Movie Review : Old-Fashioned ‘Princess’ a Beguiling Animated Tale : Sprightly film unfolds with clarity, and the voice talents convey a wonderful sense of character and personality.

“The Swan Princess,” the German fairy tale that is the basis for the beloved “Swan Lake” ballet, now emerges as a lavish animated musical fantasy to enchant children, especially little girls, during the holiday season. Sprightly and engaging, it unfolds with clarity and makes excellent use of its voice talents, most notably that of Jack Palance as the villainous Rothbart; the colorful witty, familiar menace of his voice allows him to all but steal the show.

Prince Derek (Howard McGillin) and Princess Odette (Michelle Nicastro) grow up in adjoining kingdoms, and from childhood Derek’s mother, Queen Uberta (Sandy Duncan), and Odette’s father, King William (Dakin Matthews), are determined matchmakers to the extent that the kids can’t stand each other until they grow up and realize how attractive each other is. But just as they’re falling in love, Odette is kidnaped by Rothbart, who kills her father and who has the power to turn himself into a dragon at will. Since Odette, not surprisingly, refuses to marry him so that he can assume the throne of her country, he casts a spell on her, turning her into a swan who can resume her human form only when moonlight shines upon her wings. She now lives in a lake in an enchanted forest. She can regain her freedom only through the love of a prince who can prove his devotion before the whole world.

Before it’s happily-ever-after time, director Richard Rich and writer Brian Nissen come up with considerable diversion and adventure. Some of the film’s most charming moments occur in byplay between the captive Princess and her new friends, a dapper French frog (John Cleese), a lethargic turtle (Steven Wright) and a sturdy puffin (Steve Vinovich).

Rich has done a terrific job of directing his cast: Their voices convey character and personality. Along with Palance, Duncan is a special delight: Her Queen Uberta speaks in the fluttery manner of Billie Burke. It’s worth noting that McGillin is starring on Broadway in “Kiss of the Spider Woman” and that Liz Callaway, who provides the singing voice of Odette, is now in “Cats,” also on Broadway.

Although it’s possible for an adult to be caught up in “The Swan Princess,” it would be more enjoyable for many of us if visually the film weren’t so determinedly old-fashioned. Traditional to a “T,” it features the usual painterly storybook backdrops, some as kitschy as old calendar landscapes, with the equally typical simply drawn humans and anthropomorphized animals.

Although Rich, a major Walt Disney alumnus, had an army of skilled artists and technicians at his command for more than four years, he seems to have no innovative impulse in him. His is a sentimental vision, painstakingly and successfully realized, but “The Swan Princess” could have just as easily been made 40 years ago, or even earlier--it is almost devoid of contemporary sensibility to an extent that’s a little creepy. Fittingly, it may well be one of the last animated features to employ the time-consuming techniques of hand-drawing and coloring of nearly every single image rather than using computer-generated graphics.

Lyricist David Zippel and composer Lex de Azevedo have come up with six new songs, which are fun and serve the story effectively. Rothbart has a robust anthem, “No More Mr. Nice Guy” (sung by De Azevedo); there’s the Busby Berkeley-esque “Princesses on Parade,” those young women vying for Derek’s hand once Odette has vanished; and a stirring love song, “Far Longer Than Forever,” a sure-fire bet for Your Hit Parade--if this were 1952.

* MPAA rating: G. Times guidelines: It is suitable for all ages .

‘The Swan Princess’

Featuring the voices of: Jack Palance: Rothbart

Howard McGillin: Prince Derek

Michelle Nicastro; sung by Liz Callaway Princess Odette

Sandy Duncan: Queen Uberta

John Cleese: Jean-Bob

Steven Wright: Speed

Steve Vinovich: Puffin

A New Line Cinema release of a Nest Entertainment presentation of a Rich Animation Studios production. Director Richard Rich. Producers Rich, Jared F. Brown. Executive producers Brown, Seldon Young. Screenplay by Brian Nissen; story by Rich and Nissen. Cinematographer Tom Priestley Jr. Editors James Koford, Armetta Jackson-Hamlett. Michael Ripps and James Mitchell. Costumes Karen Perry. Score Lex de Azevedo. Songs David Zippel, De Azevedo. Character designer/animation director Steven E. Gordon. Art direction Mike Hodgson, James Coleman. Supervising effects animator Michael Gagne. Post animation production supervisor Colene Riffo. Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes.

* In general release throughout Southern California.