KONIG DROSSELBART

Cast: Georg Gutlich (Konig), Maria Hofen (Erste Hofdame), Peter Lehmbrock (Flitzo), Gunther Mehrholz (Bammel), Ottokar Runze (Konig Drosselbart), Eleonore Tappert(Zweite Marktfrau), Kurt Vespermann (Oberhofmeister), Alexa von Porembsky (Erste Marktfrau)

PLOT OUTLINE:
A haughty princess is humbled by a prince disguised as a commoner. The young woman is made to be a hard-working peasant woman. She learns to love life, and honor her lovers.

THE STORY:
King Thrushbeard
by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm (from Household Tales)
A King had a daughter who was beautiful beyond all measure, but so proud and haughty withal that no suitor was good enough for her. She sent away one after the other, and ridiculed them as well.

Once the King made a great feast and invited thereto, from far and near, all the young men likely to marry. They were all marshalled in a row according to their rank and standing; first came the kings, then the grand-dukes, then the princes, the earls, the barons, and the gentry. Then the King’s daughter was led through the ranks, but to every one she had some objection to make; one was too fat, “The wine-cask,” she said. Another was too tall, “Long and thin has little in.” The third was too short, “Short and thick is never quick.” The fourth was too pale, “As pale as death.” The fifth too red, “A fighting-cock.” The sixth was not straight enough, “A green log dried behind the stove.”

So she had something to say against every one, but she made herself especially merry over a good king who stood quite high up in the row, and whose chin had grown a little crooked. “Well,” she cried and laughed, “he has a chin like a thrush’s beak!” and from that time he got the name of King Thrushbeard.

But the old King, when he saw that his daughter did nothing but mock the people, and despised all the suitors who were gathered there, was very angry, and swore that she should have for her husband the very first beggar that came to his doors.

A few days afterwards a fiddler came and sang beneath the windows, trying to earn a small alms. When the King heard him he said, “Let him come up.” So the fiddler came in, in his dirty, ragged clothes, and sang before the King and his daughter, and when he had ended he asked for a trifling gift. The King said, “Your song has pleased me so well that I will give you my daughter there, to wife.”

The King’s daughter shuddered, but the King said, “I have taken an oath to give you to the very first beggar-man, and I will keep it.” All she could say was in vain; the priest was brought, and she had to let herself be wedded to the fiddler on the spot. When that was done the King said, “Now it is not proper for you, a beggar-woman, to stay any longer in my palace, you may just go away with your husband.”

The beggar-man led her out by the hand, and she was obliged to walk away on foot with him. When they came to a large forest she asked, “To whom does that beautiful forest belong?” “It belongs to King Thrushbeard; if you had taken him, it would have been yours.” “Ah, unhappy girl that I am, if I had but taken King Thrushbeard!”

Afterwards they came to a meadow, and she asked again, “To whom does this beautiful green meadow belong?” “It belongs to King Thrushbeard; if you had taken him, it would have been yours.” “Ah, unhappy girl that I am, if I had but taken King Thrushbeard!”

Then they came to a large town, and she asked again, “To whom does this fine large town belong?” It belongs to King Thrushbeard; if you had taken him, it would have been yours.” “Ah, unhappy girl that I am, if I had but taken King Thrushbeard!”

“It does not please me,” said the fiddler, “to hear you always wishing for another husband; am I not good enough for you?” At last they came to a very little hut, and she said, “Oh, goodness! what a small house; to whom does this miserable, mean hovel belong?” The fiddler answered, “That is my house and yours, where we shall live together.”

She had to stoop in order to go in at the low door. “Where are the servants?” said the King’s daughter. “What servants?” answered the beggar-man; “you must yourself do what you wish to have done. Just make a fire at once, and set on water to cook my supper, I am quite tired.” But the King’s daughter knew nothing about lighting fires or cooking, and the beggar-man had to lend a hand himself to get anything fairly done. When they had finished their scanty meal they went to bed; but he forced her to get up quite early in the morning in order to look after the house. For a few days they lived in this way as well as might be, and finished all their provisions. Then the man said, “Wife, we cannot go on any longer eating and drinking here and earning nothing. You must weave baskets.” He went out, cut some willows, and brought them home. Then she began to weave, but the tough willows wounded her delicate hands.

“I see that this will not do,” said the man; “you had better spin, perhaps you can do that better.” She sat down and tried to spin, but the hard thread soon cut her soft fingers so that the blood ran down. “See,” said the man, “you are fit for no sort of work; I have made a bad bargain with you. Now I will try to make a business with pots and earthenware; you must sit in the market-place and sell the ware.” “Alas,” thought she, “if any of the people from my father’s kingdom come to the market and see me sitting there, selling, how they will mock me!” But it was of no use, she had to yield unless she chose to die of hunger.

For the first time she succeeded well, for the people were glad to buy the woman’s wares because she was good-looking, and they paid her what she asked; many even gave her the money and left the pots with her as well. So they lived on what she had earned as long as it lasted, then the husband bought a lot of new crockery. With this she sat down at the corner of the market-place, and set it out round about her ready for sale. But suddenly there came a drunken hussar galloping along, and he rode right amongst the pots so that they were all broken into a thousand bits. She began to weep, and did not know what to do for fear. “Alas! what will happen to me?” cried she; “what will my husband say to this?”

She ran home and told him of the misfortune. “Who would seat herself at a corner of the market-place with crockery?” said the man; “leave off crying, I see very well that you cannot do any ordinary work, so I have been to our King’s palace and have asked whether they cannot find a place for a kitchen-maid, and they have promised me to take you; in that way you will get your food for nothing."

The King’s daughter was now a kitchen-maid, and had to be at the cook’s beck and call, and do the dirtiest work. In both her pockets she fastened a little jar, in which she took home her share of the leavings, and upon this they lived.

It happened that the wedding of the King’s eldest son was to be celebrated, so the poor woman went up and placed herself by the door of the hall to look on. When all the candles were lit, and people, each more beautiful than the other, entered, and all was full of pomp and splendour, she thought of her lot with a sad heart, and cursed the pride and haughtiness which had humbled her and brought her to so great poverty.

The smell of the delicious dishes which were being taken in and out reached her, and now and then the servants threw her a few morsels of them: these she put in her jars to take home. All at once the King’s son entered, clothed in velvet and silk, with gold chains about his neck. And when he saw the beautiful woman standing by the door he seized her by the hand, and would have danced with her; but she refused and shrank with fear, for she saw that it was King Thrushbeard, her suitor whom she had driven away with scorn. Her struggles were of no avail, he drew her into the hall; but the string by which her pockets were hung broke, the pots fell down, the soup ran out, and the scraps were scattered all about. And when the people saw it, there arose general laughter and derision, and she was so ashamed that she would rather have been a thousand fathoms below the ground. She sprang to the door and would have run away, but on the stairs a man caught her and brought her back; and when she looked at him it was King Thrushbeard again. He said to her kindly, “Do not be afraid, I and the fiddler who has been living with you in that wretched hovel are one. For love of you I disguised myself so; and I also was the hussar who rode through your crockery. This was all done to humble your proud spirit, and to punish you for the insolence with which you mocked me.”

Then she wept bitterly and said, “I have done great wrong, and am not worthy to be your wife.” But he said, “Be comforted, the evil days are past; now we will celebrate our wedding.” Then the maids-in-waiting came and put on her the most splendid clothing, and her father and his whole court came and wished her happiness in her marriage with King Thrushbeard, and the joy now began in earnest. I wish you and I had been there too.

SYNOPSIS:
Once upon a time, a great king decides that his daughter, Princess Christine, is all grown up. He orders all of her playthings gathered, and put away.

All of Christine's toys are gathered on a large table, while the Prime Minister catalogs them. Flitzo, the court jester and the Princess' best friend, looks on, forlorn.

Princess Christine's ladies in waiting argue amongst themselves over the King's desire to have the Princess grow up so suddenly. One of them asks the Prime Minister is they can keep Christine's favorite dolly, but the request is refused.

As the stuffed animals are catalogued, Flitzo steals Bim Bim, the Princess' favorite teddy bear. The Prime Minister searches for the plush toy in vain. Even when he discovers that Flitzo has the toy, the Prime Minister is unable to retrieve it from him.

Flitzo goes to see the Princess in her chambers. She is crying over the unfair edict of her father. She is delighted, however, when Flitzo hands Bim Bim to her. They argue over where to hide the toy. They try the fireplace, but it is too dirty.

Meanwhile, a Prince from another kingdom approaches in a fine carriage, to ask for the Princess' hand in marriage.

Back at the palace, Flitzo and the Princess continue to search for a good hiding place for Bim Bim. They start to hide it outside a big picture window, but the King interrupts them. He reminds his daughter that yet another Prince has sent his picture for her to peruse. The Princess moans. The King walks off.

Flitzo and the Princess discover the Prime Minister standing at a window below them, trying to grab the teddy bear. The two toy with him.

Later, the Princess has dressed up like a peasant woman. She wants to sneak out of the palace, to find a place to hide Bim Bim in the woods. The Prime Minister and his court see her, however, and give chase. Luckily, Flitzo has dressed identical to the Princess, and the two of them give the court a run for their money.

The King enters, and demands to know what's going on. A little girl enters, carrying a teddy bear. The Prime Minister is convinced that its Bim Bim, given to the child as a gift from the Princess, so they call off the search.Üp Back in the Princess' chambers, she and Flitzo ruminate over her dire situation. The King is insisting that the Princess marry one of the eight suitors who have expressed interest in her.

The Princess doesn't feel all grown up just yet, but she doesn't know what to do, so she agrees to look over the eight photographs that her suitors left her.

In the throne room, the eight photographs are set up on elaborate stands. The Princess gives each a cursory glance, then announces that none of them interest her. The King insists that she must marry one of them, so the Princess reluctantly looks them over again.

The assembled mock each and every picture but the last one, which the Princess seems strangely intrigued by. She notes that the handsome man's beard looks like "the nest of a thrush". She dubs him "King Thrushbeard."

As she does so, the comely Prince with the unusual beard walks in, and introduces himself. The Princess is upset, and runs off.

The King decrees that the first person who officially asks for the Princess' hand will be her husband!

Flitzo tells King Thrushbeard to shave off the beard, and return to the castle.

Later, we see Thrushbeard returning to the castle.

The Prime Minister plots with his nephew, Bombo, to win the Princess' favor.

Elsewhere, Flitzo assists King Thrushbeard in disguising himself so that the Princess will not recognize the suitor as the man with the nest of birds on his face!

Flitzo clothes the King, and then carefully trims the monarch's beard.

As Flitzo shaves the king, he instructs him to sing sweetly for the Princess.

Later that evening, the Prime Minister instructs Bombo to wait at the bottom of the royal staircase, count to 100, and then start singing.

Unbeknownst to them, Flitzo also positions King Thrushbeard at the staircase, and Thrushbeard starts to sing immediately, and beautifully.

The Princess is enchanted, and looks upon the handsome singer with her courtiers. Bombo finishes counting to 100 and begins to bleat a horrible tune, but it is too late; the Princess has made her choice.

Bombo challenges Thrushbeard to a duel for the Princess' hand. The two fight with swords, and Thrushbeard conquers the weakling easily.

Meanwhile, Flitzo and the Prime Minister argue with the King over who sang to the Princess first.

The King goes to see that man who will wed his daughter. He does not recognize the handsome, shaven Prince as King Thrushbeard!

Later, Princess the Princess and King Thrushbeard are officially introduced. Thrushbeard accepts the Princess as his bride, but asks if she can do any domestic chores. The Princess is taken aback.

Thrushbeard then whispers into her ear, "Don't forget to take your teddy bear Bim Bim with you!" She now knows that he is a good man.

After the wedding, the Princess and Thrushbeard ride off on horseback to their little cottage. the Princess is impressed by all the land, and asks who owns it. Thrushbeard answers, "King Thrushbeard", but the Princess doesn't know that is the very man she married!

The newlyweds eventually arrive at their little stone cottage. Thrushbeard orders his bride to make a fire and prepare supper. the Princess is perplexed; she never learned how to do these things! However, in deference to her mate, she enters the house and tries her best.

Thrushbeard tells his horse that if the Princess turns out to be hard-working and good-hearted, he will make her his Queen!

Later, we find the Princess beating the bedclothes. Overcome by the heat, she sits down. Thrushbeard walks up behind her, and scolds her for her laziness.

Thrushbeard orders the Princess inside, to cook his supper. The Princess tries valiantly to make a fire.

Later, Thrushbeard is riding on his land, while the Princess tries to cook something edible. She offers the food to a dog and cat, but they refuse.

Thrushbeard ends up at the King's palace, and converses with Flitzo. Flitzo asks Thrushbeard how long the Princess will have to play the part of a pauper's wife before she is told the truth.

The two men make a deal: Thrushbeard will go away for awhile, in order that the Princess may learn to grow up on her own. Flitzo will look in on her, to make sure nothing bad happens to her.

Thrushbeard returns home to find the Princess forlorn; she has spoilt the supper! Despondent, the Princess runs outside to feed the pigs.

King Thrushbeard returns to his real home, the palace, to take care of business.

Meanwhile, the Princess learns how to use a potter's wheel; she intends to make pots and sell them to earn money for the household.

Flitzo arrives for a visit. He is skeptical about the Princess' plans, but wishes her well.

Later, the Princess sets up a stall at the local marketplace, where she meets with some success selling pots.

Flitzo comes to visit the Princess at the marketplace, and teases a merchant woman that was making fun of her.

Thrushbeard returns to the King's palace. Flitzo helps Thrushbeard replace his beard; Thrushbeard intends to ask the King for his hand. Thrushbeard asks the King for his daughter's hand. The King informs Thrushbeard that the Princess is previously engaged! Thrushbeard insists that he will marry the Princess anyway.

Thrushbeard then returns to his cottage. He informs the Princess of Thrushbeard's upcoming wedding.

The Prime Minister arrives at the cottage, and informs Thrushbeard of his wedding plans. He tells Thrushbeard that he will pay well to give up his first wife.

Thrushbeard feigns insult, and duels the Prime Minister.

Later, Thrushbeard disguises himself as a soldier, and rides on horseback to the marketplace, where he deliberately tramples over many of the Princess' fine pottery!

Back at the cottage, Thrushbeard asks the Princess if she sold all of her pots today. The Princess lies, and says she did. Thrushbeard appears angry at her deception.

Some days later, guests are starting to arrive for the big wedding.

At the cottage, the Princess sits, alone. She has not seen her husband for almost two weeks! She knows it is because she told the lie about the pots.

Flitzo arrives, and asks the Princess what is wrong. The Princess tells him of her deception.

Flitzo has a suggestion: King Thrushbeard needs workers at his palace for the big wedding, and the Princess could surely get a job there.

The Princess agrees, and the next morning, the two are off to Thrushbeard's palace.

At the palace, the Princess works as a kitchen maid, preparing food for the great wedding feast. She prepares two dinner pails for her and her husband, for later.

Afterwards, Flitzo joins her, and suggests they try to sneak a look at the great hall; perhaps they will see her husband there.

The Princess hesitates at first, but Flitzo finally convinces her. The two sneak a look at the gathered guests.

King Thrushbeard approaches, and asks the Princess to dance. The Princess, shaken, reluctantly agrees. As she begins to dance, she drops her dinner pails.

Flitzo receives a note for the Princess, from her husband, and reads it to her: he will meet her at the wedding!

The Princess is given a new dress, for her dance with King Thrushbeard.

She arrives in the throne room, King Thrushbeard is enchanted by his beloved, and asks for his dance. The Princess refuses, for her husband is soon to arrive.

While the Princess' back is turned, King Thrushbeard removes his beard, and reveals himself to be her husband after all.

The Princess finally recognizes her husband: King Thrushbeard.

The two dance, madly in love.

GUEST REVIEW:
by Jan Onderwater
Children will not mind some awkward editing, and the mediocre post-synchronization of this Grimm fairy tale, otherwise directed with a light touch. The basic theme of the fairy tale is that of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew". The film has romance, a couple of nice fencing scenes and a very nice princess. It has pace, a fine cast and delightful music in the Mozart idiom by Norbert Schultze. This film is also noteworthy for Ottokar Runze in one of his rare acting parts; in the 70's he would become producer and director.

REVIEW:
KING THRUSHBEARD is a most interesting fairy tale; a veritable neo-realist fantasy of the old school. Told in a completely straightforward (almost bleak) noir style, the film has a reality and presence, as well as an artfullness, which makes it highly engaging, in spite of obvious cultural and temporal impediments (i.e., being old and foreign).

One might even call KING THRUSHBEARD an OPEN CITY for kids.

The film has a tangible reality which evokes an authentic, "modern" chronicle of a distant, possibly mythical time. This, and not bland moralising-through-metaphor, is all a period film (and a fairy tale for that matter) can realistically hope for; that it evokes the invoked era structurally as well as aesthetically. Ideally, the resultant melodrama will be genuinely real, and arguably adult.

The story contains, surpirisingly, a good deal of extra-dry sexual humor, virtually the shadow of the overt sexual humor which is embedded in many children's films today: double entendres and sexually-implicit suggestions, for the parents of the kids who dragged them to the movies.

Sadly, the film tells its tale in a highly verbal manner; much of the dramatic nuance is revealed through dialogue. This would likely be difficult for an action-oriented Western kid to absorb.

And who can say what a "modern" (circa 1969) kid, weaned on THE MONKEES and ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN and YELLOW SUBMARINE, would have thought about sitting through a creaky old foreign film, badly dubbed, in black and white, from almost a generation ago?

Nonetheless, KING THRUSHBEARD is a light and engaging bit of fantasy fluff, with a plot not unsimilar to THE PRINCESS AND THE SWINEHERD. Also, some lovely Bavarian settings, and rich costuming, make this a most compelling entry in the Murray fairy tale Wonder World.

COMMENTS:
* One of several German fairy tales purchased by Murray after he had depleted his store of highly successful Mexican fairy tales, KING THRUSHBEARD may, like its brethren, have been released directly to TV.

* An important note about the German fairy tales: Unlike the Mexian fantasy classics, the songs are left undubbed. They would imbue a cost and an effort Murray could not justify with the diminishing boxoffice returns of the fairy tales. Thus, the lowest production cost prevailed. This is why several of the German fary tales sport no opening credits nor end titles; also why two of them were released in the late 1960s, in obsolete black and white; indeed, why the marketing campaigns were so anemic, in comparison with the dynamic campaigns for the first eight Mexican fantasies.

* (06-28-04) Steve Burstein informs us that composer Norbert Schultze also composed the famous popular song "Lili Marlene".

* (06-28-04) Harald Gruenberger of Germany informs us that Ottokar Runze, who played King Thrushbeard, never made his mark as an actor, but did some dubbing jobs in the 1950's and 1960's.