Harrison's Reports (1962)

114 HARRISON'S REPORTS July 28, 1962 "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm" with Laurence Harvey, Claire Bloom, Karl Boehm, Barbara Eden, Walter Slezak, Oscar Homolka, Yvette Mimieux, Russ Tamblyn, Jim Backus, Buddy Hackett (M-G-M-Cinerama, August; 129 mins.) EXCELLENT. "Once upon a time," there were two brothers who believed that children's laughter was the sweet, soft, soothing obligato to the grownup's orchestration of days he shall never forget. They were Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm who were supposed to be writers of the serious history of a kingdom. The life they lived, and the wonders they performed were made into a book by Dr. Herman Gerstner titled "Die Bruder Grimm." Many years later, a man still drenched in the dreams that a schoolboy's tale can be the wonder of the hour on a movie screen (Joseph R. Vogel, president of M-G-M) and another enterprising man of dream-drenched reality, (Nicholas Reisini, bossman of Cinerama) decided to make a motion picture of the tale. They called it "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm." They called in one of the more brilliant producerdirectors of the world's magic city of make-believe (Hollywood) George Pal, and told him to make a movie of these brothers Grimm. "Make it in Cinerama," said Mr. Reisini, "and don't spare the horses (millions) . This will be the first full-length story ever done in Cinerama in the ten years of its existence," said the present caretaker of the wonder-process. and so, many months later, more than 400 people from all corners of the earth (newspapermen, theatre operators, opinion makers) gathered in Denver, Colo., to see for the very first time the finished product. And, for all their professionally hardened approach to the never-ceasing wonders that are developed in this great motion picture industry every so often, they will be talking about "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm," as produced in Cinerama, for a long time to come. The story spread itself across the circular screen stretching from wall to wall with a grandeur and beauty that gave new meaning to movie-going. If to the film industry has fallen an almost sacred heritage of creating an ever greater nature of motion picture entertainment, this multi-million dollar venture has not only met the challenge and kept its obligation, but has set a pace that will keep it in the forefront for many an innovation to come. - and so, we find ourselves in the year 1812 in a small Bavarian village. Wilhelm (Laurence Harvey) ad his brother Jacob (Karl Boehm) arc at work. It is the history of the local Duke's (Oscar Homolka) family. Jacob is serious, but Wilhelm is not for this kind of dull stuff. His pen is for fairy tales. His creative mind is in a different world altogether. From flower-women, old ladies with stories for the young he gets his kind of make-believe. The serious Jacob loses patience with his brother. In fact, they find themselves in trouble with the Duke when they come back without an additional manuscript about a forii member of the Duke's family. In the meantime, Wilhelm (Harvey) takes sick. His doctor says it's serious. One night he lapses into unconsciousness. Strange dreams possess him. All those fairy tale people he met through the stories of the old ladies come to life as they enter his room through an open window. There is tender poignancy in their plea that he live, for if he dies they will never be born. He gives them names, Snow White and her Seven Dwarfs, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretal, et al. Wilhelm lives, recovering slowly from his illness. Great joy descends upon the village and its young people. - and so, there is work to be done. The brothers plunge into their unfinished task. Their books are accepted by schools, colleges, families everywhere. They are appointed to the Berlin Academy. Their worries are over. Their hard days are beyond them. Jacob (Boehm) will marry lovely Barbara Eden. Wilhelm is already happily married to Claire Bloom and the father of two children. The film is made up of four segments: "The Dream Sequence of the Book," "The Dancing Princess," "The Cobbler and the Elves," and "The Singing Bone." The sequences are welded together smoothly enough not to make the episodic approach to the complete story too obvious. and now, for well deserved credits, salutes and accolades to the men and women before and behind the cameras. Outstanding for a superior production job is George Pal. In addition to producing this mammoth vehicle of enthralling entertainment, he also worked with Henry Levin on direction. Of all the performances that endear themselves to this viewer, it seems that the first salute must go to Laurence Harvey. For all the number of co-stars, principals and support, there isn't a link of weakness in the strong chain that binds the talent to the tale. Claire Bloom is lovely and sympathetically understanding. Karl Boehm's seriousness is taken seriously and his approach to the role is in proper, sharp contrast to that of Harvey's. Miss Eden, Walter Slezak, Homolka, Miss Martita Hunt, Arnold Stang, Yvette Mimieux (as the ethereal princess) Russ Tamblyn, Jim Backus, Beulah Bondi, Buddy Hackett, all turn in satin-smooth jobs of professional perfection. - and so, you see for all the severity of our reviews of new product finds us cheering lustily for this entry. In the ten years since Cinerama, in episodic travelogue form, burst forth upon us, you were given to wonder, sometimes whither was it going. Now, you appreciate that it has arrived as a strong medium of complete story telling. It has grown up and reached a maturity in the realm of motion picture entertainment that will give the whole film industry a lift beyond imagination. To be sure, there are a few minor faults that are hardly worth mentioning. As the vast story space (the screen) stretches itself from wall to wall and picks up the transmission from the projectors, with the aid of a softer Technicolor, it emerges like a huge canvass upon which the paintings of makebelieve come to life. It is a truly great achievement and a sheer joy for all (both young and old) to behold. - and, that is why all those connected with it will have reason to go along with the Brothers Grimm when their story was told, and also say, now that the M-G-M-Cinerama undertaking is an accomplished fact, " and they lived happily ever after." Produced by George Pal; directed by Henry Levin and Pal; screenplay by David P. Harmon, Charles Beaumont, William Roberts from screen story by ! larmon based on "Die Bruder Grimm" by Dr. Herman Gerstner. General patronage.