The Singing Ringing Tree (1957)

[Kitty]

I just watched a really charming film from 1957 called The Singing Ringing Tree. It is based on one variation of a Grimm's fairy tale.

In this movie, a haughty princess orders a prince to find the singing ringing tree in order for her to agree to a courting, but in the end, she winds up finding herself instead. It is a beautiful movie with gorgeous colors, and is well worth the 71 minutes it takes to watch. You'll find yourself wanting to know more about fairyland.

It's in German, but if you click on the closed captions icon on YouTube, you can enjoy subtitles in English.

https://youtu.be/WhVFcy4ZMIg?si=0-8N8oZrwuj4J91L

[donnie]

I just finished watching this and really enjoyed it. I loved the colorful, surreal sets and the kind of metaphorical characters.

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The transformation of the princess was very well done, from the most profound [has five letters] in the world to a really endearing character. I also liked the prince/bear's refusal to put up with her until she changed. However, I will have to say he was sometimes pretty comical in his bear form.

The evil dwarf was a fascinating character with his bags of tricks.

Thanks for recommending it.

[Kitty]

I just finished watching this and really enjoyed it. I loved the colorful, surreal sets and the kind of metaphorical characters.

► Show Spoiler

The transformation of the princess was very well done, from the most profound [has five letters] in the world to a really endearing character. I also liked the prince/bear's refusal to put up with her until she changed. However, I will have to say he was sometimes pretty comical in his bear form.

The evil dwarf was a fascinating character with his bags of tricks.

Thanks for recommending it.

I'm glad you liked it!!

Did you think

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The physical transformation of the bear was pretty well done? I thought his suit was funny sometimes, too. I also think the physical transformation of the princess was well done, too, and I don't even think she was really that ugly!

But you know what? I thought the acting from the two was pretty good, especially when the bear was angry in parts.

This movie has so much that I like from old movies - the sets, the cool animatronics, the lovely colors... How about that neat goldfish?? It was almost koi-like! And the deer - horse thing. The princess really wanted to be a better person, and you end up loving her in the end. I would have loved to seem more of this world.

And that evil dwarf... He just couldn't win, could he?

There is no actual fairy tale called The Singing Ringing Tree (besides this one, of course!). I know I said before that it was a variation of a Grimm's tale, but that's because I read that it was based on Hurleburlebutz. The fact that there is absolutely no tree in that story made me do some research, and now I can see that it's obvious that this film takes parts of other Grimm's stories and puts them together to make its own wonderful story.

I want to see more fairy tales that were made like this.

[donnie]

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Did you think

The physical transformation of the bear was pretty well done?

Yes, about as much as could be done, since he still has to act and interact as a human.

I also think the physical transformation of the princess was well done, too, and I don't even think she was really that ugly!

Actually, in a lot of ways I think she looked better after the curse was put on her. The darker hair and lack of all that makeup suited her better, for one thing.

This movie has so much that I like from old movies - the sets, the cool animatronics, the lovely colors... How about that neat goldfish??

That giant goldfish was cool! That may have been my favorite thing of all. And when the dwarf put it in ice, I first thought it was cement.

I would have loved to seem more of this world.

Yes! Come to think of it, this would have been a good intro for a series, wouldn't it? I wish some more of these had been made.

I also enjoy watching things in a Germanic language like German or Swedish because it's interesting to see the similarities between that and English. (Like "Helfe! for "Help" )

And the music had traces of a kind of music you hear in some shows and movies from the '50s, especially that chromatic ascending clarinet theme here.





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[donnie]

Another thought: It's interesting the prince/bear's special friendship with animals, and how the princess acquires the same. Is there any element or theme of that you've seen in your exploration of Grimm or other fairy tales?

[Kitty]

Another thought: It's interesting the prince/bear's special friendship with animals, and how the princess acquires the same. Is there any element or theme of that you've seen in your exploration of Grimm or other fairy tales?

I think it's a symbol of purity. A big example would be of the virgin princess being the only one who could lure a unicorn for capture. The unicorn would eventually come over and gently lay its head in her lap.

Sometimes the spirit of a dead loved one would embody itself in an animal such as a bird. See: The Juniper Tree. (Beware, this one is one of the most horrifying of all of the old fairy tales, but one of my very favorites.)

Animals were used in a great many ways in stories. It pretty astounding.