Rating: 
Summary: Something to scare the kids with
Review: A kids' classic. Also something of a cult favourite here in the UK, where a serialised version was shown on television several times in the 'sixties and 'seventies (those of us from the baby-boomer generation remember well being terrified by it!). In fact, the English-language narrated version on the DVD is taken from the BBC serial edit (although I seem to remember that this was a black and white print). Sadly, the original German soundtrack has not been preserved intact, unlike the subtitled print that has long been a fixture on the art house circuit.'The Singing Ringing Tree' is made all the more compelling (for British viewers, anyway) by the fact that it is culturally so alien. There are cultural signposts that seem familiar on the surface, giving the illusion that this is a conventional Anglo-Saxon fairy tale, but the subtle East German flavour renders the production curiously eerie, enhancing its appeal dramatically. Presented under the heading 'Tales from Europe' (as indeed it was here in Britain), it only goes to show how diverse Europe is -- I consider myself European, but this has very little to do with the world I know. An utter delight, and a rather scarey one at that!
Rating:
Summary: Something to scare the kids with
Review: A kids' classic. Also something of a cult favourite here in the UK, where a serialised version was shown on television several times in the 'sixties and 'seventies (those of us from the baby-boomer generation remember well being terrified by it!). In fact, the English-language narrated version on the DVD is taken from the BBC serial edit (although I seem to remember that this was a black and white print). Sadly, the original German soundtrack has not been preserved intact, unlike the subtitled print that has long been a fixture on the art house circuit. 'The Singing Ringing Tree' is made all the more compelling (for British viewers, anyway) by the fact that it is culturally so alien. There are cultural signposts that seem familiar on the surface, giving the illusion that this is a conventional Anglo-Saxon fairy tale, but the subtle East German flavour renders the production curiously eerie, enhancing its appeal dramatically. Presented under the heading 'Tales from Europe' (as indeed it was here in Britain), it only goes to show how diverse Europe is -- I consider myself European, but this has very little to do with the world I know. An utter delight, and a rather scarey one at that!
Rating: 
Summary: DVD Facts
Review: Actually on the DVD you get four options for audio: 1. German original dialogue of actors 2. English narration (german dialogue in background) 3. french narration 4. spanish narration ...last 2 recorded in 2000. The 'trailer' is a boring new one, no tassembled at time of first release (it's for U.S. audiences). The bonus 'short film' cartoon has none of the style or immagination of the original Singing Ringing Tree! Anyone interested in such stylized film-making should check out Guy Madden's movie "Careful"...very much in the same tradition!
Rating:
Summary: A must-have for children of the 1960s
Review: During the period 1964-69, the BBC ran the 'Tales from Europe' series of tea-time fairy tales, all of them in black-and-white, some of them created by the BBC itself but many of them coming from the East German DEFA stable. THE SINGING, RINGING TREE was for many British children, the most memorable, not just because the BBC ran it several times, but also because it was the most scary. This film has almost archetype status for many of us now in our forties. Dwarves (or should it be dwarfs?) do not get a good press in this story. The evil dwarf is a hideous, voyeuristic presence throughout much of the story. (This story is not about the Eastern bloc, but if the bear and the princess are imprisoned behind an impenetrable iron curtain, the dwarf could represent a Stasi spy.) I am sure this story influenced many of us children to look upon dwarves as malign, and that may be why this film isn't more widely available. We certainly need the likes of Tolkien to provide children with a far more positive view of dwarves. Seeing this again for the first time in more than thirty years has been almost a psychological release for me. The dwarf isn't all evil. The good-looking couple both have their individual faults. The sets aren't very well done. My 10-year-old daughter laughed when the fish turned up in the magic pool. The film has lost much of its psychic power because in comparison to today's big-budget productions, it just isn't convincing. It's just a fairy tale well told. Seeing it in gaudy colour is extraordinary. It has been well remastered, and the faltering sound quality of the music only adds to the magic. As other reviewers have said, the accompanying short film on the DVD seems an irrelevance. It carries a Tangerine Dream-like soundtrack, lasts about five minutes and appears to have been made in 1971. This is a film I absolutely had to see. The only question for me is whether I'll want to replay it again and again.
Rating:
Summary: The Grimm's Forgotten Fairy Tale
Review: Having seen this movie when I was seven, I have searched for it ever since.
The original story was written by the brothers Grimm in 1802 and published in their collected works in 1812. It has never reappeared in print since.
The Singing Ringing Tree is a classic fairy tale of the same calibre as other popular Grimm tales... but somehow forgotten and thankfully unchanged by Disney.
The 1956 movie is of course primitive in its technological aspects when considering todays special effects. However, it is true to the storyline; has wonderful costumes and colourful sets; and very little dialogue to confuse the tale.
***PS*** For customers in countries other than US and Canada
This DVD is available as a UK export through the Amazon.de site.
If anyone wishes to read the children's picture book by the same name (retold by Selina Hastings, 1988), it is also available through Amazon.com... however, it is severely lacking in the magic portrayed in the movie and original tale.
Rating:
Summary: English/German Subtitles
Review: I am writing this review with reference to the one written by Sandra W. from Chicago in December 2000. I am pleased to inform her that I have the German version of the Film on VHS. Please inform Sandra that I can send it to her. My Mobile phone number is 07773 619826. My Home number is 020 7 582 6134. I live in London, UK. When I was young, I loved watching the Tales From Europe series on TV. Its wonderful to know some of the stories are now available on VHS Video. I hope "Cinderella" will also be available soon. From Miss Mary Callaghan
Rating:
Summary: English/German Subtitles
Review: I am writing this review with reference to the one written by Sandra W. from Chicago in December 2000. I am pleased to inform her that I have the German version of the Film on VHS. Please inform Sandra that I can send it to her. My Mobile phone number is 07773 619826. My Home number is 020 7 582 6134. I live in London, UK. When I was young, I loved watching the Tales From Europe series on TV. Its wonderful to know some of the stories are now available on VHS Video. I hope "Cinderella" will also be available soon. From Miss Mary Callaghan
Rating: 
Summary: NOT IN GERMAN !!!!!!!!!
Review: MY ONLY COMMENT IS RE: MISLEADING AD IN THIS WEBSITE. THE AD INDICATED THAT THE FILM HAD "ENGLISH SUBTITLES". THE FILM WAS NARRATED IN ENGLISH. WHEN THE CHARACTERS SPOKE IN GERMAN, THE GERMAN WAS MADE VERY QUIET, AND ENGLISH WAS SPOKEN OVER IT. THIS MADE THE FILM USELESS FOR ME. MY PURPOSE WAS TO HEAR GERMAN. IT LOOKED LIKE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOVELY FILM. HAD IT BEEN IN GERMAN, I WOULD HAVE WATCHED IT.
Rating:
Summary: NOT IN GERMAN !!!!!!!!!
Review: MY ONLY COMMENT IS RE: MISLEADING AD IN THIS WEBSITE. THE AD INDICATED THAT THE FILM HAD "ENGLISH SUBTITLES". THE FILM WAS NARRATED IN ENGLISH. WHEN THE CHARACTERS SPOKE IN GERMAN, THE GERMAN WAS MADE VERY QUIET, AND ENGLISH WAS SPOKEN OVER IT. THIS MADE THE FILM USELESS FOR ME. MY PURPOSE WAS TO HEAR GERMAN. IT LOOKED LIKE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOVELY FILM. HAD IT BEEN IN GERMAN, I WOULD HAVE WATCHED IT.
Rating:
Summary: creepy
Review: There are only a few tv programmes that create a truly indelible mark on your mind when you're a kid.For me,this was one of them.This is a genuinely amazing piece of work-a fairy tale with such a twisted edge that you simply cannot shake it from your mind.The print used here is gorgeous-incredibly vibrant and colourful.It was great to rediscover this film.I thought I'd never see it again.
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