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This 1957 film version of the classic Grimm fairy tale The Singing, Ringing Tree--or Das singende, klingende Bäumchen, as the original German dialogue has been retained and subtitled in English in an adequate but unsubtle fashion--is wonderful in its strangeness. The story is a fairly straightforward morality tale in which a haughty princess receives her comeuppance by being magically robbed of her beauty. Only when she learns to treat others with the consideration they deserve is the spell undone. The magical Singing, Ringing Tree is a gift she demands from a suitor, not knowing that it will only do its thing in the presence of love--and, yes, it does finally happen. The presentation, however, is something else again. Imagine a fairy tale conceived by Wagner and directed by Fritz Lang, with nods in the direction of The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari and German expressionism, and you'd be close. The hyper-real coloring process of the time, together with the quasi-operatic sets and theatrical acting styles make this European classic fascinating viewing for adults, while children will be mesmerized by this unfamiliar, haunting, yet compelling film (it's also handy practice for anyone learning German!). Heddenhausen's swirling score is marvelous, too. --Roger Thomas
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