Hansel and Gretel: An Opera Fantasy

Scene from the 1954 stop-motion animated production of Humperdinck's opera, with Anna Russell as The Witch.

[@kecotter]

I also watched this in my childhood, and have been looking for it forever. Thank you for posting. This witch is still terrifying.

[@cronehoney]

I was obsessed with this as a kid - it was the first VHS I ever owned.

[@dericeportley4035]

I remember going to a movie theater to see this movie...this is definitely a classic..

[@SunshineJunior99]

I was so young when I first saw this and it is still one of the most terrifying things I have ever seen.

[@thegirlleastlikelyto]

I thought I had dreamed it! It literally haunted me for years, I thought t was just an especially terrifying nightmare... Nope.

[@aliezahjuarez1212]

For real me too

[@FennelWitch]

since always i've had a vague memory of a version of hansel and gretel that trumatized me when i was very very little and i'm pretty sure this had to be it, i was so curious to know what it was! :)

[@tyneetikk2076]

I thought I had dreamed this. But I did see this in the theater on a Saturday when I was a child. So glad to find this!

[@airachica]

OH MY GOD! I've been looking randomly for this for ages! As soon as I saw the first ten seconds of the clip, I was happy because I had finally found it... only to then run into my mom because of how scary I remembered the witch was to me as a child XD

[@garyjfoster]

i used to watch this all the time when i was a kid in the 1980's ...thank you for putting this up

[@darylglenn1965]

so fabulous!!! please, please, please upload the whole thing!

[@PalkosHorrorCollection]

This movie gave me an unrelenting fear of witches throughout my childhood. Just ordered it so I can watch it again. Thanks for the post!

[@mryhndrsnmh]

For listening purposes, since I had this only on vinyl back in the 60s, it was magical and riveting. Listened to it all the time--I was probably 8. I memorized nearly the entire album. Then I found the video about 20 years later.

[@giftofaidan]

Love this!!! I, too, watched this in the 80's! C:

[@mxylpx]

What a beautiful intro to this fun Fantasy ...beautiful music, voices & animation!

[@leicameek7244]

This was my favourite movie when I was little , been looking for this for ages too

[@kingporter67]

I want to see the entire of this opera fantasy on Hansel and Gretel!

[@gerinevicencio9603]

This reminds me of The Nightmare Before Christmas 🎃🎄

[@gingerlamarra1051]

Seen this when I was a kid. It was scary.

[@keouine]

Nun Gretelchen wird bald ein Braetelchen. one of my favorite lines. I think it means little Gretel will soon be a wee little roasted thing. I read Engelbert Humperdinck's sister wrote the lyrics. If y'all like Anna Russell as the witch, you might enjoy her comedy on KZbin. Maybe Tracy Ullman could do it as well.

[@blissfulbrain80]

This movie was super creepy but we watched it all the time as kids!

[@danielhayes7967]

I had this record when I was 8, and along with Sesame Street playhouse at 7:16 I threw Cookie Monster out window.

[@gerinevicencio9603]

This reminds me of Bump in the Night

[@blakejohnson6987]

I Love what the witch says at 1:23!

[@violettevicencio363]

This reminds me of The Nightmare Before Christmas 🎃🎄& Frankenweenie

[@Caine7ify]

Don't tell me to get into the house! I'LL GO INTO ANY HOUSE WHEN I FEEL IT!

[@nikorasudisneyamc1991]

This movie was airing on American Movie Classics (AMC) in September 1992... So, the VHS and DVD has unrestored version... We're waiting for Warner Archive has planning to restore and remastering the 1954 version of *HANSEL AND GRETEL* was Released by RKO Radio Pictures for Blu-ray release.

[@stillverity]

Where did you hear this? I'd like to find out more info on this and all my research has come up empty handed. Your comment here is the only clue I've seen that there's hope for something more than the terrible VHS/DVD copies out there. I've been trying to track down a remastered version of this film forever. The best I could find is the Vestron Video VHS which is slightly better than later releases.

[@nikorasudisneyamc1991]

Yep. It was unrestored picture on VHS and DVD copies out there... We wish that WARNER ARCHIVE has planning to restore and remastering HANSEL AND GRETEL (1954) on Blu-ray release.

[@stillverity]

How do you know Warner Archive has the film?

[@nikorasudisneyamc1991]

stillverity - Turner owns RKO Radio Pictures.

[@violettevicencio363]

Hansel Mickey 🐭 and Gretel Minnie 🐭🎀: An Opera Fantasy

[@keouine]

I prefer how they rearranged some of the music from the final act. I guess the opera needed a long musical section for a scene change, but here they've used for the closing credits. . Sprechgesang and mixing melody with speech is actually very effective. Weird how this is performed at Christmas (at least the Metropolitan Opera used to) I don't mind though.

[@violettevicencio363]

Is that related to Stop-Motion 🛑🎥 Bump in the Night⁉️

[@violettevicencio363]

Hansel Woody 🤠 and Gretel Jessie 🤠👧: An Opera Fantasy

[@violettevicencio363]

Is that related to A Claymation Comedy of Horrors, The Nightmare Before Christmas🎃🎄, Corpse Bride, Frankenweenie, Coraline, Boxtrolls, ParaNorman🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️🧟 & Mad Monster Party⁉️

[@sebshadwick]

The witch moves so weirdly

[@IrishRepublicofTheBrethren]

Do you have the bonus features like the making of the production because I can't find it online

[@violettevicencio363]

Hansel Dipper 👦 and Gretel Mabel 👧: An Opera Fantasy

[@Pijopiojo]

where can i have it in spanish? D:

[@0b5ervant]

Terrifying. Gave me nightmares when this was shown as late night filler on 90s tv

[@blakejohnson6987]

This is creepy but good voice acting!

[@ДмитрийИванов-л9ц4й]

So, those are animatronic stopmotion puppets, aren't they?

[@mrpreserve01]

Is this available on dvd does anybody know thax

[@salvatoreconte5249]

veía eso de pequeño... En serio pensaron que era buena idea?? Es lo mas terrorífico que he visto en mi vida

[@TheWaterfallprincess]

Rosina Ruby Lips scares me lol

[@peterandthemagicegg]

Ah I can't count... LOL!!!!

[@stonyace6709]

I use to hate that Witch

[@danielhayes7967]

Who is Jokus?

[@richardduployen6429]

It's to rhyme with "Hokus Pokus"!

[@pipey61]

isn't this Anna Russell?!

[@kevinbutler1955NYC]

Yes..Ms.Russell the comedic opera singer was the speaking and singing voice of"Rosina Ruby Lips The Witch".

[@richardduployen6429]

@@kevinbutler1955NYC I'll look but I think this is her most prolonged acting/singing . There are her recorded hilarious monologues when she sings different roles e. g. Wagner's "Ring". Her comic talents were noticed at music college.

[@unclealand]

They have no teeth!! What happened to their teeth?!!

[@violettevicencio363]

This reminds me of Bump in the Night