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(More customer reviews)The odds of anyone running across this review for such a small, forgotten film are very slim, but I am compelled to write it anyway just to prove to myself that this charming and faithful re-telling of the old fairytale does in fact exist.
Hansel and Gretel (the two very attractive child stars Hugh Pollard and Nicola Stapleton) are the children of the poor wood-dwelling couple Stefan (David Warner) and Maria (Emily Richard) who make ends meet by scouring the woods for food due to the merciless employment of the baker that Stefan works under. While on a trip to the village with their father Gretel is given a pouch of - you guessed it - breadcrumbs from the baker, and the two children are enchanted by the Punch and Judy show, quickly learning the words and steps to the dance that makes them neglectful in their duties later that day. Whilst they dance madly in the next room, the donkey enters the house and eats the pie that Maria has just made. When she returns she sends the children out in a temper to pick berries, but is instantly regretful (no evil stepmothers here!) when she realises her children must have ventured into the forbidden North Woods, where demons and witches are said to dwell.
The children are indeed lost in the woods thanks to the watching crows destroying their trail of breadcrumbs, and after much wandering, the two come to a gingerbread house, where the seemingly kindly old lady Grizelda (played with great zest by Cloris Leachman) lives. Of course, this is not the case, and the two are captured - Hansel to be fattened up till the witch deems him big enough to eat, and Gretel to perform menial chores around the house.
A happy ending is undoubtably in store, but on the way the good-guys must struggle through the witch's unending oppression, the knowledge that the gingerbread boys and girls that line the path outside were once real children and their parents desparate search for them - one particularly striking scene involves Stefan searching the forest and hearing his children's voices... before the cries for help change into deep, menacing growls. There are other scary moments too, such as when Grizelda positions a knife over the sleeping Gretel, so although most kids could sit through this and get the 'good goosebumps', more sensitive ones may need a helping hand.
The main protaginists of this movie are outstanding - Hansel and Gretel are sweet without being too sugary, and create a touching brother/sister bond - Hansel tells Gretel: "Don't be a baby," but also: "Don't worry, I'll protect you."
There are a few short songs scattered throughout the movie that are used to good effect, and the set of the gingerbread house is great fun - it really does look good enough to eat! It also continues to amaze me how such a simple story can be lengthened to movie-length thanks to some background information on the characters and interesting plot devices (such as the transformed duck, the witch's magical staff and the initial disguise of the witch).
So there you have it - a great little movie that no one knows anything about - are you going to track it down?
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Oscar® winner* Cloris Leachman (Herbie Goes Bananas) stars as the evil, wart-plagued witch Griselda in this enchanting live-action version of the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tale about two siblings who wander into the forest against their parents' orders. Featuring singing, dancing and a larger-than-life house built entirely of cookies and candy, this delightful film is a sweet treat for the entire family!When Hansel (Hugh Pollard) and Gretel (Nicola Stapleton) get lost in the forbidden forest after their trail of bread crumbs disappears, they come upon an enticing gingerbread cottage. The problem is, it's inhabited by a witch! As Griselda plots to keep them there forever through hocus-pocus magic, the quick-witted siblings must figure out how to avoid becoming her next dessert!
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