Hans Christian Andersen (1952)
A completely fabricated biography of the famous Danish fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen featuring several of his stories and a ballet performance of "The Little Mermaid".
Danny Kaye ... Hans Christian Andersen
Farley Granger ... Niels
Zizi Jeanmaire ... Doro (as Jeanmaire)
Joseph Walsh ... Peter (as Joey Walsh)
Philip Tonge ... Otto
Erik Bruhn ... The Hussar in "Ice Skating Ballet"
Roland Petit ... The Prince in 'The Little Mermaid' Ballet
John Brown ... Schoolmaster
John Qualen ... Burgomaster
Jeanne Lafayette ... Celine
Robert Malcolm ... Stage Doorman
George Chandler ... Gerta's Father
Fred Kelsey ... First Gendarme
DivX 5 / MP3
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044685/
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A fictional account of the life of storyteller Hans Christian Andersen.
First, if you haven't read his stories, then you probably won't appreciate this movie as much as you should. It's a perfect excuse to read them with your family, then watch the movie.
Second, if you're expecting a sophisticated, adult-oriented story, you will be disappointed; however, the morals to Hans' stories, as well as the movie's lessons, are very worthy. That said, the musical numbers are an absolute delight -- Danny Kaye never fails to deliver a wonderful performance, and where else can you learn to sing stories, instead of tell them, for your children? -- and the ballets are great for this venue.
We even get to see the movie's choreographer dance in one of the numbers. This movie was nominated for several Oscars. It deserved those nominations.
Don't skip this one, especially if you have small children.
* Moira Shearer was to have played la bella ballerina but had to withdraw when she discovered she was pregnant 
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