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The Emperor's New Clothes
By Renee Schonfeld,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Farcical, old-fashioned Hans Christian Andersen tale.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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What's the Story?
The emperor (Sid Caesar) is a very foolish man. He's vain, spoiled, and very selfish. In fact, he refuses to wear his royal robes and clothing more than once. When two very clever swindlers (Robert Morse and Jason Carter) get wind of the emperor's desire for something very special to wear for his daughter's wedding -- an arranged marriage that's totally unacceptable to the Princess Gilda (Lysette Anthony) -- they're only too willing to prey on His Highness' gullibility and make him an extravagant jewel-encrusted suit of clothes. But, they warn, this wonderful costume will be invisible to anyone either "stupid or unfit for office." The con artists toil in the "loom room," weaving what everyone pretends to see as magnificent, but in reality, doesn't exist at all. Meanwhile, Princess Gilda is falling head over heels in love with one of the swindlers. The wedding day brings surprises for everyone.
Is It Any Good?
Turning a familiar, timeless Hans Christian Andersen tale into a slapstick farce with hammy but well-liked comic actors must have seemed like a good idea at the time (1987). The performers seem to be having a wonderful time chewing the scenery. Adding a few unimpressive musical numbers, some lavishly ridiculous costumes, and changing Andersen's ending just a bit sweetened the pot.
But there's no mistaking this shoestring production for anything other than what it was meant to be: a cheap entry into the fairy tale genre with very little thought given to plotting, character, logic, or resolution. For example, rather than come up with anything clever or innovative to reveal the "invisibility" of the emperor's new clothes, the low point of the film is watching Caesar strut through the low-budget crowd in gold satin underwear.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how important it is to be honest even if it might result in negative consequences. Has telling the truth ever made you unpopular? What did you do about that?
This movie is based on a Hans Christian Andersen story. Read the original story and see how the filmmakers changed it. How did it improve or diminish the original?
Most of the people in this story pretended to see the emperor's clothes just so they didn't seem foolish; that made them even more foolish. Have you ever pretended to agree with someone or gone along with an activity you knew was wrong just so you wouldn't feel different or left out?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 31, 1987
- On DVD or streaming: August 9, 2005
- Cast: Lysette Anthony , Robert Morse , Sid Caesar
- Director: David Irving
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: MGM/UA
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Run time: 83 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- Last updated: April 2, 2023
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