Hans Christian Andersen (film)
Encyclopedia
Hans Christian Andersen is a 1952 Hollywood musical film
directed by Charles Vidor
, with words and music by Frank Loesser
. The story was by Myles Connolly
, its screenplay was by Moss Hart
and Ben Hecht
(uncredited)
, and was produced by The Samuel Goldwyn Company
. It is a fictional, romantic story revolving around the life of the famous Danish
poet and story-teller Hans Christian Andersen
. The title role was played by Danny Kaye
.
The film was an international success at the time. It is not a biographical movie, and in the introduction describes itself as "a fairytale about the storyteller". A large part of the story is told through song and ballet
and includes many of Andersen's most famous stories such as The Ugly Duckling
, Thumbelina
, The Emperor's New Clothes
and The Little Mermaid
.
A sort-of soundtrack album was released by Decca soon after the film, with Danny Kaye and a backup chorus singing the songs from the film, also including two Sylvia Fine originals made specifically for the album, "Uncle Pockets" and "There's a Hole at the Bottom of the Sea", and Danny Kaye's narration of two Tubby the Tuba
stories by Paul Tripp.
(All songs have words and music by Frank Loesser
).
:
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
directed by Charles Vidor
Charles Vidor
Charles Vidor was a film director.-Biography:Born Károly Vidor to a Jewish family in Budapest, Hungary, he served in the Hungarian Army during World War I...
, with words and music by Frank Loesser
Frank Loesser
Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for...
. The story was by Myles Connolly
Myles Connolly
Myles Connolly was an author and Hollywood screenwriter.-Mr Blue:Connolly wrote and published several Roman Catholic parable novels, including Mr. Blue, a novel which was reprinted from its publication in 1928 through the 1980s....
, its screenplay was by Moss Hart
Moss Hart
Moss Hart was an American playwright and theatre director, best known for his interpretations of musical theater on Broadway.-Early years:...
and Ben Hecht
Ben Hecht
Ben Hecht was an American screenwriter, director, producer, playwright, and novelist. Called "the Shakespeare of Hollywood", he received screen credits, alone or in collaboration, for the stories or screenplays of some 70 films and as a prolific storyteller, authored 35 books and created some of...
(uncredited)
Motion picture credits
-Opening credits:Opening credits, in a television program, motion picture, or video game, are shown at the beginning of a show and list the most important members of the production. They are usually shown as text superimposed on a blank screen or static pictures, or sometimes on top of action in...
, and was produced by The Samuel Goldwyn Company
The Samuel Goldwyn Company
The Samuel Goldwyn Company was an independent film company founded by Samuel Goldwyn, Jr., the son of the famous Hollywood mogul, Samuel Goldwyn, in 1979.-Background:...
. It is a fictional, romantic story revolving around the life of the famous Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
poet and story-teller Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
. The title role was played by Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye was a celebrated American actor, singer, dancer, and comedian...
.
The film was an international success at the time. It is not a biographical movie, and in the introduction describes itself as "a fairytale about the storyteller". A large part of the story is told through song and ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
and includes many of Andersen's most famous stories such as The Ugly Duckling
The Ugly Duckling
"The Ugly Duckling" is a literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen . The story tells of a homely little bird born in a barnyard who suffers abuse from his neighbors until, much to his delight , he matures into a beautiful swan, the most beautiful bird of all...
, Thumbelina
Thumbelina
"Thumbelina" is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen first published by C. A. Reitzel on 16 December 1835 in Copenhagen, Denmark with "The Naughty Boy" and "The Traveling Companion" in the second installment of Fairy Tales Told for Children. "Thumbelina" is about a tiny girl and...
, The Emperor's New Clothes
The Emperor's New Clothes
"The Emperor's New Clothes" is a short tale by Hans Christian Andersen about two weavers who promise an Emperor a new suit of clothes that is invisible to those unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent...
and The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid
"The Little Mermaid" is a popular fairy tale by the Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen about a young mermaid willing to give up her life in the sea and her identity as a mermaid to gain a human soul and the love of a human prince...
.
A sort-of soundtrack album was released by Decca soon after the film, with Danny Kaye and a backup chorus singing the songs from the film, also including two Sylvia Fine originals made specifically for the album, "Uncle Pockets" and "There's a Hole at the Bottom of the Sea", and Danny Kaye's narration of two Tubby the Tuba
Tubby the Tuba
Tubby the Tuba may refer to:*"Tubby the Tuba" , a song by Paul Tripp and George Kleinsinger*Tubby the Tuba The George Pal Puppetoon movie*Tubby the Tuba *The Manhattan Transfer Meets Tubby the Tuba, an album...
stories by Paul Tripp.
Cast
- Danny KayeDanny KayeDanny Kaye was a celebrated American actor, singer, dancer, and comedian...
- Hans Christian Andersen - Farley GrangerFarley GrangerFarley Earle Granger was an American actor. In a career spanning several decades, he was perhaps best known for his two collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock, Rope in 1948 and Strangers on a Train in 1951.-Early life:...
- Niels - Zizi JeanmaireZizi JeanmaireZizi Jeanmaire is a ballet dancer and widow of renowned dancer and choreographer Roland Petit. She became famous in the 1950s after playing the title role in the ballet version of Carmen, produced in London in 1949, and went on to appear in several Hollywood films.-Background:Born in Paris,...
- Doro (as Jeanmaire) - Joseph Walsh - Peter (as Joey Walsh)
- Philip TongePhilip TongePhilip Tonge was a stage, film, and television actor.Born in London, England, Tonge became an actor at a young age. Fellow child actor Noel Coward stated he had his first sexual experience at age 13 with the slightly older Tonge.Tonge made his film debut in 1913 in the short The Still Voice, and...
- Otto - Erik BruhnErik BruhnErik Belton Evers Bruhn was a Danish ballet dancer, choreographer, company director, actor, and author.- Biography :...
- The Hussar in "Ice Skating Ballet" - Roland PetitRoland PetitRoland Petit was a French choreographer and dancer born in Villemomble, near Paris, France. He trained at the Paris Opéra Ballet school, and became well known for his creative ballets.-Biography:...
- The Prince in "The Little Mermaid" Ballet - John BrownJohn Brown (actor)John Brown was an English radio and film actor.He had major roles in several popular radio shows. He played Irma's love interest Al in My Friend Irma, Digby "Digger" O'Dell in The Life of Riley and "Broadway" in The Damon Runyon Theatre...
- Schoolmaster - John QualenJohn QualenJohn Qualen was a Canadian-American character actor of Norwegian heritage who specialized in Scandinavian roles....
- Burgomaster - Jeanne Lafayette - Celine
- Robert Malcolm - Stage Doorman
- George ChandlerGeorge ChandlerGeorge Chandler was an American actor best known for playing the character of "Uncle Petrie" on the television series Lassie...
- Gerta's Father - Fred KelseyFred KelseyFrederick Alvin "Fred" Kelsey was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. He appeared in 404 films between 1911 and 1958, often playing policemen or detectives . He also directed 37 films between 1914 and 1920...
- First Gendarme - Gil PerkinsGil PerkinsGil Perkins was an Australian film and television actor.-Early life:As a teenager, Perkins was a trackman and an athlete. He ran away from home at a young age and joined the crew of a Norwegian cargo ship as a deck hand.-Early career:In his early adult life, he left for Hollywood...
- Second Gendarme - Peter Votrian - Lars (as Peter Votrian)
- Barrie Chase - Ballerina in "The Little Mermaid" Ballet
- Sylvia LewisSylvia LewisSylvia Lewis is an American actress, dancer and choreographer.-Career:Sylvia Lewis was born in York, Pennsylvania. She first performed as a young child in the last days of vaudeville in Baltimore, Maryland. She received her first classical training as a scholarship student at the Peabody...
- Ballerina in "The Little Mermaid" Ballet
Songs
- "Anywhere I Wander"
- "I'm Hans Christian Andersen"
- "The Inch WormInchworm (song)"Inchworm", also known as "The Inch Worm", is a song originally performed by Danny Kaye in the 1952 film Hans Christian Andersen. It was written by Frank Loesser....
" - "The King's New Clothes"
- "No Two People"
- "Thumbelina"
- "The Ugly DucklingThe Ugly Duckling"The Ugly Duckling" is a literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen . The story tells of a homely little bird born in a barnyard who suffers abuse from his neighbors until, much to his delight , he matures into a beautiful swan, the most beautiful bird of all...
" - "Wonderful Copenhagen"
(All songs have words and music by Frank Loesser
Frank Loesser
Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for...
).
Awards
This film was nominated for six Academy AwardsAcademy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
:
- Best Art Direction (Richard DayRichard Day (art director)Richard Day was a Canadian art director. He won seven Academy Awards and was nominated for a further 13 in the category Best Art Direction He worked on 265 films between 1923 and 1970....
, Antoni ClavéAntoni ClavéAntoni Clavé was a Catalan master painter, printmaker, sculptor, stage designer and costume designer. He was nominated for two Academy Awards for his work on the 1952 film Hans Christian Andersen.Clavé was one of Spain's best known and most celebrated artists...
, Howard BristolHoward BristolHoward Bristol was an American set decorator. He was nominated for nine Academy Awards in the category Best Art Direction. He worked on 56 films between 1936 and 1968.-Selected filmography:Bristol was nominated for nine Academy Awards for Best Art Direction:...
) - Best Cinematography
- Best Costume Design
- Best Scoring
- Best Song (Thumbelina)
- Best Sound (Gordon E. Sawyer)
External links
- Hans Christian Andersen at Rotten TomatoesRotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...