The Story of King Midas

(Vom König Midas)

GDR, 1962, 51 min, color
Credits:
Director

Synopsis

This children’s film opera was made by Günter Stahnke, Günter Kunert and composer Kurt Schwaen—the same team that collaborated on the banned 1962 TV-film opera, Fetzer’s Escape.

 

Members of a Young Pioneer youth group in a small town prepare a staging of the opera The Story of King Midas. They work hard on rehearsals, the set design and costumes. Finally, they invite the town’s children to the premiere of the open-air performance. The children are excited as they watch the legendary story of King Midas.

 

Bacchus, the god of wine, wants to teach Midas a lesson, so he offers him one wish. Midas, who is obsessed with gold, wishes that everything he touches should to gold. When even his food changes into gold, though, he regrets his wish and begs Bacchus to undo it. In the end, Midas grows long donkey ears—so he will never forget his greed for gold.

 

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