Hans Christian Andersen

Samuel goldwyn spent many years planning for this film, reading scripts and testing actors. He finally chose Moss Hart's story and Danny Kaye to take the name part. He wanted songs and dances so he employed Frank Loesser as chief musician.

What la the final result? it is not a story of Hans Christian Andersen's life, but, apparently, a fairy tale with his life as a basis. This film is entertaining, but not always a fairy tale. True, there is picture-book scenery, a simple performance from Danny Kaye, music and dancing. But pure baking powder and fresh fruit when mixed do not necessarily make a good cake. It all depends upon the cook. Charles Vidor has produced a cake that is a little heavy, a film that is technically too perfect.

The film is almost solely a technician's piece The seta for the ballet sequences may, have been perfectly built, but they are unimaginative, almost ugly. The dances themselves can't make up their minds as to whether they should be Borovansky or Hollywood musical. The director has handled his actors as though he is primarily a painter. The actors have self-consciously moved left centre or right centre. The grouping is too perfect.

The saving grace of the film is Danny Kaye's performance. He doesn't plumb the depths, he doesn't try to. He is Danny rather than Hans, but he gives us a delightful mixture of charm and courtesy, simplicity and gaiety. He is well served by Frank Loesser's songs, which do a lot to brighten the show.

I am not condemning "Hans Christian Andersen." It is often very pretty to look at (but sometimes a little messy), very soothing to listen to. But there is always this invading atmosphere of heaviness. And it is a pity Moss Hart had to include the age-old Hollywood story of backstage quarrels between director and star. Danny Kaye is very keen to make "Huns Christian Andersen" into a fairy tale Scriptwriter Hart and Director Vidor don't do much to help him.

Grading: ***

—I.R.