Hansel and Gretel (1954)
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Too much of everything
Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.
While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
Narrated by Paul Tripp, of The Christmas That Almost Wasn't fame, this is a 52 minute retelling of the classic story with sweet German kids and actors.It all looks like a slightly opened up stage play and is much too juvenile for adults. The trouble is its way too slow for kids who will go crazy waiting for something to happen. Its a time waster and something to make sick children fall asleep to, but not much beyond that. Still it has a bad mustache, a plastic snowman and a man in bear suit who may or may not be afraid of a stick.3 out of 10
"Hansel And Gretel" is another German-made live-action fairytale imported to the US in the '60s and released by Childhood Productions. Produced originally by Schongerfilm, it's a modest but good adaptation of the Grimm brothers story. The dubbing may be out of sync (as was usually the case in Childhood Productions imports) but the voices were well chosen, and a truly beautiful musical score by Milton Delugg was added. The production values are minimalist, to say the least, but otherwise it's enjoyable. Schongerfilm produced the wonderful "Snow White" also acquired by Childhood for American release. Most of these had original soundtrack albums issued at the time which are now collector's items.