4 Episode 20 Puss in Boots

Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre is a beloved anthology series that retells classic fairy tales with a whimsical and sometimes dark twist. Season 4 Episode 20, titled "Puss in Boots," is no exception. This episode tells the story of a clever cat named Puss who helps his poor master, a miller's son, rise to wealth and power.

The episode begins with Puss (played by Gregory Hines) narrating the story of how he came to be in the service of his master, young Jack (Ben Vereen). Jack is a kind and hardworking young man who inherits nothing but his father's old cat when his father passes away. Puss sees potential in Jack and decides to use his cunning and charm to help him succeed.

Puss approaches Jack and asks for a new pair of boots and a bag. Jack is puzzled by this request, but Puss assures him that he will use them to help Jack climb the social ladder. The first step in Puss's plan is to catch some rabbits in the fields and present them to the king (Charles Durning) as a gift from Jack. The king is so impressed by the gift that he invites Jack to his palace for dinner.

Before Jack goes to the palace, Puss gives him some instructions on how to act and what to say. Puss himself determines to go to the palace ahead of Jack to try and secure a better life for both himself and his owner. When Puss arrives at the palace, he charms the queen (Gena Rowlands) with his wit and good looks and convinces her to give him a pair of shoes and a hat.

Puss then creates a fantastical tale for the king and queen based on Jack's somewhat-proud lineage. He tells them that Jack, as the son of the Marquis of Carabas, has landed in this small station due to his own humble spirit. Puss' story is so believable and entertaining that the king and queen become utterly enamored of Jack and declare him their heir, much to Puss' delight.

Jack is puzzled by this sudden turn of events, but Puss tells him to play along and accept their generous offer. The next part of Puss's plan involves tricking an ogre (Christopher Walken) who lives in a nearby castle. Puss tells Jack to go fishing in the moat in front of the castle and pretend that he is drowning. When the ogre comes to investigate, Puss tells him that Jack is a famous Marquis who owns the lands surrounding the castle and would make a better master than the ogre.

The ogre is so impressed by the idea of having a famous and wealthy master that he agrees to let Jack stay at the castle and becomes Jack's obedient servant. Meanwhile, Puss convinces the townspeople to tell the king that the lands surrounding the castle belong to Jack. The king is thrilled and gives Jack the title of Marquis of Carabas.

The final part of Puss's plan involves Jack marrying the king's daughter (Ellen Greene) and becoming the next king of the realm. Puss arranges for Jack to meet the princess and woo her with a romantic song. The princess falls in love with Jack and convinces her father to let them get married.

In the end, Puss reveals to Jack that he has been the mastermind behind his rise to power all along. Jack is grateful to Puss and the two of them live happily ever after in the lap of luxury. The episode ends with Puss breaking the fourth wall and inviting the viewers to come back and watch more Faerie Tale Theatre.

"Puss in Boots" is a charming and playful retelling of a classic fairy tale. Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre has a reputation for high production values, imaginative storytelling, and creative use of special effects, and this episode is no exception. The cast is top-notch, with Gregory Hines turning in a sly and charming performance as Puss and Ben Vereen playing the innocent and likable Jack with just the right amount of wide-eyed innocence. The costumes, sets, and makeup are all of a high quality, lending the episode a fairy tale-like feel that will enchant viewers of all ages.