WALT DISNEY'S WONDERFUL WORLD OF COLOR: HANS BRINKER OR THE SILVER SKATES, PART 1 (TV)
Summary
One in this series of family programs, presented under the umbrella title of "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color," hosted by Walt Disney.
This episode presents part one of a two-part adaptation of Mary Mapes Dodge's classic children's book, "Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates." Taking place in a small Dutch fishing village on the shore of the Zuiderzee in the mid-19th century, the story opens as 15-year-old Hans Brinker prepares to go sailing with his family: father Raff, a fisherman; mother Metje; 12-year-old sister Gretel; and toddler brother Til. Before departing, Hans asks classmate Hilda van Gleck, the daughter of the local burgermeister, if she'd like to accompany them. However, Hilda's parents quickly intercede, telling her that the Brinkers are not in their class and that she shouldn't associate with them. Hilda protests in vain that she'd like to socialize with Hans. After taking their boat to a nearby beach, Hans draws seascapes while his family builds sand sculptures. Their merrymaking ends as a storm threatens.
Back at home, Raff comforts Metje, who is worried about Hans' future. He shows her that he has saved one thousand guilders in a pouch that is hidden in their house. When neighbor Kaps Bouman and his son Peter knock on their door, the Brinkers learn that the storm is threatening the seawall and that Raff and Hans must help to secure it. During the repairs, Raff falls into the sea and is hit by a massive wooden board. Though rescued by Hans and the villagers, Raff loses his memory, including knowledge of where the money is hidden. When months pass without the situation improving, Hans and Gretel quit school to support the family. Hilda reminds Hans that his pencil drawings may be a way to make money. Later, Hilda is appalled when their elitist schoolmate, Ludwig Schimmel, refers to Raff as "a helpless idiot."
That night, Hans hears about the renowned Dr. Boekman of Amsterdam, who may be able to help Raff. The next day, Hans and Gretel go to Amsterdam. There, she sells her lace at a tidy profit in the marketplace while Hans meets the artist Frans Ruisdael, who gives him oil paints while getting an art dealer to accept his drawings on commission. When Hans seeks out Dr. Boekman, he finds that the surgeon won't return from London for two weeks. Hans goes back to his village and begins a series of oil paintings. Hilda suggest that he paint her portrait in the mill for her father. However, Ludwig sees the pair enter the mill and reports it to the burgermeister. The mayor storms into the mill and forbids the two from meeting again, then ruins the nearly finished portrait. Later, a rich neighbor offers to adopt Gretel, but the family remains determined to stay together.
Shortly afterward, Raff wanders off and runs into some trouble-making boys by the canal. When they menace him, Raff chases them and runs into Hans. In the confusion, Raff pushes Hans away and punches a policeman. After Raff is put to bed, Peter tells Hans that many of the villagers want Raff sent to an asylum. The next day, Hans and Gretel hear of a skating competition, with a prize of three hundred guilders and a pair of silver skates. On the eve of St. Nicholas' Day, Hans goes to the burgermeister's house, where he overhears Ludwig telling Hilda that the Brinkers shouldn't be allowed to enter the race as they only have wooden skates. Just then, the burgermeister, dressed as St. Nicholas, sees Hans leaving a portrait of Hilda -- which he composed from memory -- on the doorstep. Touched, the mayor tells his wife that they should send Hilda's old skates to Gretel. The skates, buried in a large basket of food, is soon left on the Brinkers' doorstep. The next day, the skating competition's preliminary round begins with the six girls chosen as finalists -- including Gretel - racing across the ice. Commercials deleted. (This is a black-and-white copy of a color telecast.)
(Series title varies: From 1954 to 1958 this series was telecast under the title "Disneyland"; from 1958 to 1961 this series was telecast under the title "Walt Disney Presents"; from 1961 to 1969 this series was telecast under the title "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color"; from 1969 to 1979 this series was telecast under the title "The Wonderful World of Walt Disney"; from 1979 to 1981 this series was telecast under the title, "Disney's Wonderful World"; and from 1997-2005 this series was telecast under the title "The Wonderful World of Disney.")
(Network varies; this series was telecast on ABC from 1954-1961, on NBC from 1961 to 1981; on CBS from 1981 to 1983; and on ABC from 1997-2005.)
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: January 7, 1962 7:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:48:47
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:00398
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1961-1969
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Walt Disney … Producer
- Norman Foster … Associate Producer, Director, Writer
- Hamilton S. Luske … Associate Producer
- Otto Englander … Writer
- Mary Mapes Dodge … Based on the book by
- Oliver Wallace … Music by
- Rony Zeaner … Cast, Hans Brinker
- Carin Rossby … Cast, Gretel Brinker
- Gunilla Jelf … Cast, Hilda van Gleck
- Erik Strandmark … Cast, Raff Brinker
- Inga Landgre … Cast, Metje Brinker
- Lennart Klefborn … Cast, Ludwig Schimmel
- Claes-Hakan Westergren … Cast, Peter Bouman
- Gunnar Sjoberg … Cast, Dr. Boekman
- Lauritz Falk … Cast, Kaps Bouman
- Alf Kjellin … Cast, Frans Ruisdael