(#7 in a 12-part series to be printed at the beginning of each month)
Manny P. here… 
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN - A movie musical from Samuel Goldwyn, Hans Christian Andersen is truly a lost gem. It’s even forgotten by lovers of Danny Kaye motion pictures, and fans of the music of Frank Loesser. Yet, back in 1952, this motion picture was a sensation. It grabbed six Oscar nominations, and generations of kids grew up loving the fables of the Danish storyteller. His heartwarming tales of Thumbelina, The Ugly Duckling, and Inch Worm, put his village of Copenhagen on the map.
Back Story
Danny Kaye was Sam Goldwyn’s Golden Boy. His movies during the 1940s were among the most lucrative for the studio. With Virginia Mayo, he co-starred in Wonder Man, The Kid From Brooklyn, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and A Song is Born. In 1952, Goldwyn decided a fictional fantasy about the remarkable Dane should only be played by Danny Kaye. This piece of cinema was never intended to be an accurate biography.
Positives
Sam Goldwyn chose Frank Loesser as the composer for Hans Christian Andersen. Fresh from his triumph on Broadway with Guys and Dolls, Loesser was at the top of his game. His lyrics fit the comedic song stylings of Danny Kaye.
Moss Hart was a top playwright who was brought in to write the screenplay. His credits include You Can’t Take it With You (which won a Pulitzer Prize), The Man Who Came to Dinner, Gentleman’s Agreement, and the 1954 production of A Star is Born. Because he wrote Broadway shows, his magical words suited this particular production.
Negatives
Goldwyn failed to hire known actors to support Danny Kaye, with the exception of Farley Granger and John Qualen. Since Kaye was in most scenes, the script crackled. However, the motion picture doesn’t get due credit by today’s critics, mostly because of the uninspired performances by the supporting players.
Additionally, the choreography falls flat when compared to the music and lyrics. The ballet sequences get in the way of the plot. By comparison, the operatic scenes during A Night at the Opera with the Marx Brothers really compliment the dichotomy of the comedy, and it remains a bonafide classic.
Finally, the film almost never plays on Turner Classic Movies. My assumption is the Fox Movie Channel, watched in fewer homes, owns the rights to the picture. A real shame in my estimation.
Supporting Actor Spotlight
John Qualen was an accomplished actor, memorable in award-winning pictures. His face was very familiar in The Farmer Takes a Wife, Wife vs. Secretary, Knute Rockne All American, Out of the Fog, His Girl Friday, and particularly in The Devil and Daniel Webster, The Grapes of Wrath, Tortilla Flat, and Casablanca. He later appeared in The High and the Mighty, Anatomy of a Murder, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Elmer Gantry, 7 Faces of Dr. Lao, and Cheyenne Autumn.
Qualen was the treasurer of The Authors Club; and a historian of The Masquers, a famous social group for actors. He had a thirty-year membership in John Ford’s stock company, and was often hired by the director for small roles. His scenes in The Searchers were written with his character type in mind at Ford’s request.
Epilogue
Because of his popularity in 1952, Danny Kaye hosted the year’s Oscar ceremony. He later appeared in White Christmas with Bing Crosby, and The Court Jester (who many regard his finest moment in film) with Basil Rathbone.
Danny Kaye was knighted by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark in 1983 for his portrayal of Hans Christian Andersen. High praise for the unique comedian. He also received numerous honors, mostly for his unyielding work for UNICEF, including the Jean Hersholt Huminatian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1981, and a Kennedy Center Honor in 1984. Kaye also received the French Legion of Honor (Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur) in 1986. He was posthumously bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom just after his passing, the highest civilian honor. UNICEF’s New York Visitor’s Centre was re-named to remember Danny Kaye.
Danny Kaye should be remembered for his amazing talent and his unparalleled contributions to humanity. For an instant, he also allowed us to enjoy the simple stories of a Danish cobbler.
Until next time> “never forget”
Many thanks to family, and particularly, friends in karaoke, co-workers, and even bowlers at Westminster Lanes, who have all contributed in making sure that I rapidly reach the 100-sales mark in the first three weeks of distributing my latest paperback.
Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History has also been added at iconic locales, including the Hollywood Heritage Museum, the boutique at the Bevery Garland Hotel, the Crystal Cove gift shop, the store within the Richard J. Riordan Central Branch Public Library, and souvenir spots along Hollywood Blvd. And, consignment agreements from independent bookshops, such as Larry Edmunds and Gatsby’s in Long Beach, have been placed. Even the Pierside Gallery in Huntington Beach added copies of my new book to their inventory.
Amazon purchases should kick in soon. And, wholesale distribution should help guarantee early success for my latest work. January is a traditionally slow month for sales. However, we have hit the ground running, despite a sluggish national economic forecast in the first quarter of 2012. All of the indicators suggest that folks love Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History, which is gratifying news, indeed… Bulletins as they break!
The Keystone State of Pennsylvania has a location where you can order Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History (Book #1). Otto’s Bookstore allows you to order my first paperback on demand. Here’s a link to the literary shop that has been around for 170 years in the heart of Williamsport:
