Tales from Europe: The Singing Ringing Tree and The Tinderbox [DVD]

Fondly remembered from childhood bought as gift for my sister

Beautiful, rich and occasionally a bit strange, The Singing Ringing Tree (Dir: Francesco Stefani, 1957) is a brilliantly realised fairy/morality tale from East Germany. I think that some of the strangeness may arise from the cultural cross-currents. Clearly much has been borrowed from Disney and Hollywood, but the whole was produced and made in the aforementioned communist state. This results in a kind of curious cultural multi-layering, which somehow adds a great deal to the film. Imagine a sort of European/Marxist/Disney fairy tale and you'll begin to get the flavour(s) of the piece.One of the ways in which The Singing Ringing Tree succeeds so well is in its creation of a complete environment, in which the laws of reality bear no relation to our own, but which nonethless functions perfectly well in terms of its own logic. It's a kind of alternate, fairy-tale universe into which we, the audience, can see. I have no doubt that many fantasy films set out to achieve precisely this same effect, but not many of them succeed as well as this one does.The entire production is of a very high standard - with the richly coloured and detailed sets (and the special effects) being particularly impressive. The visual style of the piece is a curious but effective mixture of late thirties Hollywood - think Snow White and Robin Hood - and mid-century modernism (think Hanna-Barbera and even - the later - Magic Roundabout).It is worth pointing out that in The Singing Ringing Tree wickedness is represented not as murderous evil, but rather in the form of a mischief-making dwarf with a fondness for practical jokes. This character is capable of good deeds as well as bad, which makes him both capricious and morally ambiguous. I also think that there is a political dimension to the piece, which clearly reflects its origins in Cold War East Germany. The arrogant and (moderately) cruel Princess learns the error of her ways through being transformed into a good proletarian housewife - one who comes to understand that fine clothes are useless unless they can be used for the purposes of carrying rocks about. Up the Revolution! Or not, as the case may be. I won't spoil the plot by saying anything more than that, although there is more to be said. However, I think the film does have one unresolved loose end - namely: Did they actually remember to rescue the fish, at the end? I didn't see it happen.I find myself in agreement with the reviewer who sees the influence of The Singing Ringing Tree in Ridley Scott's Legend. I think that influence is clear and direct, to the point at which Legend could be regarded as a reinterpretation, or even a remake, of the original.So far as the DVD goes, Network have done themselves proud with the digital restoration. The print is sharp and the colours are beautiful. However, I also noticed that the speed of the music soundtrack does vary from time to time. The extras are basic, although there is a useful interview with Christel Bodenstein, who played the Princess. I could have done with a few more of these "Where-are-they-now-and-what-did-they-do-afterwards?" interviews.And finally, yes, I am one of those who was creeped out by watching The Singing Ringing Tree when it was first shown on BBC television, back in the sixties. I think it was the bridge and the abyss that did it for me. Although watching it again now, all I can see is how good the production really was.

There is a 5 year-ish generational window who grew up thrilling to this from behind the sofa. Now, aged 50, talking to friends, there were those who did get to see this and for whom it formed one of the most vivid memories of their childhood, or those who simply missed it. Discovering its re-release has been one of the great thrills of the 'DVD-revolution'. The first shock upon receiving it was to discover that it had been filmed in colour.Of people I know who knew it from childhood, two found it a wonderful reconnection (as did I) and one found it disappointing because of the clear datedness of the obviously amateurish special effects.Of people I got to watch it who had not seen it before, pretty well all were underwhelmed, again because of the dated special effects. That is, until they went on to watch the accompanying documentary interview with Cristal Boden, the now 60-ish year old lady who had played the proud princess at age 16. After her explanation that this was the first major film to be produced in Germany out of the devestation of the second world war, and the obstacles that confronted it's production, and her description of how some of the effects were accomplished, such as the man inside 'the Fish' who had to spend hours in freezing water. At this point people tend to 'get' the film in retrospect, suddenly everyone agrees that it is charming and beautiful, despite having ended the actual film quite quizical. A curious thing to watch.The secret to this film is to forget the primitive production and see through to it's archetypal, and above all moral, heart and it's timeless message of good triumphing over evil and the magical, redemptive power of love and humility. It should not be dismissed as a 'mere children's fairytale', but should be ranked alongside the great classics of Lang, Cocteau and Bunuel, none of whom get dismissed for their primitive effects.

This surreal story was described to me by someone I workedwith nearly a decade ago and someone else I work with nowwho have seen this (Both born a few years before me - 1960's).I just couldn't fathom why I don't remember it at all.I remember the Klangers, Dr. Who (Jon Pertwee), Skippy, Flipperand Hectors House from the 60's and 70's but the Singing RingingTree drew a blank.I read one reviewer had seen it broadcast on BBC TV in the late1970's.I bought the DVD from amazon to see what all the fuss was aboutand after 20 minutes a sense of deja vu started to creep in, whichprobably means I must have seen it but it has faded from my memorywhich is unusual because I still remember White Horses and Magpiefrom the 70's.I still enjoyed watching it especially the moral tale of good versusevil.I understand why alot of people were freaked out by the maliciousdwarf, especially one scene where he looks toward the bear-princewith a side on glare that is so demonic I don't think any horror moviebefore or after could top that moment of sinister atmosphere.Personally I think the dwarf actor is the star of the movie and playshis evil part with delicious menace.It's amazing that this drama is over 50 years old and has alot of qualitymoments even though the big eyed fish looks so lame.Buy this for your children to watch if you think Dr. Who is too sexybecause your alternative is 'return of the teletubbies' (now that's tooscary to think about).

I have a vague recollection of "The Singing Ringing Tree" from when it was shown in black and white episodes on BBC Children's TV. Then I found it weird and slightly scary. Viewing it now in rich colour it comes across as a simple story with a lot of charm. "The Tinderbox" has a very different feel but I enjoyed the performance of the lead actor. Again, a simple message conveyed through a fairy story with charm and good humour.

Eines der schönsten DDR Märchen mit der schönen jungen Christel Bodenstein.Dazu eine gelungene Neuverfilmung, in der Christel Bodenstein in einer anderen Rolle zu sehen ist. In ihrer reiferen Jugend ist sie auch heute eine schöne Erscheinung.

Sehr gut.

Die Märchenfilme sind einfach gut gemacht..die vielen Remakes bringen es einfach nicht- fehlt der Charme und oftmals zu modern angelegt- sind doch Märchen

Ein sehr schöner Film. Er ist im Theater-Style gemacht und ein Meisterwerk seiner Zeit. Er wurde in den späten 50er Jahren produziert und ist daher von den Dialogen und der Schauspiel-Art anders als heute und es fiehl mir auch etwas schwirig, mich auf ihn einzulassen aber, er gehört nun zu meinen Lieblingsfilmen.

Ich bin sehr zufrieden. Vielen Dank