Hans Christian Andersen (1952)

That was an excellent one.

Powerful

One of my all time favorites.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Artistically, "Hans Christian Anderson" is wonderful to look at with beautifully designed sets and costumes and a sprightly score that uses his fairy-tales for inspiration. And there's no doubt that DANNY KAYE was highly suited to this kind of material with its major appeal for children.But there are drawbacks--the biggest one being the length which drags in spots and is uneven throughout. The performances are fine and almost make you forget that the slow spots are there. FARLEY GRANGER is fine as the ballet director dealing with a temperamental ballet star JEANMAIRE. However, it doesn't help that the climactic LITTLE MERMAID ballet is dull and much too long.The score saves the picture from being too sappy at times, with numbers like "Thumbalina," "The Ugly Duckling" and "Wonderful Copenhagen" that brighten the story with clever lyrics and sprightly tunes.Kaye is less frenetic than usual as Hans and overall it's one of his best performances. Children should love it.

This film is fantastic. The problem is hardly anybody has seen it, and anybody who hasn't is seriously missing out. It features Danny Kaye in his element here, as the fairy-tale author, and a superb score by Frank Loesser. All the songs are moving or humorous, and I recognised all of the fairy tales. I was moved by Ugly Duckling, laughing with delight at Thumbelina, and swaying in time to the music of Copenhagen, which has never looked that beautiful. The supporting stars are solid, most notably from Joey Walsh, Farley Granger and Jeanmaire. Speaking of the ballet sequences, I disagree that they were plodding. It may have been 20 minutes long, but the little mermaid, for me was the highlight of the film, and perfectly set to the music of Lizst. Hearing Schubert's Rosamunde was a delight, and when I heard the music to Anderson's dream(him trying to get Doro away from Nils), I genuinely felt I was watching a Wagnerian opera, with its devilish imagery and Flying Dutchman -like incidental music. Danny Kaye was fantastic in the song numbers, and although his voice isn't large, he has phenomenal breath control that is almost as good as that of the opera singer Tito Schipa. Watch this musical, which is perfectly-paced. If you don't see this, you're seriously missing out! 10/10. Bethany Cox

A fictional account of the life of storyteller Hans Christian Andersen. First, if you haven't read his stories, then you probably won't appreciate this movie as much as you should. It's a perfect excuse to read them with your family, then watch the movie. Second, if you're expecting a sophisticated, adult-oriented story, you will be disappointed; however, the morals to Hans' stories, as well as the movie's lessons, are very worthy. That said, the musical numbers are an absolute delight -- Danny Kaye never fails to deliver a wonderful performance, and where else can you learn to sing stories, instead of tell them, for your children? -- and the ballets are great for this venue. We even get to see the movie's choreographer dance in one of the numbers. This movie was nominated for several Oscars. It deserved those nominations. Don't skip this one, especially if you have small children.

A lot of the comments previously made here are true and this certainly isn't any kind of real biographical film of Hans Christian Anderson. But one must remember that Samuel Goldwyn was primarily making this film as children's entertainment. And on that level he succeeded brilliantly.In fact at the age of 5 in the cinema in Brooklyn this was the first movie on the big screen I ever remember seeing. My father was a big Danny Kaye fan so the whole family went to see it. And of course one of the first long-playing records we had in our house was the soundtrack to that film. Another reviewer said that Frank Loesser's score was the highlight for him in the film. I don't think Danny Kaye ever had better material to sing with on the screen. Up to this point he got by with stuff especially written for him by his wife Sylvia Fine. He proved here in Hans Christian Anderson that he could definitely succeed without it.Anyway when I view this film I'm five years old again. You will be too if you see it.