Product Details

• Directors: Carl Koch, Lotte Reiniger
• Writers: Lotte Reiniger
• Format: Animated, Black & White, Silent, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Milestone Video
• VHS Release Date: January 2, 2002
• Run Time: 67 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005RYQR
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #289,809 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Once in a Lifetime Experience(you can have over and over), January 9, 2005

By 

R Atherton "patherto" (Frostbite Falls, MN) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Adventures of Prince Achmed (DVD)

For once there is no ambiguity: "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" is definitely the first feature length animated cartoon. Working in a converted garage, Reininger and her two assistants (one of whom specialized in magical soap bubble effects!) took three years to complete "Achmed." The film was a success, but for whatever reason Reininger spent the rest of her long career making shorts and advertisements (that I've never seen-hint, hint, Milestone). You might think, Hoo boy, an hour of nothing but black silhouettes on white. But give the film half a chance (especially in this magnificently colored restoration, with wonderful musical accompaniment) and I guarantee you'll be hooked. The complex tale of Achmed, his beloved, the wicked Magician, the kindly and powerful Ogre, the magical flying horse, and all the other characters are animated in a fantastically expressive manner, and the film moves at a breathless but comprehensible pace. This is one you'll come back to.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Historically important work - a must have..., June 18, 2005

By 

Gina Miller (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Adventures of Prince Achmed (DVD)

This movie is based on the Middle Eastern classic Arabian Nights . The Arabian tapestry is felt in genuine form in Lotte's interpretation. In fact Lotte is very talented when it comes to conjuring up a particular time and place in her other works as well. Lotte is a master of creating a dreamy, hypnotic, universe, out of jointed silhouettes. The moving objects morph perfectly into complex shapes, a magnificent bird into a spellbound woman, a magical palace out of fallen stars. The movie is entrancing, beautiful, and ethereal, not just for the time it was made, but even when you watch it now. There is a mood of fairy tales, other worldly, creativity and a genuine success at telling a story, with paper for crying out loud! After watching this animation, the visions will linger behind your sight like a soft daydream glow of a memory. If you are a current day animator the results of Lotte's work considering her limited technology, will blow your mind. If you are not an animator, this movie, will blow your mind. Lotte is an integral part of cinematic history. I have a more extensive and lengthy version of this review at my animation blog site here: http://maxanimation.blogspot.com/2005/04/prince-achmed.html which you are invited to visit, read and comment on.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Animation from 1926, September 30, 2002

By 

rareoopdvds (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A silent animated film created in 1926 by German artist Lotte Reiniger. Considered to be the first full-length animated feature at 65 minutes, what makes this so special is not the story, but the animation itself which sets itself apart from anything tradional or even experimental Disney has done in their youth. All the characters and sets are done in silhouette from paper cut outs with hinges to manipulate the peoples actions. The result is an incredible and unique look that has never been matched before or since. Reineger certainly has her work cut out for her as she mastered this format throughout the rest of her career. In this video, in addition to the main feature which is a story from the Arabian Nights, is also a commercial Reineger did for the German creme company, as well as a 60-minute documentary on Lottes life. The documentary is bit slow, but it does display many of her other works, equally obscure and beautiful. If you are interested in classic cinema or animation, then by all means, you really should see this. While watching this, I am surprised that Disney showed no signs of influence in their early experimental stages. Highly reccomended classic!