HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Hans Christian Andersen
RKO, 1952, Color, 112 minutes, ***½
Released November, 1952

Danny Kaye stars as the Danish cobbler-turned-storyteller extraordinaire in a fanciful family favorite, loosely based on Andersen's life. Lavish sets and ballet sequences and a Frank Loesser score that includes "Inchworm," "Thumbelina" and "The Ugly Duckling" add to this timeless fantasy.

A truly beautiful production - wonderful sets, costumes and photography. Danny Kaye is quite believeable as Andersen. Definitely one of his best films.

The film begins with "Once upon a time there lived in Denmark a great storyteller named Hans Christian Andersen. This is not the story of his life, but a fairy tale about this great spinner of fairy tales."

Produced by: Samuel Goldwyn
Directed by: Charles Vidor
Screenplay: Moss Hart
Based on a Story by Myles Connolly
Musical Composer: Frank Loesser
Musical Director: Walter Scharf
Words and Music by: Frank Loesser
Orchestrations by: Jerome Moross
Choreography by: Roland Petit
The Prince in "The Little Mermaid" Ballet danced by Roland Petit
Art Directors: Richard Day and Clavé
Set Decorations by: Howard Bristol
Ballet Costumes: Designed by Clavé, Executed by Madame Karinska
Other Costumes Designed by: Mary Wills
Make-up: Del Armstrong
Hair Stylist: Helen Turpin
Sound Recorder: Fred Lau
Director of Photography: Harry Stradling
Special Photographic Effects: Clarence Slifer
Color by Technicolor
Technicolor Color Consultant: Richard Mueller
Film Editor: Daniel Mandell

Awards: Academy Award nominations for Best Sound Recording; Best Art Direction/Set Decoration (Color); Best Color Cinematography; Best Costume Design (Color); Best Score (Musical) and Best Song ("Thumbelina")

Cast: Danny Kaye [Hans Christian Andersen], Farley Granger [Niels], introducing Jeanmaire [Doro], Joey Walsh [Peter], Philip Tonge [Otto], Erik Bruhn [The Hussar], Roland Petit [The Prince in "The Little Mermaid Ballet"], John Brown [Schoolmaster], John Qualen [Burgomaster], Jeanne Lafayette [Celine], Robert Malcolm [Stage Doorman], George Chandler [Farmer], Fred Kelsey [First Gendarme], Gil Perkins [Second Gendarme], Peter Votrian [Lars], Additional Cast: Betty Uitti [Princess], Jack Klaus [Sea Witch]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:05] The King's New Clothes (sung by Danny Kaye and Children); [0:13] Inchworm (sung by Danny Kaye and Children); [0:24] I'm Hans Christian Andersen (sung by Danny Kaye); [0:26] Wondeful Copenhagen (sung by Danny Kaye, Joey Walsh, Sailor Ensemble and Chorus); [0:31] I'm Hans Christian Andersen (continued by Danny Kaye); [0:35] Thumbelina (sung by Danny Kaye); [0:37] Ice Skating Ballet (danced by Jeanmaire, Erik Bruhn and Ensemble); [0:50] Dream Ballet (performed by Jeanmaire, Danny Kaye and Farley Granger); [1:01] The Ugly Duckling (sung by Danny Kaye); [1:06] Anywhere I Wander (sung by Danny Kaye); [1:11] I'm Hans Christian Andersen (continued by Danny Kaye); [1:15] Fantasy Wedding Sequence / No Two People (performed by Danny Kaye, Jeanmaire and Chorus); [1:26] The Little Mermaid Ballet (danced by Jeanmaire, Roland Petit, and the Roland Petit Ballet); [1:49] The Ugly Ducking / Wonderful Copenhagen / The King's New Clothes / Thumbelina / I'm Hans Christian Andersen (reprised by Danny Kaye, Children and Chorus)