Hans Christian Anderson Danny Kaye
August 22nd, 2008
Hans Christian Anderson is a 1952 Hollywood musical directed by Charles Vidor and starring Danny Kaye.
The story’s premise is deceptive. It sounds as though the movie should be about Hans Christian Anderson, and after a fashion it is; however the account of his tale has been highly fictionalized (much like the man’s life work), and is rather fanciful and romanticized. The story itself doesn’t claim to be anything more than”a fairytale about the storyteller”. Much of the action is directed through ballet and song.
As such Hans Christian Anderson is filled with songs, some of which have become favorites of Danny Kaye fans. Among them are “Anywhere I Wander”, “The Inch Worm”, “The Ugly Duckling” and “No Two People”.
The movie was a resounding success when it opened, and it was nominated for six academy awards (though it won none of them).