Die Geschichte vom Fischer und seiner Frau (The Story of the Fisherman and His Wife)

East Germany, 1976, 13 minutes, color
Production: Werner Krauße, Willibald Hofmann, Volker Hartmann, Gottfried Reinhard, Sigrid Weidhaas, Heinz Kaiser, Siegfried Jung
Based on the tale by the Brothers Grimm
VHS-PAL, no subtitles - renting information

Synopsis:

One day the fisherman finds a talking fish in his net. When he frees the fish, the fish grants him a wish. The fisherman asks for a new boat, but his wife has other plans. She first demands a new house, and then bigger and grander houses. Never satisfied, the fisherman's wife is consumed by greed—until the magic fish teaches her a lesson.

The animation for this fairy tale is clay puppets. Also on the tape is Tischlein deck dich.


Tischlein deck dich (Table, Set Yourself!)

East Germany, 1970, 35 minutes, color
Director: Rudolf Schraps
Director of Photography: Manfred Schreyer
Music: Walter Harmann
Puppets: Otto-Gerd Müller
Puppet players: Walter Später, Hans Klaus, Arnim Rüdiger
Based on the tale by the Brothers Grimm
VHS-PAL, no subtitles - renting information

Synopsis:

A tailor casts out his three sons, when their lying goat says they have neglected her. Each son finds his place in the world and is rewarded: the oldest becomes a carpenter and receives a table that sets itself full of food. The middle son becomes a miller and receives a donkey that spits gold. Both come across the owner of the local inn, who steals their gifts. Luckily the youngest son, who has becomes a wood turner, received a magic club in a sack. When the owner tries to steal it, he is punished for all his wrong-doings!

This tale is acted out with hand puppets. The other tale on this volume is Die Geschichte vom Fischer und seiner Frau.

Series: DEFA-Puppentrickfilm Grimms' Märchen
Vol. I: Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten, Dornröschen
Vol. II: Die Geschichte vom Fischer und seiner Frau, Tischlein deck dich
Vol. III: Das tapfere Schneiderlein, Die kluge Bauerntochter