Brilliant color cinematography and a bitter sweet love story set in timeless German Black Forest Folklore. A film buff will recognize several elements of story telling used in Hollywood Classics. Compare to "It's A Wonderful Life", "The Red Shoes" or "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir", where star crossed lovers eventually see a very happy end.
Produced by the legendary East German DEFA Studios, this gem clearly had a big budget, offering opulent sets and even special effects. The only way to add more sparkle may have been for Walt Disney to turn it into an animated feature that could have stood with such Classics as Snow White or Sleeping Beauty.
Films such as this one remind me of my childhood in the Germany of the 1970s, where it would have been served up as Holiday programming at Easter or Christmas. It is pure magic, and the very best of family entertainment.
Produced by the legendary East German DEFA Studios, this gem clearly had a big budget, offering opulent sets and even special effects. The only way to add more sparkle may have been for Walt Disney to turn it into an animated feature that could have stood with such Classics as Snow White or Sleeping Beauty.
Films such as this one remind me of my childhood in the Germany of the 1970s, where it would have been served up as Holiday programming at Easter or Christmas. It is pure magic, and the very best of family entertainment.