The Daydreamer
“Before the Little Mermaid, there was...”
Synopsis
A young Hans Christian Andersen goes in search of knowledge in the Garden of Paradise in order to make his studies easier. Each time he falls asleep, he experiences in his dreams the different characters he would later write about in fairy tales including The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, and The Emperor's New Clothes.
Top Cast
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Paul O'Keefe
Chris
Jack Gilford
Papa Andersen
Margaret Hamilton
Mrs. Klopplebobbler
Ray Bolger
The Pieman
Robert Harter
Big Claus
Tallulah Bankhead
The Sea Witch (voice)
Victor Borge
Zenith, the Second Tailor (voice)
Patty Duke
Thumbelina (voice)
Sessue Hayakawa
The Mole (voice)
Burl Ives
Father Neptune (voice)
Boris Karloff
The Rat (voice)
Hayley Mills
The Little Mermaid (voice)
Cyril Ritchard
The Sandman (voice)
Terry-Thomas
Brig. Zachary Zilch, the First Tailor (voice)
Ed Wynn
The Emperor (voice)
Larry D. Mann
Various (voice)
Billie Mae Richards
Various (voice)
James Daugherty
Various (voice)
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 1, 1966
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jules Bass
- Screenplay & Story
- Jules Bass, Hans Christian Andersen, Romeo Muller, Arthur Rankin Jr.
- Original Score
- Maury Laws
- Original Title
- The Daydreamer
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 41m
- Production Studios
- Rankin/Bass Productions, Videocraft International, Embassy Pictures Corporation
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jules Bass
Jules Bass, Hans Christian Andersen, Romeo Muller, Arthur Rankin Jr.
Maury Laws
Daniel Cavelli
Joseph E. Levine, Arthur Rankin Jr.
Department Leadership Roster
Maury Laws
Original Music Composer
Daniel Cavelli
Director of Photography
Oleg Cassini
Costume Design
Jules Bass
Director
Arthur Rankin Jr.
Writer
Arthur Rankin Jr.
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
G: General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
International Certification Matrix
General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Daydreamer.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Daydreamer.
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Musicals
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Animated Movies
Imported from my library (Animated Movies).
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Daydreamer
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Daydreamer about?
A young Hans Christian Andersen goes in search of knowledge in the Garden of Paradise in order to make his studies easier. Each time he falls asleep, he experiences in his dreams the different characters he would later write about in fairy tales including The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, and The Emperor's New Clothes.
Who directed The Daydreamer?
The Daydreamer was directed by Jules Bass.
Who stars in The Daydreamer?
The principal cast of The Daydreamer includes Paul O'Keefe, Jack Gilford, Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Robert Harter.
When was The Daydreamer released and how long is it?
The Daydreamer was released in 1966 with a total runtime of 1h 41m.
Who composed the musical score for The Daydreamer?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Daydreamer was composed by Maury Laws.
Is The Daydreamer based on a book or true story?
The Daydreamer is adapted from the following source material: Characters: "Hans Christian Andersen".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Daydreamer?
The Daydreamer holds official age classifications: US: G (General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.).