Red Riding Hood

"Red Riding Hood" is yet another Cannon Movie Tale released in the eighties. Although, once again, the story has been stretched to the breaking point, but it's not bad. Linnet (Amelia Shankley) and her mother, Lady Jeanne (Isabella Rosselini) live near the edge of a forest and wait for Lady Jeanne's husband (and Linnet's father,Sir Percival (Craig T Nelson) to return to them. In his absence, his brother Godfrey, (Nelson again) has become Lord Of The Province. But he is evil and lusts after his brother's wife, while abusing the rest of the populace. He has also gained the power to transform his friend Dagger (Rocco Sisto) into a wolf. From here, the story follows the traditional more or less. Linnet's grandmother (Helen Glazary) whips up the red cape and hood, which she says will protect her granddaughter from harm. The songs are nice additions to the new storyline, and most are well performed, though, as the evil brother, Nelson even hams his musical number. Shankley has a beautiful voice, and she and Sisto have the best song "Never Talk To Strangers". All in all, a modest, pleasant film.