Sergei Prokofiev's symphonic masterpiece Peter and the Wolf, first performed in Russia in 1936, has been lauded not only for the spectacular musical score but also for the story itself--of a young boy who outwits a wily wolf. George Daugherty brings this timeless tale to modern audiences by seamlessly weaving live-action with animation and music by the RCA Symphony Orchestra. The story opens as a grandfather (Lloyd Bridges) hosts his daughter (Kirstie Alley) and grandson (Ross Malinger) during a visit to his country cottage. After lunch, the trio settles in as grandfather recounts "The Story" of Peter's adventures with a bird, cat, and dizzy duck on the outskirts "of a very dark forest".

The film morphs into a clever cartoon designed by the legendary Chuck Jones (of Wile E. Coyote fame). The "story within a story" leaps to life while the accompanying musical instruments also emerge as playful personalities. It is no wonder this heartwarming family film has received numerous awards for bringing an appreciation of classical music to young viewers. The DVD bonuses are a making-of featurette, and a captivating introduction to the symphony orchestra. --Lynn Gibson