Der Struwwelpeter

Story

Synopsis

Der Struwwelpeter is a popular German children's book. It comprises of ten illustrated and rhymed stories, mostly about children. Each has a clear moral that demonstrates the disastrous consequences of misbehavior in an exaggerated way. Writer/director Fritz Genschow adapted Hoffmann's book to the big screen. He made a career doing such films, he had done Hansel and Gretel and would go on to adapt Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and other family films. Der Struwwelpeter, however, is weirder and darker than the Grimms' tales. They are heavy morality lessons in which children are burned to death, starved to death, or have their thumbs cut off. In Hoffmann's world the punishment usually far outweighs the crime. Genschow provided a happy ending: through the wonders of reverse action children are brought back from their fiery deaths, their thumbs are reattached, and their misdeeds undone through the power of St. Nicholas and some sort of Christmas miracle. (via forcesofgeek.com)

Director

Fritz Genschow

Writers

Hans-Joachim Weichert, Fritz Genschow, Heinrich Hoffmann

Language

German

Country

Germany

Release date

23 January 1955

Ensemble

Cast

• Fredy Kaindl

  Struwwelpeter

• Traute Höhnisch

  Paulinchen

• Eric Canso

  Friedrich

• 

  Renée Stobrawa