The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm

The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962) starring Laurence Harvey, Karlheinz Böhm, Claire Bloom, Barbara Eden – fictional but fun. The segment with Terry-Thomas and Buddy Hackett is absolutely hilarious!

The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962) starring Laurence Harvey, Karlheinz Böhm, Claire Bloom, Barbara Eden

Product Description 

Filmed in three-camera Cinerama process, this fictionalized biography of the famed German brothers who created unforgettable fairy tales has now been meticulously restored to its original widescreen splendor. This family classic cleverly brings three of the brothers’ most famous stories to life, in parallel with the story of their long struggle for recognition, and the sacrifices they made to achieve their goals. Between dreamer Wilhelm (Laurence Harvey) and practical Jacob (Karl Boehm), some marvelous fantasies develop. In “The Dancing Princess,” a princess (Yvette Mimieux) and a charming woodsman (Russ Tamblyn) fall in love. “The Cobbler and the Elves,” provides a miracle of dedicated labor which helps out a cobbler in need. Lastly, a fire-breathing dragon threatens a kingdom until a lowly servant (Buddy Hackett) saves the day. Shot on location in Germany, the innovative production is highlighted producer George Pal’s famous Puppetoons, and original songs by Bob Merrill.

Cast of characters

• Laurence Harvey (The Manchurian Candidate) … Wilhelm Grimm / The Cobbler (‘The Cobbler and the Elves’)
• Karlheinz Böhm … Jacob Grimm (as Karl Boehm)
• Claire Bloom (The Haunting, Limelight) … Dorothea Grimm
• Walter Slezak (The Pirate, The Inspector General) … Stossel
• Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeannie season 1, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea) … Greta Heinrich
• Oskar Homolka (Mr. Sardonicus, The Invisible Woman) … The Duke
• Arnold Stang (It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World) … Rumpelstiltskin
• Martita Hunt (The Brides of Dracula) … Anna Richter
• Betty Garde (Call Northside 777) … Miss Bettenhausen
• Bryan Russell (Bye Bye Birdie) … Freidrich Grimm
• Ian Wolfe (Witness for the Prosecution, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House) … Gruber
• Tammy Marihugh (The Last Voyage) … Pauline Grimm
• Cheerio Meredith (The Andy Griffith Show) … Mrs. Von Dittersdorf
• Walter Rilla (The Face of Fu Manchu) … Priest

The Dancing Princess segment

• Yvette Mimieux (The Time Machine, The Black Hole) … The Princess (‘The Dancing Princess’)
• Russ Tamblyn (The Haunting, West Side Story) … The Woodsman (‘The Dancing Princess’) / Tom Thumb
• Jim Backus (Gilligan’s Island season 1, Critic’s Choice) … The King (‘The Dancing Princess’)
• Beulah Bondi (It’s a Wonderful Life, On Borrowed Time) … The Gypsy (‘The Dancing Princess’)
• Clinton Sundberg (In the Good Old Summertime, Annie Get Your Gun) … The Prime Minister (‘The Dancing Princess’) / Hans (‘The Singing Bone’) (singing voice)

The Cobbler and the Elves segment

• Walter Brooke (Bloodlust, The Green Hornet TV series) … The Mayor (‘The Cobbler and the Elves’)
• Sandra Bettin (Fort Algiers) … The Ballerina (‘The Cobbler and the Elves’)
• Robert Foulk (Robin And The 7 Hoods) … The Hunter (‘The Cobbler and the Elves’)

The Singing Bone segment

• Terry-Thomas (Make Mine Mink, Munster, Go Home!) … Ludwig (‘The Singing Bone’)
• Buddy Hackett (The Music Man, It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World) … Hans (‘The Singing Bone’)
• Otto Kruger (Dracula’s Daughter) … The King (‘The Singing Bone’)
• Robert Crawford Jr. … The Shepherd (‘The Singing Bone’)
• Sydney Smith (No Time for Sergeants) … The Spokesman (‘The Singing Bone’)

Additional Cast

• Billy Barty (The Undead, The Clown) … The Court Jester
• Angelo Rossitto (The Corpse Vanishes, Scared to Death) … Dwarf
• Gene Roth (She Demons, Dunked in the Deep) … Berlin Royal Academy Representative at Train Station
• Peter Whitney (Destination Tokyo) … The Giant

Songs

• Dancing Princess
  • Words and Music by Bob Merrill
• Ah-Oom
  • Words and Music by Bob Merrill
• Christmas Land
  • Words and Music by Bob Merrill
• Dee-Are-A-Gee-O-En (Dragon)
  • Words and Music by Bob Merrill
• The Singing Bone
  • Music by Bob Merrill
  • Words by Charles Beaumont