Pilot

This is one of my favorite all time movies, and whenever I go to a video store I search for it everywhere. I haven't found it yet. I would absolutely love to own this movie.

I had this movie on a video tape and the beginning was missing but I used to watch it all the time. Me and my best friend would act out some of the girls parts and we'd sing along with all their songs and everything. I used to love those outfits Diane would wear where it's like a skirt but the front of it is open and she's got shorts on - I'd wear shorts and wrap a towel partway around me to mimic the look! My friend used to like being Nina - I'm not sure why...maybe because Nina was the only one who had a boyfriend in the movie. I've since had the tape taken away from me (not by choice) and I miss it! I think I even made a cassette tape of the songs too - I might still have that. But anyway, I loved this movie and I'd love to have another (full) copy of it. It's probably a corny 80s movie to most people who have seen it, but I think it's a feel good movie. It's interesting to watch the changing emotions of the people throughout and see it all come together at the end (I hope that's not considered a spoiler - I'm not giving details!). This is my first movie review so I'm sorry if it sucks - I just wanted to share how I feel about it and what it means to me.

There is nothing bad that you can say about Rags to Riches if you like singing and dancing children and teenagers. Its a lot like a variety show where the kids dance and sing there way through a variety of songs with changed lyrics to suit their moods. This is pretty light stuff and on an entertainment level it does the job quite well. The main actors in this all seem quite talented, so it seems a pity that none of them really amounted to much more in the film industry. Naturally, if you dont like musicals, you will hate this, but for those that like them, its a pleasant alternative to the 40s and 50s musicals that appear all the time on cable.

... This little gem of of late 80s (or should i say 60s?) sugary sweet confection. The show featured your stereotypical coming of age/fish out of water scenarios germane to hour long dramedies of the time. It's essentially Annie : The Series... if Annie had 4 sisters that is. Wealthy playboy business man Daddy Warbucks... err... Nick Foley, in an effort to solidify a business deal by improving his public image, decides the best way to do this would be to adopt 6 orphaned girls (whittled down to 5 for the series proper). RIGHT!!! That's the logical idea i would fall on right away. Anyhow, the usual 80s sitcom hijinks ensue and, in the end, the girls and Nick learn something from each other. All the while singing and dancing popular 60s tunes with lyrics adapted to fit the scenario.

Yea... my review is dripping with sarcasm but in all honesty this is a really cute, wholesome program. The song and dance numbers are catchy and accessible to about any age. Yes it's cheesy. Yes the plots can be a little far fetched but what show in the 80s wasn't? The scenarios in Rags To Riches were about as believable as a team of 4 crack commandos emptying multiple clips of ammo at the bad guys and not hitting a single thing. It's a reminder of how things used to be on TV. I actually remember gathering with my family to catch this show during it's original run on NBC. I highly recommend this show for it's uniqueness, it's sweetness and for anyone with a thing for 60s bubblegum pop.

Also features a young, pre-Martin yet post-Little Shop Of Horrors Tisha Campbell in the main cast. Guest apperaces feature the likes of Bill Mahr, Richard Grecco (21 Jump Street, If Looks Could Kill), Richard Herd (from another successful NBC show V and it's sequel, V : The Final Battle) amongst others.

Also pleased to report that 3 episodes into my viewing of the complete series DVD box that the set doesn't appear to suffer the same unfortunate fate other music-centric shows suffer when making the transition to home media. The original music appears to be intact. A show like this wouldn't be worth the effort to put on DVD without the original music. Picture quality is broadcast quality... from the 80s. The included pilot episode in the boxed set is actually the work print version with the title card saying Rags AND riches. The episodes appear uncut as the average length is about 48:20. Compared to the 41:15 average of today's hour long show. Worth the price for the nostalgia factor.

I enjoyed this show when I was growing up and I wish someone would put it on DVD. I would buy it in a heartbeat. I use to watch the show whenever it came on and I really would like someone to bring it to video. There are a lot of old shows on video and DVD now, why can't we bring this one also. I would like to add it to my collection.I enjoyed the singing and dancing and the dressing up that they did. I have looking all over for this show and I am so happy that I found it. I remember Tisha Campbell in her younger days and Joseph Balogna. I loved the cast and story lines. It is great to think how everyone has grown up since this show. This show kept me from getting into trouble and I have younger cousins who would love to see it.