The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm |
|
|---|---|
Souvenir program cover
|
|
| Directed by | Henry Levin George Pal (fairy tale sequences) |
| Produced by | George Pal |
| Screenplay by | Charles Beaumont William Roberts David P. Harmon |
| Story by | David P. Harmon |
| Starring | Laurence Harvey Claire Bloom Karlheinz Böhm Barbara Eden Walter Slezak Oscar Homolka Yvette Mimieux Russ Tamblyn Jim Backus Beulah Bondi Terry-Thomas Buddy Hackett |
| Music by | Leigh Harline Bob Merrill (songs) |
| Cinematography | Paul Vogel |
| Editing by | Walter A. Thompson |
| Studio | George Pal Productions Avernus Productions |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Cinerama Releasing Corporation |
| Release date(s) | August 7, 1962 |
| Running time | 135 minutes |
| Country | United States Germany |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $6.25 million or $6 million |
| Money made | $8,920,615 |
The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm is a 1962 American fantasy film. It was directed by Henry Levin and George Pal. George Pal also produced the movie. He was in charge of the cool stop-motion animation effects.
This film was very popular when it came out. It was one of the highest-earning movies of 1962. It even won an Oscar and was nominated for three more! Many famous actors are in the movie. These include Laurence Harvey, Karlheinz Böhm, Jim Backus, Barbara Eden, and Buddy Hackett. The movie was filmed using a special process called Cinerama. This made the picture appear very wide and curved on the screen.
Contents
What the Movie is About
The movie tells the story of the famous Grimm brothers, Wilhelm and Jacob. It mixes their real lives with magical fairy tales. The brothers are supposed to be writing a history book for a Duke. But Wilhelm is much more interested in collecting old fairy tales. He often spends their money to hear stories from local people.
Fairy Tales Come to Life
Some well-known fairy tales are part of the movie's main story. These include "The Dancing Princess" and "The Cobbler and the Elves". One tale is even told to three children in a book store. This helps the brothers decide if publishing fairy tales is a good idea.
Another story, "The Singing Bone", is told by an old woman in the forest. Wilhelm secretly listens to her through a window. This tale features an amazing jeweled dragon. It shows off some of the movie's best special effects.
The Brothers' Adventures
While collecting stories, Wilhelm accidentally loses the Duke's history book. It falls into a stream. Because of this, the brothers cannot finish their work on time. They also have to pay their rent, which was usually free while they worked.
Wilhelm gets very sick with pneumonia after trying to get the book back. He has a dream where fairy tale characters visit him. They ask him to name them before he dies. In his dream, Russ Tamblyn appears as Tom Thumb. Luckily, Wilhelm gets better and continues his fairy tale work.
His brother Jacob, who was worried about Wilhelm, starts helping him. Jacob usually writes other books, like a German grammar book. But now, they work together on the fairy tales.
Later, the brothers are invited to the Berlin Royal Academy. They are given an honorary membership. However, the invitation does not mention their fairy tales. Jacob plans to give a speech that will make fun of the Academy for ignoring Wilhelm's work.
But as their train arrives, many children gather. They chant, "We want a story!" Wilhelm smiles and begins, "Once upon a time, there were two brothers." The children cheer loudly. The movie ends with a message: "...and they lived happily ever after."
Meet the Cast
Here are some of the main actors and the characters they play:
- Laurence Harvey as Wilhelm Grimm and The Cobbler ("The Cobbler and the Elves")
- Karlheinz Böhm as Jacob Grimm
- Claire Bloom as Dorothea Grimm
- Walter Slezak as Stossel
- Barbara Eden as Greta Heinrich
- Oskar Homolka as The Duke
- Martita Hunt as Anna Richter (the storyteller)
- Yvette Mimieux as The Princess ("The Dancing Princess")
- Russ Tamblyn as The Woodsman ("The Dancing Princess") and Tom Thumb (in Wilhelm's dream)
- Jim Backus as The King ("The Dancing Princess")
- Terry-Thomas as Sir Ludwig ("The Singing Bone")
- Buddy Hackett as Hans ("The Singing Bone")
- Otto Kruger as The King at Ludwig's Trial ("The Singing Bone")
- Arnold Stang as Rumplestiltskin (in Wilhelm's dream)
- Hal Smith, Mel Blanc, Pinto Colvig, and Dal McKennon voiced The Puppetoons (The Elves in "The Cobbler and the Elves")
More About the Movie
Comic Book Fun
A comic book version of The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm was released in October 1962. It was published by Gold Key.
See also
In Spanish: El maravilloso mundo de los hermanos Grimm para niños
