DVDs:

	Hansel and Gretel: An Opera Fantasy Anna Russell, Mildred Dunnock View Video, 2001 average customer review:based on 15 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Composed by Englebert Humperdinck
Conducted by Franz Aller
Directed by Michael Meyerberg
Starring Anna Russell as The Witch
and Constance Brigham, Mildred Dunnock, Frank Rogier

Hansel and Gretel came to life in 1954 as never before, in this kinemin* animated feature set to Englebert Humperdinck's classic 1893 opera. Sung by some of the most acclaimed performers of the day, this score was nominated for a Grammy Award.

With brilliant imagination and unprecedented technical wizardry-comparable only to Walt Disney's Fantasia-this production uses 35 hand-sculpted dolls and lavish sets to create a fantasy land of unearthly beauty, inhabited by characters of unparalleled charm.

V.I.E.W. Video is proud to present this definitive production of Hansel and Gretel. A masterpiece of melodic beauty, whimsical story and magical settings that will delight children and the whole family.

*The kinemen characters took over 15 years to develop. Compounded of intricate armatures a secret chemical mixture for "flesh," human hair, magnetized feet and truly human personalities; they are "exemplary actors," able to duplicate natural movements of the human body, and with a variety of facial expressions that surpass the range of humans.

DVD BONUS FEATURES
The Making Ofâ?¦ Featurette Movie
Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Digitally Mastered Audio & Video
Multi-Directional Interactive Menus
Instant Chapter Access to Songs
Over 30 Scene Selections
Composer Biography
Story Synopsis

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A childhood favorite of mine!

I recently ordered this DVD. I was surprised when I found out that it had been released on DVD. You have no idea. I went nuts. I used to watch this over and over again when I was younger. My mother had bought a VHS copy of this at Wal Mart. Watched it all the time, and then it accidentally got sold at a yard sale. Don't know how that happened, but it did. Anyways, ever since then, I had always looked for a copy, but could never find one until now.

This is one of the best children's films ever produced, and the best claymation production ever...well, this and The Nightmare Before Christmas. It may look dated, but we have to remember that it WAS made in the '50s. Anna Russell still cracks me up as the voice of Rosina Rubylips, the witch. The entire vocal cast is excellent! I LOVE THIS FILM!

The only problem with the DVD is this: It looks as though someone took a VHS and transferred it over to a DVD. The sound isn't that great at times, either. Since this is the only version available at the moment, it will have to do. When (and if) they do finally remaster it and clean it up, I'll buy a new version of it. As of now, I'll settle with this one.

There is also a ten minute "making of" feature on here. Pretty interesting. If you grew up with this, and you love it like I do, buy it. I don't see any signs of a new DVD version coming out any time soon.

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Superb Movie-Definitely Recommend!

I would definitely recommend this movie to children of all ages. It is a great classic and I remember watching it as a child in the mid-80's. This is a movie I am very happy to buy once again!


My Introduction to Opera

This still remains one of my favorite movies. Alright, the bad quality of the transfer I'll concede, but the actual movie itself? Entrancing. I guess you could call this the "good parts" version of Hansel and Gretel. It holds the most beautiful of Humperdinck's songs, but there is still a lot of spoken dialogue as well, which is probably a little easier for kids to handle. And yes, Anna Russell is amazingly funny!!

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Chiefly for those who like Disney's Fantasia

This is not an opera, nor a cartoon version of an opera.

What it is, is an animated film of the story of Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, presented in the style of Walt Disney's Fantasia. The artists made little figures, with such amazing detail that it allows for facial expressions and movement, and then took more than 140,000 pictures of them to give them movement and life. It makes for a very unusual presentation--neither cartoon nor real people.

It appeals to mainly two groups: those looking for an introduction to the opera or story of Hansel and Gretel, and those interested in a movie like Disney's "Fantasia."

Oh, I should have said THREE groups: there is also a growing interest in this as a camp movie (like the Rocky Horror Picture Show). Most of this comes as a result of love for the great operatic comedienne, Anna Russell, who was in this production the delightfully camp voice of the witch, Rosina Rubylips.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3

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