Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The
Entry updated 24 July 2023. Tagged: Film.
Russian animated silent film (1929; vt Adventures of Munchausen). Mezhrabpomfilm. Directed by D Cherkes. Written by N Sats and D Cherkes, based on the story sequence by Rudolph Erich Raspe. 18 minutes. Black and white.
A fairly mundane version of the Baron's tales, where – after stepping out of a book – he recounts his pursuit of a fox which made off with one of his chickens. This involves riding his horse up a castle wall (see Gravity), then have it leap a chasm; but the steed changes its mind and doubles back halfway across, so the Baron has to carry it (and his accompanying dog) and jump the gap himself (see Superpowers). Next the wind blows the trio into space (see Space Flight); fortunately the Baron manages to grab the Man in the Moon by the nose, who sneezes and blows them back to Earth. Later the horse is cut in half, but the Baron sews it back together (see Medicine), after which he captures several ducks who fly him home. He tells another tall tale to a woodcutter who, disgusted at his lies, throws the Baron back into his book.
The animation style is similar to the Max Fleischer and Walt Disney Company cartoons of its era; though reasonably well done, given the source material and the opportunities animation offers for such a tale, this short is a little tame. [SP]
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