Hans Christian Andersen [VHS]

Hans Christian Andersen [VHS]
by Charles Vidor

Hans Christian Andersen [VHS]

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Product details

Actor: Danny Kaye, Farley Granger, Joseph Walsh, Philip Tonge, Zizi Jeanmaire
Director: Charles Vidor
Cinematographer: Harry Stradling Sr.
Editor: Daniel Mandell
Producer: Samuel Goldwyn
Writer: Ben Hecht
Writer: Moss Hart
Writer: Myles Connolly
Edition: VHS Tape
Audio: English (Original Language), Analog
Format: Color, NTSC
Running Time: 112 minutes
Release Date: 1992-04-01
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Publisher: Hbo Home Video
Studio: Hbo Home Video

VHS Movie Reviews of Hans Christian Andersen [VHS]

Movie Review: A Musical Fairy Tale About A Spinner Of Fairy Tales
Summary: 5 Stars

I vividly remember watching HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN on television many times as a young child. It made a great impression on me then, and it still impresses me today. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, multiple generations (including a passel of kids from 4 to 14) watched this classic, 1950s, movie musical together. Everyone was enchanted. Older generations shared their happy memories of this story with the younger ones. And I was shocked and delighted to discover that I remembered the words to every song.

As stated in the opening frames of this film, HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN is "not the story of his life, but a fairy tale about a spinner of fairy tales." And what a charming fairy tale it is! With outstanding songs by Frank Loesser, a brilliant performance by Danny Kaye, and gorgeous scenery that seems to leap right out of the pages of a fairy tale picture book, HANS CHRISTAN ANDERSEN captures the hearts and souls of old and young alike. The wonderfully familiar and memorable songs get the entire family singing along. I clearly remember the words to "I'm Hans Christian Andersen," "The Ugly Duckling," "Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen," "Thumbelina," "Inchworm," "The Emperor's New Clothes," and "No Two People (Have Ever Been So In Love)" from my childhood. In fact, I have been singing some of these songs to my kids for as long as I can remember!

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN is a happy multi-generational family film that will give everyone warm fuzzies. This is the perfect time of year for watching HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN, but I would be thrilled to watch it anytime. This beautiful, nostalgic musical brings up many happy memories and helps make new ones. HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN is MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Movie Review: perfect
Summary: 5 Stars

This is one of my favorite movies of all time I was thrilled to get it on dvd. Perfect

Movie Review: happy times
Summary: 5 Stars

I have loved this movie from childhood. I enjoyed watching it now, I guess it brings out the little child in me and warms my heart. I loved the singing and playfulness in the movie. This is a good movie to watch for the young at heart. Happy viewing

Movie Review: hans christian anderson
Summary: 5 Stars

I would watch this movie at school before dvd's, videos, and players were around in each household. It was such a treat to see this movie every year on the projector. I had to buy it when I saw it on Amazon and was so amazed at the color, songs, and how Danny Kaye acted in this film once again. I think it is one of the best musicals around! Loved it so much!

Movie Review: Anywhere You Wander...This Film Will be Considered a Classic!
Summary: 5 Stars

This beautiful 1952 film showcases Danny Kaye in his element, filled with tuneful songs, many to which I was introduced courtesy of an album on which they were sung by a children's choir years before I actually saw the film.
Myles Connolly's Moss Hart's and Ben Hecht's fairly tale of this teller of fairy tales finds us in early 19th century Odense where Hans the cobbler is telling stories to the local children on a beautiful day when they should be in school. After giving an amusing recital of "The Emperor's New Clothes", Hans' young apprentice, Peter(Joey Walsh) warns him that a very irate Schoolmaster (John Brown), and Burgomaster (John Qualen) are on their way to confront him about keeping the children away from school with his tales.The confrontation, in which Hans states that there are different ways of learning things seems to touch upon the unspoken issue of Andersen's real-life dyslexia.
Soon enough, there is a concerted effort to drive Hans out of town. To smooth things over, the ever-practical Peter suggests that Hans go to Copenhagen
without telling him about the Burgomaster's decison.So, off Hans goes, and soon enough, Peter, who was initially supposed to be in charge of the shop in Hans' absence decides to join him and the two begin a marvelous adventure.
"Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen" is celebrated in song as the two travel by ship in a glorious moment. Soon, they are mingling with the street vendors in the town square, and we see indirect fodder for the now-familiar stories of Andersen,perhaps most notably the sweetly singing match girl, portrayed by "It's a Wonderful Life's" own little Zuzu, Karolyn Grimes.
With his usual song and good humor, Hans introduces himself and his business to those in the square, but ends up under arrest for unwittingly showing disrespect for the King's statue. Peter, who was also wanted for the same charge, escapes.
While peering out of his cell, Hans converses with a lovely little girl( Beverly Washburn), whom he amuses with the tale of Thumbelina. Peter's chance encounter with an official from the Royal Danish Ballet who was in need of a cobbler helps win Hans' release.
The country cobbler is enchanted at his first encounter with ballet, and with its lead dancer, the beautiful Doro (Zizi Jeanmaire). But the balletmaster Niels(Farley Granger)remains unimpressed by the dress rehearsal performance and, hard taskmaster that he is, makes them do it all over again.
Peter witnesses the full subsequent interaction between Doro and Niels, watching it go from loving to violent and back again. But Hans, viewing only the negative scene is appalled by Niels' behavior, and stunned to learn that they are married. He fantasizes about rescuing and perhaps even marrying Doro, brushing aside Peter's astute observations about their earlier interaction with each other.
Given his orders, he creates shoes for the ballet during they daytime. But writes a story that he hopes will speak to Doro by night.
When the ballet moves out on its annual tour, leaving Hans and Peter in Copenhagen, they continue to work, but Hans cannot get the beautiful danseuse out of his mind.His days are spent working on shoes and amusing local schoolchildren with his tales, as was the case back home in Odense. But one particular tale of the Ugly Duckling, told to cheer up a young boy recovering from illness named Lars (Peter Votrian) results in his stories being published in the local newspaper by the boy's father, who is the editor.It's a lovely scene that also touches on Danny Kaye's real-life humanitarian work.
The brief, sweetly-sung ballad, "Anywhere I Wander", summarizes Hans'ongoing yearnings. The song, "No Two People" features Kaye's trademark patter number with Jeanmaire in tow. When the ballet returns to Copenhagen, there are plans to put on a performance of Hans' story, "The Little Mermaid". Peter can see that his gullible boss is being used by Niels and Doro and laughed at behind his back. But Hans' swelling ego blinds him to this fact.
One more reverently beautful ballet scene stands between Hans, and the final resolution of this story--an elegantly charming masterpiece that keeps on giving time after time!

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Summary of Hans Christian Andersen [VHS]

Of all the Danny Kaye movies, this musical biography of the legendary vagabond storyteller is definitely the most poignant, extending the performer's range far beyond his usual comic shtick. It may not be as funny as Wonder Man, but it has so much more going for it. In fact, the film is really more about Kaye than Andersen, providing rare insight into his humanitarian ideals and rapport with children. The Frank Loesser score is beautiful, as is the Technicolor cinematography. Among the songs performed, "Inchworm," "Thumbelina," and "Ugly Duckling" are the standout favorites. --Bill Desowitz

Biography Video

Genres > Music Video & Concerts
Musicals & Performing Arts > Musicals > Classics
Drama
Television > HBO > All Titles

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