Ullstein AV

Once upon a time, a widow had two daughters: the lazy and wicked Blackmarie, her own beloved child, and the hardworking and kind Blondmarie, her despised stepdaughter. One day, Blondmarie—who was made to do all the housework—drops her spindle into the well, which had become stained with blood. When she leaps in after it, she finds herself in Mother Hulda’s otherworldly realm. There, Blondmarie diligently shakes out the old woman’s bedding, making it snow all over the world, and helps her with the housework. As a reward, Mother Hulda showers her with gold. Envious of her stepsister’s newfound wealth, Blackmarie then jumps into the well and enters Mother Hulda’s service. But laziness has its just reward! A short film produced by Ullstein AV for distribution through the Foto-Quelle catalog of the period, based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale.

Once upon a time, there was a vain queen who desired nothing more than to be the most beautiful woman in the kingdom. But soon, the beautiful and young king's daughter, Snow White, became the thorn in her side. She ordered the huntsman to kill the girl deep in the forest, but as he had nothing but love for the child, he spared her life and let her go. There, deep in the woods, the king’s daughter finds refuge with seven dwarfs, who kindly take her into their little house. But the queen learns from her magic mirror that Snow White is still alive. Driven by jealousy, she hatches a new plan to rid herself of her rival once and for all! A short film produced by Ullstein AV for distribution through the Foto-Quelle catalog of the period, based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale.

Once upon a time, there was a poor woodcutter who lived in the forest with his two children, Hensel and Gretel, in bitter poverty. When their wicked stepmother insists that the children be abandoned, the father reluctantly follows her command, and the siblings soon find themselves lost in the deep, dark forest. As they wander, they come upon a wondrous little house made entirely of gingerbread and sweet confectionery! But the kindly old woman who lives there soon reveals her true nature: she is an evil witch who forces Gretel to be her maid and locks poor Hensel away to fatten him up before devouring him. But the witch didn’t count on these two clever children! A short film produced by Ullstein AV for distribution through the Foto-Quelle catalog of the period, based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale.

Once upon a time, there was a sharp-witted peasant’s daughter who lived in great poverty with her father. One day, when the peasant found a mortar made of pure gold in his field, he decides—against his daughter’s wise advice—to take it to the king. Just as she had predicted, the king demands the matching pestle, but since the poor peasant knows nothing of it, he's thrown into prison. Fortunately, his clever daughter knows just what to do: solving every riddle the king sets for her with wisdom and wit, she's securing her father’s freedom before becoming queen herself. When her cleverness soon proves bothersome to the king, their love must face one final test! A short film produced by Ullstein AV for distribution through the Foto-Quelle catalog of the period, based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale.

In the Second World War, spring 1944: shortly before the planned Ardennes offensive, Germans and Americans stand waiting on the German-Belgian border. The small Eifel village of Winterspelt threatens to become the scene of a bloody battle. A German officer comes up with a plan to hand over his battalion to the Americans without a fight. He finds support from three inhabitants of the small village, who help him to present his offer of surrender to the Americans, which they ultimately reject.

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful but proud princess, and seven suitors from all the kingdoms sought her hand in marriage. But all seven were mocked and rejected by the stubborn princess. When the king finally grew weary of her vanity, he gave her in marriage to the first minstrel who sang outside the castle gates. And so the once-spoiled princess must leave the castle and live in poverty with her new husband. Her delicate hands are now forced to learn all manner of crafts, and to earn a living, the minstrel eventually sends her to work in the royal kitchen. There, in the castle of the young king—whom she once mockingly called "Thrushbeard"—a grand feast is being celebrated. The princess still cannot guess what secret the minstrel has kept from her all along! A short film produced by Ullstein AV for distribution through the Foto-Quelle catalog of the period, based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale.

Once upon a time, there was a king who lived in deep mourning after the death of his wife. When his advisors urged him to remarry, he ordered a search throughout the land for a woman whose beauty matched that of his late queen. A young woman is brought before him, but she will not become his bride unless he gives her three precious gowns: one as golden as the sun, one as silvery as the moon, and one as sparkling as the stars. When the king fulfills these impossible tasks, however, she demands one final gift: a cloak made of a thousand kinds of fur! But no sooner is this wish granted than she hides herself, wearing the fur cloak, unrecognized by the world and the king, as his kitchen maid. And so she puts his love to one final test! A short film produced by Ullstein AV for distribution through the Foto-Quelle catalog of the period, based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale.