Three Wishes for Cinderella (1973)

Life changes dramatically for a Czech housemaid when the house driver gives her three magical hazel nuts.

Director:

Václav Vorlícek

Writers:

Bozena Nemcová (story), Frantisek Pavlícek (as Bohumila Zelenková)

Stars:

Libuse Safránková, Pavel Trávnícek, Carola Braunbock

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Libuse Safránková	...	Popelka
Pavel Trávnícek	...	Prince
Carola Braunbock	...	Mother
Rolf Hoppe	...	King
Karin Lesch	...	Queen
Dana Hlavácová	...	Dora (as Daniela Hlavácová)
Jan Libícek	...	Preceptor
Vítezslav Jandák	...	Kamil
Jaroslav Drbohlav	...	Vítek
Vladimír Mensík	...	Vincek
Míla Myslíková	...	Housekeeper
Helena Ruzicková	...	Princess Drobena
Jan Sus	...	Hind
Milos Vavruska	...	Huntsman
Jirí Ruzicka	...	Cook

Storyline

The film stars Libuse Safránková as the title character, a young woman who is put upon by her stepmother and stepsisters. The film employs a twist, though, when a handsome prince comes knocking. Cinderella does not simply fall into the prince's arms. In this version, he must actively pursue the young woman who is a skilled sharpshooter prone to wearing hunting outfits. Cinderella also has three wishes at her disposal, gained from three magic nuts.

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Plot Keywords:

cult film | prince | magic | absurdism | riddle | 

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Taglines:

Drei Nüsse für Aschenbrödel

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Family | Adventure | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Playwright and screenwriter Frantisek Pavlícek was blacklisted by totalitarian regime in Czechoslovakia at the time. In the credits is therefore given name of Bohumila Zelenková. During the production, only Zelenková, director Václav Vorlícek and Barrandov Studios' executive Ota Hofman knew who the real author of the screenplay is.

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Goofs

When Cinderella goes off hunting, her hair is cut short all of a sudden. After the hunting trip, her hair has miraculously grown back to the old length.

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Connections

Referenced in Hviezdna párty: Episode #1.2 (2016)

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Soundtracks

Kdepak ty ptácku hnízdo más
Music by Karel Svoboda
Lyrics by Jirí Staidl
Performed by Karel Gott

User Reviews

Fairy-tale Masterpiece

Perhaps, one of the few really good things about living in former USSR was the possibility to see lots of magnificent East European fairy-tale Films, and among these "3 nuts for Cinderella" (as this film was called In my country) is undoubtedly the most recommended. I really do believe that it is really one of the best fairy tale s made on film of all times and of course the best out of those made about Cinderella - There were some quite good films and cartoons made in Russia and Europe, but they still lack the magic that this film possesses, and don't even get me started about the American films about Cinderella. All of them, with the exception of quite nice but too standard and unoriginal Disney cartoon, were simply terrible, and I have a special dislike to that oddity with Drew Barrymore that was worth watching only for ever wonderful Angelica Huston.

"Tri orioshky" is a real masterpiece. Story itself is more a mix of Cinderella and Peau d'âne fairy tales. All its components (acting, screenplay, sets, camera-work, score) are top-notch and the entire film has certain humanity and naiveté that is clearly missing from most of the modern children's movies. However I am sure whoever loved this film as a child would re-watch it as an adult with great pleasure.

Details

Country:

Czechoslovakia East Germany

Language:

German Czech

Release Date:

16 November 1973 (Czechoslovakia)

Also Known As:

Three Nuts for Cinderella

Filming Locations:

Studio Babelsberg, Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Deutsche Film (DEFA), Filmové studio Barrandov

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1