Hans Christian Andersen (film) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hans Christian Andersen
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Charles Vidor
Produced by	Samuel Goldwyn
Written by	Moss Hart
Story by	Myles Connolly
Starring	Danny Kaye Farley Granger Zizi Jeanmaire
Music by	Walter Scharf Frank Loesser
Cinematography	Harry Stradling
Editing by	Daniel Mandell
Studio	Samuel Goldwyn Productions
Distributed by	RKO Radio Pictures
Release date(s)	November 25, 1952 (1952-11-25) (Premiere-New York City) December 19, 1952 (1952-12-19) (US)
Running time	120 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$4 million
Money made	$6 million (US and Canada rentals)

The film Hans Christian Andersen is a musical movie from 1952. It was directed by Charles Vidor and features music and songs by Frank Loesser. The story was created by Myles Connolly, and the screenplay was written by Moss Hart. Samuel Goldwyn Productions produced the film, which stars Danny Kaye.

This movie is inspired by the life of Hans Christian Andersen. He was a famous Danish poet and writer from the 1800s. He wrote many well-known fairy tales. However, the film is not a true biography. Instead, it's a fictional story, like a fairy tale itself. The movie's introduction calls it "not the story of his life, but a fairy tale about this great spinner of fairy tales." In the film, Danny Kaye plays Andersen as a kind cobbler from a small town. He has a childlike heart and a wonderful imagination.

A big part of the movie is told through songs and ballet dances. It includes many of Andersen's most famous stories. You will see parts of The Ugly Duckling, Thumbelina, The Emperor's New Clothes, and The Little Mermaid. When the film was first released, it was very popular around the world.

Story of the Film

The movie takes place in the 1830s in Odense, a small town in Denmark. Hans Christian Andersen is a cobbler who loves to tell fairy tales. He shares his stories with the village children. Through his imaginative characters, he teaches them about being proud, being humble, and growing up.

One day, the strict schoolmaster complains about Hans. He thinks Hans is wasting the students' time with his stories. The schoolmaster asks the town leaders to stop Hans from distracting the children. But even the adults in the town enjoy Hans's fables. Hans agrees to stop bothering the children and goes back to his shop. His young assistant, Peter, an orphan, asks Hans to stop causing trouble.

Later, Hans goes back to the schoolhouse to see the children. He hears them repeating math facts. He compares this to an inchworm that only measures flowers. He feels the schoolmaster misses the beauty and creativity in life. The next day, the children do not come to school when the bell rings. The schoolmaster realizes Hans is distracting them again. He tells the town leaders they must choose between him and Hans. They decide Hans must leave Odense.

Peter sees this decision. He secretly tries to help Hans avoid being exiled. He suggests Hans travel to Copenhagen, a famous city. Peter convinces Hans to leave that afternoon. He tells Hans he will be the first from their town to visit Copenhagen. Soon after Hans starts his journey, Peter joins him. He brings all their tools to start their cobbler business again.

After a trip by sea, Hans and Peter arrive at Copenhagen's harbor. They find their way to the Great Square. It is full of people selling flowers, pots, and food. Hans sets up his shop and introduces himself to the crowd. He stands on a statue of the king. Police arrest him for disrespecting the king's image. Peter hides near the Royal Theatre. He overhears a choreographer named Niels asking for a cobbler. Peter asks them to free his friend, the cobbler, from jail.

Meanwhile, Hans sees a lonely girl outside his jail cell. He draws a puppet on his thumb and calls it "Thumbelina." This makes the girl smile. Soon, the theater company bails Hans out of jail. He is taken to the theater. There, he is amazed by the beauty of a Royal Danish Ballet rehearsal. Niels, the choreographer, criticizes the lead ballerina, Doro. She complains that her shoes need fixing.

Doro gives her ballet slippers to Hans. Hans is immediately charmed by her. After Hans leaves, Peter learns that Niels and Doro are married. They are a happy couple, even with their arguments about the theater. When Hans returns, Niels is upset with Doro's performance. Doro starts to cry. Hans learns they are married. He imagines he can save Doro from her "cruel" husband, Niels.

Later, Peter explains that Niels and Doro are truly in love. Hans doesn't want to believe it. He writes a story for Doro called "The Little Mermaid." In the story, he suggests she has chosen the wrong person. That night, Peter secretly reads the letter. A gust of wind blows it from his hands. It flies into the theater through an open window. A doorman finds it and gives it to Doro. The next morning, Peter tells Hans that Doro has the letter. Hans thinks this is a good sign.

The next day, the ballet company leaves for their annual tour. Hans feels sad, but he soon finds comfort telling stories to new children. One day, a sad boy named Lars stays behind. Other children have teased him. Hans tells Lars the story of an ugly duckling. The duckling is left out by others. But when the ice melts, he sees his reflection and realizes he has become a beautiful swan. When Hans is not with the children, he makes many colorful satin slippers for Doro. He dreams of her.

One day, Hans gets an invitation from the Gazette newspaper. Lars's father, the publisher, thanks Hans for helping his son. He offers to publish "The Ugly Duckling" in the newspaper. Hans is overjoyed. He asks for his name to be changed from "Hans, the cobbler" to "Hans Christian Andersen." He runs down the street, proudly singing his full name.

That evening, the ballet company returns. Doro tells Hans they have created a ballet based on his story "The Little Mermaid." Hans believes this means she loves him. The next evening, Peter reminds Hans about the town leaders' decision. He warns Hans that Doro will also disappoint him. Hans is upset with Peter's attitude. He suggests they go their separate ways and leaves for the ballet's opening night.

Hans tries to deliver Doro's slippers backstage. Niels locks Hans in a closet to stop him from bothering the performers. Hans listens to the music and dreams of his story. On stage, the ballet begins. Mermaids float in the ocean. A ship carrying a handsome prince sinks. The littlest mermaid helps the unconscious prince to the surface, saving his life. She falls in love with him. She asks sea witches to turn her into a woman so she can find the prince on land. She arrives at the palace during a masquerade ball. She dances with the prince, but he is interested in someone else. Heartbroken, the mermaid returns to the sea.

The morning after the ballet, Doro sends for Hans. She realizes he admires her and has misunderstood her relationship with Niels. Niels accidentally interrupts their talk. He offers to pay Hans for "The Little Mermaid." Hans refuses the money to save face. He pretends his writing was just luck. Doro kindly accepts the slippers Hans made for her and lets him leave. On the road back to Odense, Hans meets Peter. They become friends again. When they reach town, Hans is greeted as a celebrity. He tells his now famous moral tales to the citizens, including the schoolmaster.

Main Characters

Movie Songs

The film features many songs with words and music by Frank Loesser.

• "The King's New Clothes"
• "The Inch Worm"
• "I'm Hans Christian Andersen"
• "Wonderful Copenhagen"
• "Thumbelina"
• "The Ugly Duckling"
• "Anywhere I Wander"
• "No Two People"

A special recording of the film's songs was released. It featured Danny Kaye, Jane Wyman, and a chorus singing the songs. This album also included two songs by Sylvia Fine made just for the album. They were "Uncle Pockets" and "There's a Hole at the Bottom of the Sea." Danny Kaye also narrated two Tubby the Tuba stories.

Awards and Recognition

Hans Christian Andersen was nominated for six Academy Awards. These awards included:

• Best Color Cinematography (how the movie was filmed)
• Best Art Direction and Set Decoration (Color)
• Best Costume Design (Color)
• Best Scoring of a Musical Picture (for Walter Scharf's music)
• Best Song (for Thumbelina)
• Best Sound Recording

The film is also recognized by the American Film Institute on these lists:

• 2004: AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs:
  • "Thumbelina" – Nominated
• 2006: AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals – Nominated

First TV Showing

The film was first shown on TV by ABC-TV in 1966. The movie was too long for a two-hour TV slot. So, ABC decided not to cut any parts of it. Instead, they presented it as a family special that lasted two and a half hours. Victor Borge was the host. He was chosen because, like the real Hans Christian Andersen, he was Danish.

See also

In Spanish: Hans Christian Andersen (película) para niños