MovieChat Forums > Hans Christian Andersen (1953) Discussion > Has classic Danny Kaye charm but weird i...

Has classic Danny Kaye charm but weird in some sections!

posted 11 years ago by OliviaF
5 replies | jump to latest

I enjoyed the classic Danny Kaye charm in this movie (storytelling, singing, funny facial expressions) but I stopped enjoying it when it became soppy and melodramatic (ie too much background violin music!!!)

Yes we are supposed to feel that Hans has become infatuated with the the twirling ballerina, and this in fact, is mirrored in Hans' story "The Brave Tin Soldier". But in this movie, I cared nothing for these characters, and Hans comes across as arrogant and obsessive - much like the husband of the ballerina whom he despises.

Peter's reaction was spot on - like the child calling out the Emperor for his foolishness - but overall I found the ballerina love tangent to be very strange, and quite frankly, boring.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] mjkbk 10 years ago

Then I guess it's a good thing the audiences in 1952 weren't made up of 21st century viewers.

I mean, who ever heard of orchestral music with VIOLINS in it, right? Franz Liszt--what a soppy, melodramatic composer, yuck! Darn it, why couldn't they have scored this one with electric guitars?

I was in a movie theater audience when I saw this film at the age of 4. The songs, the ballet, the beautiful, colorful design of the film, even the violins and the sappy melodrama.....I loved it! Just as I loved "The Red Shoes" (Andersen again) and "An American in Paris" in my earliest years (and I'm still quite fond of them).

That's because the film was primarily designed for the kids (and their families) of its era, the 1950s.....when most of us had not learned to consider things like ballerinas and violin music to be dull.

[–] puirt-a-beul 9 years ago

It's a strange hybrid, to be sure.

I really want to like it, because I've always loved both Danny Kaye and Frank Loesser, but some of the more adult content (the ugliness of Farley Granger's character, and his behaviour towards Zizi Jeanmaire as his wife) is strangely unpleasant and sits very awkwardly in a musical, especially one seemingly aimed at kids.

I know it's unfair to judge a film by prevailing sensibilities of several generations later, but I still flinch at conversations where, for instance, Peter says "they beat each other ... it's kinda crazy" and excuses Niels slapping Doro because "they're married".

Was all that some attempt to provide material the adults could respond to? If so, it's very odd.

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

[–] rorystevens 9 years ago

In real life, wasn't Hans Christian Andersen in love with a MALE ballet dancer named Harald Scharff?

[–] louiseculmer 8 years ago

i love the songs, but the plot is disappointing. I don't understand why they didn't use the real story of hans andersen, which is interesting enough. This made up story is a bit lame I think. they made a stage musical in the 70s which used the songs but dropped the story in favour of a plot based on Andersen's actual life, which I thought was much better.