The story behind the brothers who created beloved fairy tales come to life, with reenactments of three of their fairy tales stories. The film tells the story of the brothers’ long struggle for recognition and the sacrifices they and their families made to achieve their goals. Between dreamer Wilhelm (Laurence Harvey) and practical Jacob (Karl Boehm), some marvelous fairy tales develop. In “The Dancing Princess,” a princess (Yvette Mimieux) falls in love with a charming woodsman (Russ Tamblyn). In “The Cobbler and the Elves,” a Christmas miracle of dedicated labor helps the cobbler out when he most needs it. And in the last story, a fire-breathing dragon threatens the kingdom until a lowly servant (Buddy Hackett) saves the day. Shot on location in West Germany, the innovative production features Puppetoons, a technique developed by Oscar-winning special effects expert George Pal. Meticulously restored from its original Cinerama negatives, this fanciful delight is a treat for audiences of all ages…..and this Deluxe Two Disc Edition gives the viewer the opportunity to watch the film either in a traditional letterbox format, or in the Smilebox® format which attempts to re-create the immersive Cinerama experience with a simulated curve to the screen. Both versions bring together the three original Cinerama panels with virtually no trace of the lines that joined them together when originally projected in theaters back in 1962.
For thoughts on The Wonderful World Of The Brothers Grimm, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/NnA9fI_P82Q?t=476]
Video Quality
This miraculous new 1080p Blu-Ray from Warner Archive is derived from a recent 4K restoration of 6K files of the original Cinerama 3-Panel Camera Negatives. It is truly amazing to view a film that is 60 years old and have it look as if it was made yesterday. This presentation gives audiences the option to watch in either the traditional 2.89:1 letterbox version or the Smilebox presentation. For my money, The Wonderful World Of The Brothers Grimm ranks as one of the strongest presentations I have ever seen for a film on Blu-Ray regardless of which aspect ratio you choose. The film features some sumptuous colors within the costumes and settings that pop off the screen with a vibrant intensity. The transfer offers a depth and stability of color that is frankly mind boggling. You only need to take a look at the vibrant production design to see what a stunning sight this presentation is overall. The black levels are simply perfect with nothing in the way of crush present, and white levels are solid as a rock with no evidence of blooming.
The level of detail and clarity is stunning with the appropriate amount of natural film grain intact. The grain resolves quite well without ever being clumpy or unsightly. The texture on display in the costumes and within the production design are a revelation. This presentation is true to the original look of the film without the added resolution making dated elements seem even more out of place. The film appears to be entirely free of dirt and damage. There does not appear to be any jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such nuisances. This presentation is an award-worthy effort from the team at Warner Archive. This transfer will go down as one of the top releases of the year.
Audio Quality
Warner Archive has delivered a terrific DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio presentation that reformats the film’s original seven-channel soundtrack. While music is very important to establishing the distinct tone of the film, the dialogue is the driving force of the narrative and it comes through clearly from beginning to end. When it comes to the music, such as the luscious overtures and other score elements from Leigh Harline, the track is in rare form with its handling of the different core elements. The track balances vocals of the Bob Merrill songs with the environmental sounds with magnificent clarity. The speakers really come to life when worldly elements spread through them. There is even a decent amount of low-end support that adds a bit of sonic texture to precise elements within the narrative. Warner Archive has provided a top-notch, spacious audio presentation that presents the film quite capably. The disc provides optional English (SDH) subtitles.
Special Features
In what is likely a first, Warner Archive includes a multi-page booklet that is a partial replica of the original souvenir program sold in theaters during the film’s original theatrical roadshow engagements. This is a very fun touch to an already sterling collection.
Disc One – Letterbox Version
- Announcement Trailer: The four-and-a-half minute restored announcement video is presented here.
- Theatrical Letterbox Trailer: The two-and-a-half minute trailer is presented here.
- Radio Interview with Russ Tamblyn: A five-minute radio interview from 1962 with reporter Dick Allen in which Tamblyn discusses his work in Brothers Grimm, the stunts in the film, preparing for the role and more.
- Radio Interview with Yvette Mimieux: A nearly six-minute radio interview from 1962 with reporter Dick Allen in which Mimieux discusses her development as a performer, being discovered by Vincente Minnelli, her work in Brothers Grimm, her love of dancing and more.
- Epic Art For The Brothers Grimm: A seven-minute featurette in which Justin Humphreys, curator of the George Pal estate, shows off original paintings and publicity art from the film by celebrated artists Reynold Brown and Joe Smith. Humphreys provides some incredible background information to each piece.
- The Wonderful Career Of George Pal: A nine-minute piece in which Humphreys briefly speaks about the career of the legendary animator, film director and producer. This is a very enlightening piece which is supplemented by some incredible vintage stills.
Disc Two – Smilebox Version
- Cinerama Announcement Trailer: The four-and-a-half minute restored Cinerama announcement video is presented here.
- Theatrical Smilebox Trailer: The two-and-a-half minute trailer is presented here.
- Rescuing A Fantasy Classic: A deeply fascinating 40-minute documentary which takes a deep dive into the immense amount of work that went into bringing this film back to its full glory thanks to advanced tools and techniques in film preservation and restoration. The film’s legacy as a roadshow is explored, as well as how it has been exhibited in the years since its release. Film fans will be most excited to learn of the technical details of the restoration process that allowed this feature to look its most pristine and as it was originally intended to be shown. The differences in quality are truly night and day.
- Rothenberg, Germany Location Commemorative Plaque: A minute-long look at locations from the film shot in Germany and the plaque that was created to celebrate the occasion.
- A Salute To William R. Forman: A two-minute featurette which pays respects to William R. Foreman, the founder/chairman of Pacific Theaters and former Chief Executive of Cinerama, Inc. This is the type of information you likely would not gain anywhere else, and it reveals a new facet of film history.
- Brothers Grimm Slideshow: A 12-minute assemblage of rare behind-the-scenes stills from the production of the film,
Final Thoughts
The Wonderful World Of The Brothers Grimm does not reach the narrative heights that it eeks out when it comes to its technical prowess, but it still remains a captivating viewing experience. The world-building implemented within this one is superb, and fans of the storytellers will be thrilled to see some of these lesser-known tales brought to life in such an inventive manner. The film might be faulted for being a touch too ambitious, but this is preferred to narratives that do not take risks. Warner Archive has gone above and beyond with this new Blu-Ray featuring a 5-star A/V presentation and one of their best overall supplemental packages ever. This is an essential release for anyone who wants to experience grand Hollywood spectacle. Highly Recommended
The Wonderful World Of The Brothers Grimm can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
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