Once Upon a Time (1973 film)
| Once Upon a Time | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Roberto Gavioli Rolf Kauka |
| Produced by | Rolf Kauka |
| Written by | Roberto Gavioli Rolf Kauka |
| Music by | Peter Thomas |
| Distributed by |
West Germany: Constantin Film |
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Release date
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Running time
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78 minutes |
| Country | Italy West Germany |
| Language | Italian / German |
Once Upon a Time (German: Maria d'Oro und Bello Blue) is a 1973 West German animated musical film written and directed by Roberto Gavioli and Rolf Kauka. The story is based on the German fairytale Mother Hulda.
Kind-hearted Maria is the daughter wealthy widower father Mr. Bottle. Their lives are changed Mary-Lou and her gypsy con-artist mother arrive in town. Mary-Lou's mother tells fake fortunes for money and meets Mr. Bottle, noticing that he's wealthy. She cons him into marrying her, saying that great misfortune will befall him if he doesn't. Mary-Lou and her mother torment Maria by treating her like a servant, and Maria's father is helpless to stop them.
One day during a royal hunt, the Prince of the kingdom is separated from his hunting party when he chases after a white stag. He loses the stag, but stumbles upon Mary-Lou bathing in the woods and viciously chastising Maria, who is waiting on her. When Mary-Lou goes away to change, the Prince approaches the crying Maria and comforts her. Mary-Lou returns and, thinking the Prince is a common hunter, tricks him and steals his horse. The Prince and Maria spend some time alone together and fall in love. As a token, the Prince gives Maria a garnet stone necklace, telling her that it will bring them together again. They part ways.
Back at their house, Mary-Lou sees Maria admiring her garnet stone necklace. Mary-Lou taunts Maria by grabbing the necklace and dropping it into a well.
In the royal castle, the King gives the Prince his approval to marry a commoner. A proclamation is issued in the kingdom that the "girl with the garnet stone" is to come to the castle, where she will wed the Prince. All girls of marrying age quickly find garnet stone necklaces and rush to the palace. Mary-Lou and her mother get a garnet stone from a local hunchback cobbler who's in love with Mary-Lou, but when they go to the palace, Mary-Lou realises that the Prince is the hunter from the forest and that the necklace she needs to become queen is the one that was given to Maria.
Maria herself is unaware of the proclamation. After returning home, Mary-Lou offers to help Maria retrieve the necklace from the bottom of the well. When Mary-Lou reveals her intention to take the necklace for herself, the two girls struggle and fall into the well. At the bottom of the well, they meet a Frog King, who tells them that the necklace has been taken by the magical Mrs. Holle.
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