THE SNOW QUEEN (1959)

This animated adaptation of a story by Hans Christian Andersen was made in Russia in 1957 and was an inspiration to Japanese animation master Hayao Miyaziki (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle). The version I saw was the 1959 American release through Universal with new voices and a new musical score. The opening sequence has the feel of a Bing Crosby family Christmas special, with a somewhat uncomfortable looking Art Linkletter (a TV host known for his "Kids Say the Darndest Things" segments on his show House Party) handing out presents to children as a lead-in to the movie. We see a Mr. Magoo-ish character named Old Dreamy climb out of a book of Hans Christian Andersen stories. Accompanied by his magic "slumberella"—which induces dreams in Andersen's sleep that he can then write out in the daytime—he tells of a young boy and girl, Kay and Gerda, who are best friends. One snowy winter night, Gerda's grandmother tells them that snowflakes are actually "snow bees" controlled by the cold, unfeeling Snow Queen. Later, the children see the Snow Queen's face at the window, and she comes sweeping into the room and shoots ice splinters at Kay, turning him into a cold, uncaring person. The next day, when Kay has been mean to Gerda, the Snow Queen returns and kidnaps Kay to live with her in her ice castle up north. Gerda decides to search for Kay with some help and hindrance from a sorceress, a raven, and a young bandit girl who keeps her pets cruelly locked up and loves to threaten people and animals with her knife. 

I believe I've read the original Andersen story (and I know that Disney's Frozen is loosely based on it) but it hasn't stuck in my mind, so I don’t know how faithful this film is, though it certainly has a strong fairy tale 'quest' feel with a dreamy, sometimes illogical flow to the adventures. The bandit girl is one example; she's mean and bitter until suddenly when she changes personality for no particular reason. The animation is quite nice, with an icy blue palette predominating. I suspect that 21st century children would not be likely to take to its old-fashioned non-CGI style, and it's dated even further by its occasional resemblance to the 1930s Max Fleischer movies (HOPPITY GOES TO TOWN). The English dub features the voices of teen stars Sandra Dee (Gerda), Tommy Kirk (Kay) and Patty McCormack (the robber girl) in addition to old voice pros Paul Frees and June Foray. It's not quite a musical though there are a couple of so-so songs. Overall, the production seems ambitious but uninspired; perhaps the original Russian version would prove more interesting. [DVD]