The Daydreamer

The Daydreamer (1966), starring  Hayley Mills,  Tallulah Bankhead,  Burl Ives,  Victor Borge,  Terry-Thomas,  Ed Wynn,  Patty Duke,  Ray Bolger,  Boris Karloff,  Margaret Hamilton,  Cyril Ritchard,  Jack Gilford

Product Description

The Daydreamer, experience one of Rankin-Bass’ best-loved theatrical movies, filmed in an enchanting combination of live-action and stop-motion animation, as young Hans Christian Andersen daydreams his way to adventure through his most famous fairy tales. In ‘The Little Mermaid’ everyone’s favorite girl of the sea (Hayley Mills) must triumph over the evil Sea Witch (Tallulah Bankhead) with a little help from Father Neptune (Burl Ives). In ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ a pair of villainous tailors (Victor Borge and Terry-Thomas) create a surprising new outfit for a gullible king (Ed Wynn). The fun continues with Patty Duke as Thumbelina, Ray Bolger as The Pieman, Boris Karloff as a sinister rat, Margaret Hamilton as the mean Mrs. Klopplebobbler, and much more in this timeless kids’ classic.

Editorial review of The Daydreamer courtesy of  Amazon.com

Not only does the incurably sleepy Hans “Chris” Andersen dream in full color, this future storyteller also dreams in “Animagic.” From the award-winning team that delights youngsters annually with their 1964 classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass), The Daydreamer blends animated, roly-headed puppets with live-action talent including Jack Gilford (Cocoon) and Margaret Hamilton (The Wizard of Oz).

A hunger for knowledge sends young Chris Andersen searching for the elusive Garden of Paradise. But the Sandman (a wavy shadow, voiced by Cyril Ritchard) casts Chris into a magical puppet world where he breaks a little mermaid’s heart, humiliates an emperor, and causes big trouble for tiny Thumbelina. Screen favorites like Hayley Mills, Tallulah Bankhead, Burl Ives, and Boris Karloff lend their voices to the fantasy. Best suited for sentimental Rudolph fans and kids who adore lengthy song-and-dance classics like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, this visual candy store runs 99 minutes. (Ages 6 and older) –Liane Thomas

Cast of characters

• Paul O’Keefe as ‘Chris’ (Hans Christian Andersen)
• Jack Gilford (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) as Papa Andersen
• Margaret Hamilton (The Wizard of Oz) as Mrs. Klopplebobbler
• Sessue Hayakawa (The Bridge on the River Kwai) as The Mole
• Patty Duke (The Miracle Worker) as Thumbelina
• Boris Karloff (Mad Monster Party) as The Rat
• Hayley Mills (The Parent Trap) as The Little Mermaid
• Burl Ives (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) as Father Neptune
• Tallulah Bankhead (Lifeboat) as The Sea Witch
• Victor Borge as The Second Tailor
• Ed Wynn (Cinderfella, Mary Poppins) as The Emperor
• Ray Bolger (Babes in Toyland) as The Pieman
• Cyril Ritchard as The Sandman
• Terry-Thomas (Munster Go Home!) as The First Tailor
• Robert Harter as Big Claus, the game warden

Songs

• Daydreamer – Robert Goulet
• “Overture” – Maury Laws
• Wishes and Teardrops – The Little Mermaid (Hayley Mills)
• Simply Wonderful – The Emperor (Ed Wynn) and His Three Minstrels
• Who Can Tell – Performed by Ray Bolger & chorus. The Pieman sings the song in preparation for the parade for the Emperor to show his new clothes.
• Luck to Sell – Performed by Paul O’Keefe. Chris sings the song after Claus has captured him
• Happy Guy – Performed by Patty Duke, Paul O’Keefe & chorus. Thumbelina and a shrunken Chris sing the song as they walk through the field
• Isn’t It Cozy? Performed by chorus. The three bats sing the song in the mole’s cave