Rumpelstiltskin
and the Golden Secret
(aka RUMPELSTILTSKIN, DAS ZAUBERMÄNNCHEN, LITTLE MAGIC MAN)
With: Karl-Heinz Rothin (as "Karl Heinz") (Miller Klunk), Karin Lesch (Marie, the Miller's daughter), Reinhard Michalke (Hans, the Miller's assistant), Peter Dommisch (the Neighbor), Nikolaus Parlya (the King), Bodo Mette (the Treasurer), Siegfried Seibt(Rumpelstiltskin)
English-Language Version:
Plot Outline (from Umass/Amherst DEFA website): Miller Klunk's boastfulness results in the imprisonment of his daughter Marie in the castle. Klunk claimed that she could spin straw into gold and she has been ordered to complete this task for the King. While locked in a room full of straw a magical dwarf appears. In her desperate situation, Marie and the dwarf make a deal. He offers to spin all the straw into gold, but for a price. In her hour of need, the miller's daughter consents. A year later, Marie is married to the king and bears him a child. All of a sudden, the dwarf reappears, reminding her of the fateful deal they made one year ago. Terrified, Marie makes yet another deal with the Dwarf. The dwarf agrees. This time, she enlists the help of the castle subjects to help her cause. The classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.
***
A most engaging live-action production from East Germany, RUMPELSTILTSKIN AND THE GODLEN SECRET benefits from excellent acting and marvelous set design.
Miller Klunk is hilarious in his unbridled recklessness. Sweet Marie plays beauty enslaved with great grace. Rumpelstiltskin is played by normal-sized actor wearing a hunch back. Not bad, but he's no Werner Kruger! Hans, the poor scapegoat, is a long-suffering fool, and he King is a spineless worm.
There are several strong scenes, including the introduction to the dank dungeon where poor Marie is forced to spin straw into gold.
One nice effect occurs when our little Magic Man does his magic with the spinning wheel; a bright red light bright pulsates, giving the scene a virtually psychedelic effect. Another interesting optical effect is the frequent lap dissolves, enabled by panning across marbled glass; these give the scene changes a dreamy, oceanic quality.
The musical score is quite pleasant, containing both familiar classical pieces and some provocative incidental cues which sound almost like "concrete music".
I don't think we'll be giving anything away when we tell you that Rumpelstiltskin's Golden Secret is: "Live well, and live wisely".
Ron Merk's Omega Productions (the folks who gave us PINOCCHIO) released the film in the U.S. and Canada in 1973, where it did impressive business.
Mike Schneider of Germany recently asked Karl-Heinz Rothin, the actor who played Miller Klunk, for his memories of this most interesting production: "The story, Das Zaubermannchen, was originally performed as a play in the Hans Otto Theatre in Potsdam, using the same actors as seen in the film version. As the theatre performance was very successful, it was decided to turn it into a film. Shooting took 10 days. The premiere took place under 'political supervision'. The film world at that time was heavily censored, to be sure all films were 'politically correct'."
RUMPELSTILTSKIN AND THE GOLDEN SECRET has recently been reissued by Icestorm Video, in its original German version with English subtititles.
Video/DVD availability: VHS (Unicorn Video, oop); DVD (Icestorm Video)
Links of related interest:
(1960, East Germany) color 74 minutes
"DAU"/DEFA
Story: Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm
Screenplay: Margot Beichler, Gudrun Deubener, Christoph Engel
Music: Wolgfgang Pietsch
Cinematography: Erwin Anders
Produced by Walter Dau
Directed by Christoph Engel
(1972) Omega Productions / Filmpartners 74 minutes
Produced and Directed by Ron Merk
Umass DEFA film page