DVD: Tales From Europe

Nightmarish images abound. There’s a giant plastic fish. There are several scary beards and the world’s most unconvincing bear costume. Often cited as one of the most unsettling of children’s entertainments, The Singing Ringing Tree is reissued by Network DVD along with The Tinderbox. Both were made in East Germany in 1957 and 1959 and became known when shown in serial form on BBC television in the 1960s.

A naïve prince has to win the hand of a spoilt princess by obtaining said tree; into the mix come a malicious dwarf and a variety of helpful animals. There’s a lot of transformation going on. The Prince becomes a bear, and the Princess loses her looks, acquiring green hair and a pointed nose. We watch the two characters evolve. She regains her beauty with every good deed she performs, saving a unicorn from a snowdrift and using her posh frock to carry boulders. The dwarf is defeated by the Princess, and the Prince can finally shed his ursine form.

You’ll jump when the witch suddenly turns into a snake, only to be decapitated by the poor soldier

Magical art direction and ingenious special effects make Francesco Stefani's film stand up surprisingly well – sets are painted in beautiful primary colours and there’s some lovely model work. The incidental music is gorgeous. Eckart Dux is a grave, wise presence when disguised as a bear, and Christel Bodenstein makes a lovely female lead. You can watch the film with subtitles, or in a narrated version with the German dialogue abruptly faded. 

The Tinderbox is a little more mainstream, based on a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. But there’s still enough weirdness to satisfy. You’ll jump when the witch suddenly turns into a snake, only to be decapitated by the poor soldier. Best of all are the three enormous dogs which can be summoned to aid the hero when the tinderbox is struck. Unlike the earlier film, this can be watched in a decent English dubbed version. Extras include stills galleries for both films, and there’s a recent interview with Bodenstein to accompany The Singing Ringing Tree. Perfect for thinking children and nostalgic adults.

Watch an excerpt from The Singing Ringing Tree