The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926) Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed (original title)

Director:

Lotte Reiniger
(more)

Writers:

(more)

Release Date:

20 June 1929 (Japan)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Fantasy | Romance

Plot:

A handsome prince rides a flying horse to faraway lands and embarks on magical adventures, which include befriending a witch, meeting Aladdin, battling demons and falling in love with a princess.

Plot Keywords:

Prince | Horse | Princess | Sorcerer | Aladdin

Directed by
Lotte Reiniger
Carl Koch		(uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Lotte Reiniger		uncredited

Original Music by
Wolfgang Zeller		(original score)

Cinematography by
Carl Koch		(director of photography) (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ulli Elfert	....	sound engineer (2001 alternate version: Primrose Film Productions Ltd.)
Eberhard Leschin	....	sound engineer (2001 alternate version: Primrose Film Productions Ltd.)
Michael Schubert	....	sound director (2001 alternate version: Primrose Film Productions Ltd.)

Animation Department
Lotte Reiniger	....	animator
Carl Koch	....	animator (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Nina Goslar	....	commissioning editor (2001 alternate version)

Music Department
Klaus-Peter Beyer	....	music producer (2001 alternate version)
Helmut Imig	....	conductor: Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg (2001 alternate version)
Torsten Scholz	....	orchestra leader: Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg (2001 alternate version)

Other crew
Berthold Bartosch	....	collaborator (as Berthold Bartose)
Alexander Kardan	....	collaborator
Carl Koch	....	technical director
Walter Ruttmann	....	collaborator (as Walther Ruttmann)
Walter Türk	....	collaborator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Comenius-Film GmbH (as Comenius-Film G.m.b.H.)

Distributors

• Universum Film (UFA) (1926) (Germany) (theatrical)
• University Arts Foundation (1931) (USA) (theatrical)
• Audio Brandon Films (1978) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• BFI Video (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Facets Multimedia Distribution (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Grapevine Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Milestone Film & Video (2003) (USA) (TV) (as Milestone Films) (2001 alternate version)
• Oscilloscope Pictures (2012) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Deutsches Filmmuseum Frankfurt  restoration (2001 alternate version)
• Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg  orchestra (2001 alternate version)

Also Known As:

"Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed" - Germany (original title)

Runtime:

65 min (24 fps) | USA:66 min (2001 alternate version) | Germany:81 min (18 fps)

Country:

Germany

Color:

Black and White (tinted and toned)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:TV-G (TV rating) | UK:PG | USA:Not Rated

Company:

Comenius-Film GmbH

Trivia:

Although some non-public screenings of the completed film occurred in Berlin, Germany as early as 2 May 1926, the first public screening was in Paris in July 1926, through the mediation of Jean Renoir.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Bewegte Bilder. Deutsche Trickfilme der Zwanziger Jahre (1975) (TV)

An Old-Fashioned Art

In our age of CG and digital enhancements, it's difficult (for some) to remember a time when things were done by hand and hand alone. Thus, is the case of animation. This painstaking art has been replaced with programs that not only speed up the process of single-frame rendering, they can even mimic pen strokes and outlines.

So it's a rare treat to come across a unique work that illustrates the artistry of early animation in Film. A shining example is Reinger's "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" . There's really no preparation for this feature, one just needs to succumb to the beautiful imagery that begins to reveal itself, one silhouette at a time. It completely takes us off the conventional track and into the realm best inhabited by forgotten dreams. One forgets that one is watching a series of contours and like the traditional Nang Yai shadow puppet play, the journey has you swept away in a short time!

Some may not be as impressed with this `old-fashioned' approach to story telling. It doesn't compare to the spectacles of the `instant classic' available these days. It's a bit `clanky' and possibly too analog for others. On the other hand, if you're looking for a whimsical and imaginative tale of magic, travels to mystical lands, heroism and love (with a charming score), you won't be in the least bit disappointed with this one.