'Hans Christian Andersen' Blu-Ray Review - Danny Kaye Brings An Iconic Storyteller To Life
Once upon a time, there lived in Denmark a young shoemaker named Hans Christian Andersen whose magical tales delighted boys and girls throughout the land. Danny Kaye 'is a delight' (Cue) as Hans, who one day journeys beyond the borders of his small village, across the sea and into the dazzling city of Copenhagen. There he encounters marvels and wonders beyond his wildest dreams…and finds the inspiration for some of his most unforgettable characters, such as The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, Thumbelina and many more! Nominated for six Oscars, Hans Christian Andersen is pure enchantment!
For thoughts on Hans Christian Andersen, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:
Video Quality
Warner Archive brought Hans Christian Andersen back in print to Blu-Ray in 2020 after first being released on Blu-Ray by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment in 2012. This disc is the exact one used in the original run, only brought back so you do not have to pay inflated prices on the second-hand market. The Samuel Goldwyn estate restored the film for this original release from a 2K scan on the Interpositive in a 1.37:1 aspect ratio that looks good but could likely look even better with modern restoration tools.
One of the most impressive aspects of the film is the vibrant array of colors within the costumes and settings that radiate off the screen with a lovely vibrancy. Every hue appears to be fairly accurate to its intended shade. Black levels showcase nice depth with respectable stability throughout, and highlights are bright without succumbing to any blooming. The restoration appears to have eliminated most dirt and damage for a clear picture. There do not appear to be any dastardly digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or other such nuisances. The level of detail and clarity is in fine shape with a faithful amount of natural film grain intact, yet there is a bit of softness at points due to coming from an Interpositive. We would love to see a 4K restoration in the future, but this disc holds up well enough.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a pleasant DTS-HD 1.0 Master Audio mono track that captures the material without issue. The star of the show is the music, and this track executes these elements with care. It balances the soft vocals with the accompanying dance numbers and music with great clarity. Dialogue comes through clearly with nothing overshadowed by competing elements. There are spectacular moments when the track is bustling with all of the competing elements, but the fidelity never comes up short. Warner Bros. has provided a strong presentation that avoids signs of age-related wear and tear. Optional English (SDH), French, and Spanish subtitles are provided.
Special Features
Theatrical Trailer (2:43)
Final Thoughts
Hans Christian Andersen is an amiable movie musical that takes a fictionalized look at the life of an iconic storyteller as brought to buoyant life by Danny Kaye. The narrative is understandably kid-friendly given the tales that he wrote, but there is a lack of complexity given to his struggles that falls in line with so-called biopics of the time. That being said, the glossy approach to the narrative does yield some entertaining numbers and some fine performances. Warner Archive has re-released a Blu-Ray featuring a pleasant A/V presentation but not much in the way of special features. Recommended
Hans Christian Andersen can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
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