Hans Christian Andersen Movies
Originally conceived as a TV miniseries (but generally shown in a single three-hour installment), this lavish adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen stars Bridget Fonda as the icy-hearted title character. Arriving incognito at the alpine inn run by a man named Wolfgang (Robert Wisden), the embittered Snow Queen makes it her mission in life to ruin all chances of romance for Wolfgang's beautiful daughter, Gerda (Chelsea Hobbs). To this end, the Queen exercises her magic over Gerda's bellhop boyfriend Kai (Jeremy Guilbaut), literally freezing the boy in his tracks. In order to save her beloved, Gerda must undertake a grueling odyssey through the Four Seasons (each of them briefly appearing in human form), culminating in a final, frigid showdown with the spiteful Snow Queen. After its December 7, 2002 debut on the Hallmark cable network, The Snow Queen was almost immediately released in a deluxe DVD edition. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bridget Fonda
- 2000
This animated version of Hans Christian Andersen's The Emperor's New Clothes stays faithful to the source material. Two con-men attempt to rip off the vain emperor and humiliate him by having him parade through town in his underwear. The common folk, afraid to incur the wrath of the king, act as if he is dressed resplendently. Only a young boy has the good sense to speak the truth. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 1999
- G
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Initially released to IMAX theaters at the crescendo of millennial fever and 60 years after the original Fantasia, Fantasia 2000 was meant to revitalize Walt Disney's goal of a constantly evolving film, with new segments replacing old ones with each re-release. Only The Sorcerer's Apprentice remains, with seven new shorts. Angular, abstracted butterfly-like shapes fly through the air in Beethoven's Symphony No. 5; computer-animated whales take flight in Respighi's Pines of Rome; Al Hirschfeld's caricatures of New York life come alive in George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue; Hans Christian Andersen's The Steadfast Tin Soldier is retold with computer animation against Dmitri Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2, Allegro, Opus 102; frantic flamingos try to stop their yo-yoing comrade in Camille Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals, Finale; Donald and Daisy Duck play Noah and his wife trying to manage the ark to Sir Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance; and the cycle of life, death, and rebirth are celebrated in Stravinsky's Firebird Suite. ~ Emru Townsend, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Martin, Itzhak Perlman, (more)
The voices of Carol Channing, John Hurt, Jodi Benson and Gilbert Gottfried help bring this wonderful Hans Christian Andersen story to life. Barry Manilow contributed heavily to the film's music. Children still seem to enjoy this story about a young girl who was the size of a human thumb. She was kidnapped by a toad, just when she hoped to continue her life with Cornelius the Fairy Prince. This is a good "family film" with few, if any, parts that might be considered questionable for children. Kids are likely to enjoy how Gilbert Gottfried does the voice of a strange beetle and how Carol Channing breathes life into Ms. Fieldmouse. ~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jodi Benson, Carol Channing, (more)
- 1994
This surreal Spanish film offers a liberal re-tooling of Hans Christian Andersens' tale "The Story of the Mother," which follows a mother's quest through a maze-like forest as she seeks to retrieve her child from Death. This version of the tale is set in a violent and crime filled European city. It is run by a powerful business man called Grande Mierda, or GM for short. GM determines the life and death of the city's people. But while he may control the fate of others, GM cannot control his own impending death. From his deathbed, he agrees to grant his daughter, Laura, her fondest birthday wish. He will have her estranged mother murdered. To find her, GM engages the Detective. The rebellious Detective is unlikely to kill the wayward mother and so GM engages the evil Dark Man to follow him. In his search, the Detective meets a sad mother with a sick baby. She follows him, believing that the Detective can lead her to GM whom she wishes to bargain with for her son's life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Javier Bardem, Maria de Medeiros, (more)
- 1991
From the story by Hans Christian Andersen, this tells of two sly tailors and a very vain King. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1990
A vain king gets his comeuppance at the hands of two con artists in this compilation of stories that also includes "Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears" and "Suho and the White Horse." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1990
This is a futuristic, animated adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen tale. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
Disney's The Little Mermaid was the first in a series of blockbusters that restored the venerable firm's reputation as the world's premiere animated-feature factory. The title character is a precocious teenager named Ariel, the daughter of Triton, king of the Sea. Against her dad's wishes, Ariel journeys beyond her own world to the surface, where she falls in love with Prince Eric, a handsome human. Foolishly, the little mermaid enters into an agreement with evil sea witch Ursula in order to become human herself. The wistfully melancholy ending of the original Hans Christian Andersen story is dispensed with in favor of a joyously happy ending-but not before a spectacular climactic confrontation between Ursula and Triton. The obligatory Disney comic relief is handled by such freshly minted characters as Sebastian the Crab, who, courtesy of voiceover artist Samuel E. Wright, sings the film's Oscar-winning "Under the Sea." Other voices are provided by Broadway star Jodi Benson (as Ariel) and such Hollywood reliables as Buddy Hackett, Pat Carroll, Kenneth Mars, and Rene Auberjonois. The enormous box-office take of The Little Mermaid made possible such future Disney cartoon ventures as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, (more)
- 1988
One of Hans Christian Andersen's most moving tales comes to life in this animated video. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1987
Featuring exquisite illustrations, innovative music by composer Mark Isham, and the lively reading of Glenn Close, this version of Hans Christian Andersen will delight the entire family. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
This witty version of Hans Christian Anderson's moral tale of a king whose vanity makes him an easy mark for con artists, features Sid Caesar and Art Carney. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sid Caesar, Clive Revill, (more)
- 1987
Keshia Knight-Pulliam stars as the title character, an orphaned waif of the 1920s who helps instill the Christmas spirit into a contentious New England family. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Hans Christian Andersen's touching fairy tale is brought to life in this video. Narrated by Cher and featuring the music of famed harpist Patrick Ball, The Ugly Ducking is the story of a little duckling who looks different from his peers. He is constantly ridiculed, until he grows up and discovers that he is a beautiful swan. One of the first children's stories to encourage self-esteem and racial acceptance, this story can be used in preschool curriculums for community and feelings units. Rabbit Ears videos are quality productions that feature artwork from the original books, performances from major talent, and original music from the industry's finest musicians. ~ Heather M. Fierst, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cher
- 1984
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Mork and Mindy's Pam Dawber plays the title role in this hour-long adaptation of The Little Mermaid. This is the tale of a beautiful young mermaid with an exquisite singing voice, who falls in love with a human being. To gain "human-hood" herself, she must give up all that she holds dear-including her voice. The spirit of the original Hans Christian Andersen story is strictly adhered to, with some delightfully anachronistic interpolations. Ms. Dawber is ably supported by such reliables as Brian Dennehy, Karen Black, Treat Williams and Helen Mirren. The Little Mermaid was originally telecast on the Showtime cable service as part of the Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This is a musical adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen tale. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1983
This is a production of Hans Christian Andersen's Red Shoes, as performed by the Children's Theatre Company and School of Minneapolis. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1979
This symbolic drama is loosely based on a somber story from Hans Christian Andersen. Daniel Duval plays Death, not in the usual grim reaper sense but merely as a man in a grey flannel suit. The Mother (Anna Karina) offers her hair to a guardian of Death's Garden, her eyes to a vehement protest marcher, and her embrace to a man who is freezing. Death allows the Mother to get past her grief as her son lays dying. Tove Maes plays the Kindergarten Teacher, with Bodil Udsen as the Lady Janitor and Gustaf Hagstroem as the ill-fated child. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anna Karina, Daniel Duval, (more)
- 1979
Set in present-day London, this uneven children's film from director Christine Edzard is divided into three different stories. In the first tale the kitchen utensils and objects come alive and have their own discussion when the occupants of the house are gone. In the second, the Little Match Girl suffers an impecunious existence in London's East End. And in the last story, a love of dancing is embodied in the performances of two dancers from the Royal Ballet (Lesley Collier as a princess, and Graham Fletcher as Prince Potato). Other dancers take on the roles of garden variety vegetables in undoubtedly one of their more unusually costumed performances. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Murray Melvin, Ann Firbank, (more)
