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*Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates*
Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates
Based on	Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates; by Mary Mapes Dodge
Written by	Sally Benson; Frederick Knott (adaptation)
Directed by	Sidney Lumet; George Schaefer
Starring	Tab Hunter; Peggy King; Basil Rathbone; Jarmila Novotna; Dick Button
Music by	Hugh Martin (songs); Franz Allers (musical director)
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Producer	George Schaefer
Running time	50 minutes
Production companies	Milberg Productions; Showcase Productions
Original release
Network	NBC
Release	February 9, 1958

Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates is a 1958 American television adaptation of the story of Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates, directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Tab Hunter in the title role. It was broadcast by NBC as part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame.^[1]

Lumet and Hunter worked together again on That Kind of Woman later that year.^[2]

Cast

Tab Hunter as Hans Brinker
Peggy King as Rychie Van Gleck
Basil Rathbone as Dr Boekman
Jarmila Novotna as Dame Brinker
Carmen Mathews as Mevrouw Van Gleck
Dick Button as Peter Van Gleck^[3]
Ralph Roberts as Raff
Ellie Sommers as Trinka
Paul Robertson as Pote

Production

Hunter was cast in part because he was a competitive ice skater when younger, as well as being a singer. He wrote in his memoirs, "At twenty-seven, I was a little long in the tooth to be playing teenage Hans but then there weren't too many actors around could sing and not embarrass themselves on the ice opposite the Olympic iceskating champion Dick Button, who brought incredible pizzazz to the skating scenes. The pay was good for a one-shot show, but to be honest, I'd have paid for the chance to meet, let alone skate with, Dick Button, who was one of my real heroes."^[4]

Reception

The production was a huge ratings success, the biggest Hallmark had experienced. It averaged a rating of 25, easily winning its timeslot.^[5]

Variety said "It was the Tab Hunter billing that probably piled up the Trendex points" on the show "but it was Dick Button who vested it with whatever elements of a real Dutch treat that remained in this musicallzation of the old children’s classic... The maudlin, goody-goody moralistic overtones weighed heavily... and even the moppets must have found the going getting sticky at times... an uneven production that ran from mediocre and frequently tedious fare to some Spirited and zestful entertainment."^[6]

Songs

“Ice"
“Trinka Brinker”
“I’m a Very Lucky Boy/Girl”
“Clop, Clop, Clop”
“I Happen to Love You”
“The More the Merrier”
“A Job for Me”
“Hello, Springtime”
“Hans Brinker”

References

^ Gould, Jack (February 10, 1958). "Dick Button Scores; Olympic Skating Champion Is Star of 'Hans Brinker,' Channel 4 Musical". The New York Times. p. 45.
^ Thompson, Howard (July 20, 1958). "CAMERA ON OUR TOWN; Colorful Metropolitan Sites Utilized In Filming 'That Kind of Woman'". The New York Times. p. X5.
^ Bentsen, Cheryl (January 31, 1976). "Dick Button: He Didn't Keep Career on Ice: The Man Who Changed Skating's Style Is a Producer, Investor, Commentator". Los Angeles Times. p. C1.
^ Hunter, Tab (2006). Tab Hunter Confidential. pp. 195–196.
^ "Brinker's Nifty Trendex". Variety. 12 February 1958. p. 27.
^ "Hans Brinker". Variety. 12 February 1958. p. 34.