The Little Prince (1974)

Based on the children's fantasy by Antoine de Saint-Exupèry and embraced by the soaring music of Lerner and Loewe, the musical story of a pilot's crash in the Sahara Desert and his encounter with a strange little boy receives the glowing attention to detail, color, and charm that a film adaptation of such a beloved book deserves. As the downed pilot listens to the little boy's story of his travels to distant planets and the strange people and animals he encounters, the airman realizes that the boy's wisdom and perception are going to change how he himself sees the world.

Well known for his richly voiced narration, supporting-role TV and movie appearances, and powerful leads in Broadway plays, Richard Kiley stars as the pilot whose world is overturned physically by the crash of his plane and philosophically by his encounter with the prince from another planet. The Little Prince himself (Steven Warner) made only this one feature film. And although Lerner, Loewe, and Donen all created thriving film-musical careers, THE LITTLE PRINCE and ROYAL WEDDING were the only musicals on which Lerner and Donen ever collaborated.