Hans Christian Andersen (1952)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Charles Vidor

Writers:

Myles Connolly (story)
Moss Hart (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 August 1953 (France)

Genre:

Biography | Family | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

The glorious story of the greatest storyteller of them all!

Plot:

A completely fabricated biography of the famous Danish fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen featuring...

Plot Keywords:

Hans Christian Andersen | Ballet | Schoolgirl | Home | Sitting

Awards:

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Danny Kaye	...	Hans Christian Andersen
Farley Granger	...	Niels
Zizi Jeanmaire	...	Doro (as Jeanmaire)
Joseph Walsh	...	Peter (as Joey Walsh)
Philip Tonge	...	Otto
Erik Bruhn	...	The Hussar in "Ice Skating Ballet"
Roland Petit	...	The Prince in 'The Little Mermaid' Ballet
John Brown	...	Schoolmaster
John Qualen	...	Burgomaster
Jeanne Lafayette	...	Celine
Robert Malcolm	...	Stage Doorman
George Chandler	...	Gerta's Father
Fred Kelsey	...	First Gendarme
Gil Perkins	...	Second Gendarme
Peter J. Votrian	...	Lars (as Peter Votrian)

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (certificate #15971) | UK:U | New Zealand:G | Australia:G | Australia:PG (alternate rating) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Samuel Goldwyn/Warner Hollywood Studios - 1041 N. Formosa Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Trivia:

In order to cover the necessary camera tricks, and to add "magic" to the Little Mermaid ballet, it was decided that, rather than presenting it as an actual ballet, they would have Hans imagine how it would look. This allowed them to do things on the screen which would be impossible on the stage.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During the crossing of the Great Belt the still existing light tower on the island Sprogø is seen in the background. Although there was a light tower on the island when the 14 year-old Hans Christian Andersen went to Copenhagen this particular tower was not built until 1869, when Andersen was 64 years old and had been a famous writer for many years.

Quotes:

[about Hans's stories]
Gerta's Father, Farmer: The other day I asked my Gerta what time it was and she said that the minute hand and the hour hand weren't speaking to each other. They were both in love with the second hand. And they wouldn't make up until they met at twelve o'clock. And no one could tell the time until then.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Heart & Soul: The Life and Music of Frank Loesser (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Little Mermaid Ballet

I could not disagree more with the Maltin review!!!

Whoever reviewed this film for Maltin's Guide (I wish they'd indicate who the reviewer is by initials or something. It'd make the book more useful) does not share my tastes. I personally don't care that it bears no relation to Andersen's life. They admit it up front. Judge a film by itself, not on it's supposed relation to reality! Given Andersen's real life and his moody, pessemistic nature, I doubt being more accurate would have been a good thing. The score is beautiful, the sets and Costumes are great and Danny Kaye was wonderful! I haven't seen the movie for a couple of years and I stll remember most of the score! Granted, it's not one of the all-time greats, but it's better than the Maltin review implies. A worthy effort. Recommended.