Product Details

• Actors: Helen Stoltzfus
• Directors: Helen Stoltzfus
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Number of tapes: 1
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 1983
• Run Time: 18 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: 1888522143
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #122,473 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A treacherous maid, a talking horse, and an innocent princess with a bloodstained handkerchief set off on a journey to meet the princess's arranged bridegroom. Along the way, the maid forces an identity swap, turning her into the bride and the princess into a servant who tends geese. Not to worry, this is an adaptation of a Grimm fairy tale, so the princess will eventually get her man and the maid her just desserts. This publicly funded "From the Brothers Grimm" video is part of a series that moves fairy tales from Central Europe to the United States, and moves them up in time a bit, in this case to the 17th century. Excellent production values and quality performances make this 18-minute movie attractive to children as young as 5 and to adults as old as they come. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Product Description

In this Early Colonial version of the Grimm tale, a careless bride-to-be is forced to change places with her maid servant while en route to her future husban's houseand she is made to swear never to tell anyone about the role reversal. Although the usurper fools everyone for a while, the true bride is eventually restored to her rightful place with the help of a little magic, the head of a talking horse, and a wary father-in-law. from "Young Viewers" 1985 (Vol 8: No 3-4)

Winner of a CINE Golden Eagle

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A faithful rendition of a classic tale, April 6, 2001

By 

Heidi Anne Heiner (SurLaLune Fairy Tales.com) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Goose Girl [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The Goose Girl has long been a favorite of illustrators, but not as much to film makers. Tom Davenport has created a faithful rendition of the Grimms' tale involving a rebellious servant and a naive bride-to-be. When she sends her daughter off to be married, the bride's mother gives the girl a handkerchief with three drops of her own blood in hopes of protecting her. The girl quickly loses the handkerchief and is overwhelmed and abused by the maid servant. A role reversal takes place and the maid presents herself as the bride.

The maid is cruel. She has the beautiful horse, Falada, killed and has her mistress turned into a servant attending geese. The goose girl learns to protect herself from the attentions of Conrad as she fixes her hair. The father-in-law is suspicious and finds a way to learn the Goose Girl's secret. Finally, the deception is revealed and in true justice, the evil maid chooses her own cruel punishment.

This rendition of a lesser known fairy tale is far from syrupy, but children should enjoy it. The costumes and setting are rustic and beautiful. Davenport Films are a wonderful addition to any fairy tale study or entertainment in the classroom or home.