The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962)

The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm Poster

The Grimm brothers Wilhelm and Jacob, known for their literary works in the nineteenth century, have their lives dramatized. Wilhelm fights to write something entertaining amongst the sea of dry, non-fiction books they write and he sets about collecting oral-tradition fairy tales to put into print. Their life story is countered with reenactments of three of their stories including "The Dancing Princess," "The Cobbler and the Elves" and "The Singing Bone."

Introduction
"The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm" is a 1962 American fantasy film directed by Henry Levin and George Pal. It integrates live-action sequences with segments of stop-motion animated fairy tales and is based upon the real-life stories of the popular German folklorists Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. The film was the first fictional function film to be shot in the Cinerama widescreen process, which used three video cameras and 3 projectors to display images with greater depth and clearness than standard cinema screens.

Plot Summary
The film tells the story of the real-life Brothers Grimm, Jacob (Karlheinz Böhm) and Wilhelm (Laurence Harvey), who lived and worked in Germany throughout the early 19th century. The brothers had a hard time to find their real calling, with Jacob pursuing the research study of ancient German folk tales, while Wilhelm concentrated on ending up being a playwright. Throughout the film, the bros' lives are linked with reenactments of three of their most popular fairy tales: "The Dancing Princess", "The Cobbler and the Elves", and "The Singing Bone".

The Dancing Princess
The Dancing Princess informs the story of a king (Russ Tamblyn) who is astonished by the nighttime experiences of his child, Princess Eimear (Yvette Mimieux). Although she is locked in her room each night, somehow her slippers are constantly worn through by early morning. The king offers the hand of his child in marriage to anyone who can fix the secret. A young cobbler named David (Jim Backus) finds that the princess spends her evenings dancing in a wonderful forest inhabited by a wicked Tree Man (Terry-Thomas) who holds her captive. With the assistance of an unnoticeable cape, David releases Eimear, and they marry.

The Cobbler and the Elves
This animated series tells the story of the successful however overworked cobbler, Klaus (voiced by Paul Tripp). He owes his success to the fairies who work for him during the night while he sleeps. The Elves, weary of not being acknowledged for their work, choose to go on strike till Klaus shares his success with them. Through a series of occasions, Klaus, his spouse Helene, and the elves pertain to understand that their joy lies in collaborating and assisting those in need. The tale ends with the cobbler surrounded by family and friends, commemorating the real meaning of collaboration.

The Singing Bone
The Singing Bone is a macabre fairy tale including a singing bone, a dragon, and two siblings, Hans (Buddy Hackett) and Bertolt (Terry-Thomas). The bros trick the king and his court into thinking they have killed a dragon and take credit for the brave act, which was actually achieved by a bad roaming knight (Mark Damon). When a magical bone from the dragon starts to sing about the true hero, the king discovers the deceptiveness and punishes the deceitful bros. Ultimately, the knight's bravery and sincerity are rewarded, and he weds the king's daughter.

Conclusion
"The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm" is a vibrant and classic homage to the storytelling expertise of the famous Brothers Grimm. The film combines live-action series with ingenious animation to bring their ageless fairy tales to life. The film presents audiences to the intricacies of the Brothers Grimm's lives and their long-lasting passion for kids's literature. Showcasing the value of imagination, relationship, and sincerity, the film functions as a delightful household entertainment and a suggestion of the classic appeal of the Grimm brothers' fairy tales.

Top Cast

  • Laurence Harvey (small)
    Laurence Harvey
    Wilhelm Grimm / Cobbler (segment "The Cobbler and the Elves")
  • Karlheinz Böhm (small)
    Karlheinz Böhm
    Jacob Grimm
  • Claire Bloom (small)
    Claire Bloom
    Dorothea Grimm
  • Walter Slezak (small)
    Walter Slezak
    Stossel
  • Barbara Eden (small)
    Barbara Eden
    Greta Heinrich
  • Oskar Homolka (small)
    Oskar Homolka
    The Duke
  • Arnold Stang (small)
    Arnold Stang
    Rumpelstiltskin
  • Martita Hunt (small)
    Martita Hunt
    Anna Richter
  • Betty Garde (small)
    Betty Garde
    Miss Bettenhausen
  • Bryan Russell
    Friedrich Grimm
  • Ian Wolfe (small)
    Ian Wolfe
    Gruber