Hansel and Gretel Film Versions
Dramatizations of the Popular Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale
Oct 15, 2009
“Hansel and Gretel” is one of the scariest of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. Two children are abandoned in the woods and the kindly lady who they think is trying to help them turns into a witch who tries to eat them. This fairy tale has tons of scary fun and all of the elements to make it perfect for Halloween—a witch, treats, a delicious Gingerbread House, and children just barely escaping danger. Here are several dramatized versions of “Hansel and Gretel” that each features a new twist on the traditional plot.
The Engelbert Humperdinck Opera
Engelbert Humperdinck wrote a Hansel and Gretel opera that has been filmed several times. One of the most famous versions is the particularly child-friendly stop-motion animated production from 1954. The opera has some narration at the beginning but is mostly all sung. The plot is a bit different from the traditional fairy tale. In this version, Hansel and Gretel are playing instead of working, so their mother gets angry when she comes home and sends them out in the woods to pick berries. While in the woods the children encounter the Sandman who puts them to sleep, and in their dreams they are comforted by a choir of angels. When they wake up, they try to return home but instead find the Gingerbread House and witch.
Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera features some charming songs and a good musical score. As animated by stop-motion, this version kind of looks like the Davey and Goliath show, but the little sets and characters are fun to watch. And it’s a nice change to have the mother not be evil, but instead immediately regret sending them out into the woods and then help the father find their children.
Faerie Tale Theatre Version (1983)
The television show Faerie Tale Theatre produced a version of the “Hansel and Gretel” fairy tale, and this version stays very close to the traditional tale. Starring Joan Collins as both the evil stepmother and the witch and a young Rick Schroder as Hansel, this fifty-minute dramatization features all the fun and fright from the classic fairy tale.
Cannon Movie Tales Version (1987)
Cannon Movie Tales produced a musical version of “Hansel and Gretel” that seems to have been largely inspired by the Engelbert Humperdinck opera. Some of the songs are similar, and the mother just sends the children into the woods to pick berries instead of actively trying to get rid of them. This version also shows more of the financial hardship of the parents, making this version more about the family and how difficult things have become for them. The part where the children stumble upon the witch (Cloris Leachman) doing magic is particularly scary, but the songs and family interaction keep this version from being too dark.
Broomstick Entertainment’s Version (2002)
Broomstick Entertainment produced a new version of this story, featuring famous actors and comedians and elaborate sets and costumes. In this version, a dad trying to get his children to go to sleep tells them an elaborate version of the “Hansel and Gretel” story. In his new story, the wicked stepmother (Delta Burke) abandons Hansel and Gretel in the forest, where the Sandman (Howie Mandel) and the Wood Fairy help them escape from the Boogeyman and the Troll. The children are then taken in by an old lady (Lynn Redgrave) who turns into a witch, and their new friends have to help them escape so they can return to their father (Gerald McRaney). This is a particularly comedic version of “Hansel and Gretel,” but also features some fun frights.
The “Hansel and Gretel” Fairy Tale on Film
“Hansel and Gretel” is one of the most popular Brothers Grimm fairy tales, and is particularly fun for Halloween viewing. Different versions of the classic tale present the witch and her threatening the children in different scary ways. And one of the most fun parts of “Hansel and Gretel” is the Gingerbread House, so it’s always entertaining to see different constructions of the tasty house. From Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera to modern retellings, the Brothers Grimm “Hansel and Gretel” fairy tale has been dramatized many times and is a good choice for family-friendly viewing at Halloween.
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