Purely Joyful Movie!

Brilliant and touching

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Award-winning animation producers Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass, fresh from the success of the now-classic TV special RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, aimed extremely high for this ambitious live-action/animated musical fantasy. The story is a fictionalized account of the young life of Hans Christian Andersen, with Paul O'Keefe (Patty Lane's brother on the PATTY DUKE SHOW) as "Chris" and Jack Gilford (COCOON) as his Papa. Chris enters the animated stories of THE LITTLE MERMAID, THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES and THUMBELINA. There are also references to other Andersen tales like "The Garden of Paradise," "Big Claus" and "The Ugly Duckling." Even though some of the production values betray the fact that Executive Producer Joe Levine expected Mary Poppins but only provided a Tom Terrific budget, there is a lot to like in THE DAYDREAMER: a star-studded, perfectly selected voice cast, impressive AniMagic stop-motion art direction, and a knockout score by Maury Laws (check out "The Cartoon Music Book" on amazon.com) and Jules Bass. Fans of the late AL HIRSCHFELD will want to see the caricatured opening sequence; fans of THE WIZARD OF OZ will enjoy Margaret Hamilton's feisty cameo, fans of THE LORD OF THE RINGS will have fun comparing this to the Rankin/Bass production of THE HOBBIT released 11 years later and how far they had come since. Even Oleg Cassini designed the Emperor's New Clothes! The live-action sequences were directed by Ezra Stone, who starred as Henry Aldrich on radio and by that time was directing THE MUNSTERS. If you visited the 1964 World's Fair, look for the Denmark pavilion doubling for the streets of Odense.

Delightful musical feature with thought-provoking lessons for both children and adults alike. A magical opening with Ritchard's "Sandman" sets the tone for an equally magical adventure through the mind of Hans Christhian Anderson. A memorable all-star cast accompanied by a whimsical score (who could resist "Isn't It Cozy Here!!"??). Not as good as Rankin/Bass' classic Christmas specials, but a winner, nonetheless.

The charismatic storyteller from Denmark was never quite like this, but it is none-the-less a profound and entrancing time capsule of fantasy spun with gossamer whole-cloth from the 1960's era. What it doesn't convey with staging and costume and storyline it equally expresses with what it leaves out from the whole of historical relation. The balance weighs it as entertaining, but it is also quite educational. Simply put, keep this one in your collection and pull it out when you feel like retreating into the younger years of a bygone age.

Out of all the animated features that Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass produced throughout the 1960's and 1970's for that manner,this one entitled "The Daydreamer" was very stale for its premise,and one of the most boring. This one which features claymation and live action sequences.It concerns a boy and his wanderings around the dreams of being with the characters (based on an anthology of stories by Hans Christian Anderson) to find adventures whereever he goes. The only thing that saves this film is Maury Laws' brilliant score along with several of the songs in which the characters that lend their voices to the songs can't save this film,and it loses interest very quickly. Great for the kids,but for older children and adults,be forewarned. If you liked good children's material from the team of Rankin and Bass,I highly suggest getting a tape of "Rudolph:The Red Nose Reindeer",and be satisfied.