Konyok-gorbunok (1947)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Ivan Ivanov-Vano

Writer:

Pyotr Ershov (story)

Release Date:

18 April 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Family | Fantasy

Plot Keywords:

Magic | Horse

Also Known As:

The Hunchedback Horse (International: English title)
The Magic Horse (International: English title)

Runtime:

57 min | Argentina:58 min | UK:54 min

Country:

Soviet Union

Language:

Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Soyuzmultfilm

Trivia:

First full-length animated movie from the Soviet Union.

Movie Connections:

Edited into The Magic Pony (1977)

A Lost Classic

I watched this animated feature in the 1950's on a New York City Saturday morning show, The Children's Hour, hosted by Ed Herlihy. I had no idea what the title was, and just found it on a link to old children's tv shows.

The animation is beautiful - up to Disney's standards in Snow White, Fantasia and Bambi. I knew it was Russian film, but do not remember reading the subtitles. It was a tale of fantasy concerning a young boy who had to rescue a princess by passing through a series of "tests." Typical folk take fodder, but the great moment when he has to jump into each of three cauldron - one freezing, one boiling and I don't remember the third - kept me breathless, each and every time they aired the film. When he jumps into the third cauldron it seems to take forever before he emerges. I was sure he had died. But he emerges, no longer a slight young man, but a hearty grown man, worthy of winning the princess.

Ah, such were the tales I grew up on. A prince would rescue me and I'd never have to worry about doing anything with my life again! Sad, but when the animation is breathtaking, I can forgive the society that perpetuated such myths.