The Little Mermaid (1968 film)
Encyclopedia
The Little Mermaid is a 1968 Russian
animated feature based on Hans Christian Andersen
's fairy tale
"The Little Mermaid
".
. Their guide draws their attention to the beautiful statue
at Langelinie
. At that, the film's focus moves below the waterline, where several fish tell the story of ...
A galleon
is foundering on the rough ocean
. Its master, a young prince
, is trying his best to keep the ship out of harm, but he fails, and eventually falls into the waves. Meanwhile, four mermaid
princess
es come from a magnificent alabaster underwater palace
. The three older mermaids, clad in blue, give their younger sister a red cloak, indirectly indicating who the protagonist is.
The little mermaid heads toward the surface and sees the now-unconscious prince in the water. She carries him to the shore, where she sings a sweet mermaid song for him. Then a bell
tolls from a nearby convent
and several women come out. The little mermaid jumps into the sea, waiting to see what becomes of the prince. One of the ladies finds the prince and helps him to the convent.
The little mermaid returns to her palace and tells her sisters of the prince. She decides to go to the hag
of the sea for a solution. The hag offers her a potion
to turn human, with the condition of having to lose her voice and bear a pain in her feet whilst walking. This the little mermaid quickly accepts.
The little mermaid arrives on land, where she is met by the prince astride a horse. He sees her beauty, and she dreams of a fantasy world riding with him on a winged horse into the stars. The couple then are seen on a voyage on a ship to a nearby land. A servant from the nearby palace's balcony spots the ship and calls for the princess. The prince and the little mermaid enter the palace, observed by the courtier
s. The king
welcomes the couple. Then the king presents his daughter, who is none other than the girl at the convent. The little mermaid is surprised, remembering how the hag had told her that if the prince marries another, she (the mermaid) will die the very next sunrise.
The prince and princess, clad in wedding clothes, head back to the ship with the little mermaid holding the bride's train and an entourage following them. As the little mermaid awaits the next day in desperation, herthree sisters appear, now sporting short hair, since they traded their long tresses to the hag in exchange for enough magic to assist their younger sister. They give her a magic shell, which would kill the prince, save her life, and return her to her mermaid shape. The little mermaid refuses and throws the shell into the sea, then jumps into the waves, killing herself for love. The prince notices her absence, and looks up in the sky as though he knows she is deceased and looking down upon him and his bride from a sunlit sky.
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
animated feature based on Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
's fairy tale
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
"The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid
"The Little Mermaid" is a popular fairy tale by the Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen about a young mermaid willing to give up her life in the sea and her identity as a mermaid to gain a human soul and the love of a human prince...
".
Plot
As the story opens, a busful of tourists are touring CopenhagenCopenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. Their guide draws their attention to the beautiful statue
The Little Mermaid (statue)
The statue of The Little Mermaid sits on a rock in the harbour of the capital of Denmark. Based on a tale by Hans Christian Andersen, the small and unimposing statue is a Copenhagen icon and a major tourist attraction....
at Langelinie
Langelinie
Langelinie is a pier, promenade and park in central Copenhagen, Denmark, and home of the statue of The Little Mermaid. The area has for centuries been a popular destination for excursions and strolls in Copenhagen...
. At that, the film's focus moves below the waterline, where several fish tell the story of ...
A galleon
Galleon
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.-Etymology:...
is foundering on the rough ocean
Ocean
An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
. Its master, a young prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
, is trying his best to keep the ship out of harm, but he fails, and eventually falls into the waves. Meanwhile, four mermaid
Mermaid
A mermaid is a mythological aquatic creature with a female human head, arms, and torso and the tail of a fish. A male version of a mermaid is known as a "merman" and in general both males and females are known as "merfolk"...
princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
es come from a magnificent alabaster underwater palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
. The three older mermaids, clad in blue, give their younger sister a red cloak, indirectly indicating who the protagonist is.
The little mermaid heads toward the surface and sees the now-unconscious prince in the water. She carries him to the shore, where she sings a sweet mermaid song for him. Then a bell
Bell (instrument)
A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
tolls from a nearby convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
and several women come out. The little mermaid jumps into the sea, waiting to see what becomes of the prince. One of the ladies finds the prince and helps him to the convent.
The little mermaid returns to her palace and tells her sisters of the prince. She decides to go to the hag
Hag
A hag is a wizened old woman, or a kind of fairy or goddess having the appearance of such a woman, often found in folklore and children's tales such as Hansel and Gretel. Hags are often seen as malevolent, but may also be one of the chosen forms of shapeshifting deities, such as the Morrígan or...
of the sea for a solution. The hag offers her a potion
Potion
A potion is a consumable medicine or poison.In mythology and literature, a potion is usually made by a magician, sorcerer, dragon, fairy or witch and has magical properties. It might be used to heal, bewitch or poison people...
to turn human, with the condition of having to lose her voice and bear a pain in her feet whilst walking. This the little mermaid quickly accepts.
The little mermaid arrives on land, where she is met by the prince astride a horse. He sees her beauty, and she dreams of a fantasy world riding with him on a winged horse into the stars. The couple then are seen on a voyage on a ship to a nearby land. A servant from the nearby palace's balcony spots the ship and calls for the princess. The prince and the little mermaid enter the palace, observed by the courtier
Courtier
A courtier is a person who is often in attendance at the court of a king or other royal personage. Historically the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
s. The king
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
welcomes the couple. Then the king presents his daughter, who is none other than the girl at the convent. The little mermaid is surprised, remembering how the hag had told her that if the prince marries another, she (the mermaid) will die the very next sunrise.
The prince and princess, clad in wedding clothes, head back to the ship with the little mermaid holding the bride's train and an entourage following them. As the little mermaid awaits the next day in desperation, herthree sisters appear, now sporting short hair, since they traded their long tresses to the hag in exchange for enough magic to assist their younger sister. They give her a magic shell, which would kill the prince, save her life, and return her to her mermaid shape. The little mermaid refuses and throws the shell into the sea, then jumps into the waves, killing herself for love. The prince notices her absence, and looks up in the sky as though he knows she is deceased and looking down upon him and his bride from a sunlit sky.
Cast
- Nina Gulyayeva as (voice).
- Lidiya Korolyova as the fish guide.
- Roza MakagonovaRoza MakagonovaRoza Ivanovna Makagonova was a Soviet actress. Makagonova was awarded as a Meritorious Artist in 1976.- Biography :Makagonova was born on October 28, 1927 in Samara. In 1951, she finished the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography and until 1990, she worked in the governmental theater of actors in...
as (voice). - Anatoli PapanovAnatoli PapanovAnatoli Dmitrievich Papanov was a popular Soviet film and theatre actor.Papanov starred in some of the best and well-known Soviet films, often together with his friend, Andrei Mironov. Mostly known for his great performances in comedies, he also had serious and dramatic roles, such as that of the...
as (voice). - Vladimir Troshin as (voice).
- Yuliya Yulskaya as (voice).