Hansel and Gretel

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Hansel and Gretel: An Opera Fantasy is a stop motion animated film that was created in 1954 and released by RKO Radio Pictures. It is based on Engelbert Humperdinck's opera Hänsel und Gretel, and contains many musical numbers.read more

Hansel and Gretel: An Opera Fantasy is a stop motion animated film that was created in 1954 and released by RKO Radio Pictures. It is based on Engelbert Humperdinck's opera Hänsel und Gretel, and contains many musical numbers. It was the first American feature-length animated film not made by Disney since 1941's Mr. Bug Goes to Town. Anna Russell provides the voice of the witch, noted dramatic actress Mildred Dunnock (Death of a Salesman) provides the voice of Hansel and Gretel's mother, and several noted opera singers of the time provide the voices of the other characters. The film was sold to television only four years after it was released, where it became a Christmas season tradition on several affiliate stations. It was shown on NBC during the holiday season of 1987. This film is considered a cult classic, and has been distributed on VHS many times. A DVD was released in 2001, although the quality of the print is questionable. The puppets used in the film are called "kineman" characters. They took fifteen years to develop. The filmmakers used a secret chemical for "flesh" and "hair", and the characters had magnetized feet. They were also called "exemplary actors," and are able to duplicate natural movements, as well as a variety of facial expressions.

Original Release

10/10/1954

US Release

10/10/1954

Cast

(see additional cast & crew)

Directors

John Paul

Writers

Adelheid Wette, Padraic Colum, Wilhelm Grimm

Cast

Producers

Editors

James F. Barclay

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