Animation fans, pounce! After being out of circulation for four decades, The Emperor's Nightingale, a 1951 stop-motion animation feature, has finally resurfaced. It is one of the most stunningly beautiful animated films ever released.
Directed by acclaimed animator Jir í Trnka, this Czech import depicts the life of a lonely boy whose overprotective guardians isolate him from the outside world. During a feverish dream, his toys come to life and are cast in the Hans Christian Andersen tale of "The Emperor's Nightingale," in which a young Chinese emperor escapes the confines of court ritual through the music of the celebrated songbird. Boris Karloff warmly narrates the film from a text by poet Phyllis McGinley.
The stop-motion animation in this 70-minute film is peerless. From the ethereal beauty of the nightingale's heartfelt song, to a toy sailor's goofy arrival in court via balloon, to a chilling sequence in which Death tends his garden, this production is a visual treasure. The animated figures, particularly the wrinkled, dour Lord Chamberlain and the aged star-counting professor, are simply marvelous. The lush AgfaColor photography is an eye-opener.
Also, pay close attention to the film's musical score. Rarely has a non-Disney work of animation offered a score so subtle yet hypnotic, as if the film were crafted around it and not vice versa. The rendition of the nightingale's song alone makes the film worth seeing.
The film's history is a story in itself. Well-received during its initial release (a time when virtually all animated features were from Disney), The Emperor's Nightingale dropped out of circulation after its US distributor shut down operations. Prints were recently uncovered in a New Jersey warehouse, and the film has been digitized and restored to its splendorous original quality. The effort was worthwhile, for The Emperor's Nightingale is a masterpiece of filmmaking and a production that elevates the art form to new heights.
The Emperor's Nightingale, videocassette: US$24.98. World Artists Home Video: (800) 821 1205, +1 (213) 933 7057.
STREET CRED
Graphic MysteryTomorrow's Print News Today
Return of the Emperor's Nightingale
