December 19, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 23 Danny Kaye stars in Hollywood take on storyteller by Dennis Seuling “Hans Christian Andersen” (Warner Home Video) is an elaborate musical biography of the 19th century Danish children’s writer, as portrayed by Danny Kaye. The film is unusual in the annals of movie musicals. The focus is inconsistent. Some sections clearly appeal to children, and show a charming Kaye interacting with assorted little ones, but because the movie romanticizes Andersen’s life, other sections are geared more toward adults, particularly several ballet sequences. The son of a poor cobbler, Andersen failed as an actor and did not find success until he moved to Copenhagen and won the patronage of the king with his poetry and stories. The Moss Hart screenplay and Kaye’s interpretation portray Andersen as a far more agreeable chap than he was. He was not a happy man and never married, though he did develop an affection for opera soprano diva Jenny Lind. In the film, Andersen is fascinated not with the singer, but a ballet dancer (Zizi Jeanmaire). Composer-lyricist Frank Loesser had scored a triumph on Broadway two years earlier with “Guys and Dolls,” and his songs here are charming. There are several delightful children’s songs based on Andersen stories, including “The Ugly Duckling,” “The King’s New Clothes,” and “Thumbelina.” There is also a rousing anthem by Andersen as he sets out for Denmark’s capital, “Wonderful Copenhagen,” the love duet “No Two People,” and the soulful ballad “Anywhere I Wander.” If one thinks of this film as a musical fantasy rather than an authentic biography, it becomes thoroughly enjoyable. Kaye is wonderful as the writer and balances humor with poignancy and even lovesickness. It is hard to imagine Danny Kaye stars as the famous fairy tale writer and poet in ‘Hans Christian Andersen.’ anyone else in the part. Sadly, younger folks are not familiar with Kaye’s movies these days. “Hans Christian Andersen” is a terrific introduction to Kaye. The new Blu-ray edition comes with a 40-page book containing photos, production history, cast biographies, and other behind-the-scenes details. “Total Recall” (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) is a remake of the 1990 sci-fi film that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger. Based on the Philip K. Dick novel “We Can Remember it for You Wholesale,” the current “Total Recall” is set in a future world comprised of two super states, the United Federation of Britain and The Colony. The Colony’s inhabitants must travel from their bleak, overcrowded neighborhoods to their factory jobs in the wealthy Federation. Because life is dull, a company called Rekall offers to provide customers with vivid memories of pleasurable experiences. Colony-dweller Doug Quaid (Colin Farrell) ignores the warnings of a coworker and visits Rekall, where he pays for a chemical implant that will give him an artificially induced memory of an exciting past. “Total Recall” is an above-average action flick with more than its share of borrowings from other sci-fi films. The sunless, rain-soaked landscapes are right out of “Blade Runner;” the white-clad robot police are clones of the “Star Wars” stormtroopers; a gravity-less sequence is reminiscent of the hotel corridor sequence in “Inception;” images of the Colony’s occupier, Cohagen (Brian Cranston), appear on giant screens everywhere, in clear homage to “1984;” and the daily drudgery of the workers comes right from Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis.” Farrell plays Quaid as a nondescript Everyman who gets involved in an immensely sticky, lethal mess and must work his way out of it. The production design by Patrick Tatopoulos is striking. When compared with other sci-fi movies, “Total Recall” falls short. As an action film, however, it offers a two-hour thrill ride. Bonuses on the two-disc Blu-ray edition include several behind-the-scenes featurettes, a digital copy, and a gag reel. There are also single-disc and three-disc Blu-ray editions. The latter contains all the extras on the two-disc edition and a DVD version. “Why Stop Now” (IFC Films) is a comedy-drama in which a simple trip to an audition becomes a life-changing (continued on Crossword page)