The Wonderful World of Brothers Grimm [Blu-ray]

Director: Henry Levin, George Pal Henry Levin

Overview

This long, 135-minute feature is divided into four different segments, three highlighting fairy tales and the first introducing the two Brothers Grimm. Wilhelm (Laurence Harvey) is the dreamer, and Jacob (Karl Boehm) is the practical one, and between them, some marvelous fairy tales develop. Seguing into the first tale about the "Dancing Princess," co-directors Henry Levin and George Pal -- also the producer -- allow their special-effects artists full rein. In-between dancing, the princess (Yvette Mimieux) falls in love with a charming woodsman (Russ Tamblyn). In the second story about the "Cobbler and the Elves," a Christmas miracle of dedicated labor helps the cobbler out when he most needs it. In the last story, a fire-breathing dragon threatens the kingdom until a lowly servant (Buddy Hackett) saves the day. One of the highlights of this production are the Puppetoons, and another is Cinerama -- three projectors working to create a three-paneled (sometimes visibly so), wide-screen panorama.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/29/2022
UPC:	0883929790180
Original Release:	1962
Rating:	G
Source:	Warner Archives
Language:	English
Time:	2:15:00
Sales rank:	16,087

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Laurence Harvey	Wilhelm Grimm/The Cobbler
Claire Bloom	Dorothea Grimm
Karl Boehm	Jacob Grimm,Actor
Walter Slezak	Stossel
Barbara Eden	Greta Heinrich
Oscar Homolka	The Duke
Arnold Stang	Rumpelstiltskin
Martita Hunt	Story Teller
Betty Garde	Miss Bettenhausen
Bryan Russell	Friedrich Grimm
Ian Wolfe	Gruber
Tammy Marihugh	Pauline Grimm
Cheerio Meredith	Mrs. von Dittersdorf
Walter Rilla	Priest
Russ Tamblyn	The Woodsman
Jim Backus	The King
Beulah Bondi	The Gypsy
Clinton Sundberg	The Prime Minister
Walter Brooke	The Mayor
Sandra Gale Bettin	The Ballerina
Robert Foulk	The Hunter
Buddy Hackett	Hans
Otto Kruger	The King
Robert Crawford Jr.	The Shepherd
Sydney Smith	The Spokesman
Walter Rilia	Priest
Yvette Mimieux	The Princess
Terry-Thomas	Ludwig
Karlheinz Böhm	Jacob Grimm
Peter Whitney	The Giant
Leigh Harline	Composer

Technical Credits

David P. Harmon

William Roberts

Charles Beaumont

Henry Levin	Director
George Pal	Director,Producer
David P. Harmon	Screenwriter
William Roberts	Screenwriter
Charles Beaumont	Screenwriter
Tim Barr	Special Effects
Wah Chang	Special Effects
Robert R. Hoag	Special Effects
Gene Warren	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

On the whole, The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm is far from wonderful, but there are some individual moments that fulfill the promise of the title. The marvelous gypsy dance in the "Dancing Princess" is sensual and energetic and features some stunning moves from Russ Tamblyn. The use of stop motion animation also is very rewarding, if variable -- and even if some current-day audiences will find it too primitive. (It is primitive, and yet it also has an undeniable charm -- especially when set in a fairy tale context, where the sometimes jerky movements are not as distracting as they would be in a more "realistic" sci-fi film.) And the resurrection of Buddy Hackett from a single bone is stunningly done. The puppetoons are especially winning during the "Cobbler and the Elves" sequence, and the dragon in the final sequence is impressive. The physical production as a whole is eye-popping, and Mary Wills' delightful costumes deserved their Oscar. On the down side, while the fairy tale sequences just barely avoid dragging, the wraparound "biographical" sequences are dully scripted -- and even more dully performed, especially by Laurence Harvey. Matters are not helped by Bob Merrill's annoying songs, which feature awkward lyrics and unimaginative (if catchy) melodies. Still, there's enough here to entertain children, and the occasional highlight that indicates how good the film could have been.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler