Das kalte Herz

Dec 8 1950 N/A 1h 46m
Family, Fantasy, Romance

Lavish adaptation of Wilhelm Hauff's fairy tale: Young charburner Peter Munk dreams of joining the upper class. He makes a deal with the sinister Holländer-Michel, who offers to trade Peter's human heart for one made of stone. Once he has the "cold heart" in his body, Peter eventually strikes a fortune and enjoys great wealth, but at the same time, he becomes a bitter and emotionless man – and, having lost all traces of humanity, even murders his wife Lisbeth. Only then does Peter Munk finally realize what has become of him, and he decides to regain his real heart from Holländer-Michel.

Plot

Peter Munk, a poor charcoal burner, lives with his mother in The Black Forest. Poverty prevents him from marrying Lisbeth, the girl he loves. When he comes across the Little Glass Man, the good spirit of the forest, the young man asks him for assistance. His wish is granted and he becomes rich. But the fool soon loses all his money after gambling at the inn. In desperation, he asks Dutch Michael, the evil spirit of the forest, to help him to become rich again. The mean giant agrees and gives Peter all the riches in the world, but on one condition: the young man will exchange his heart for a cold stone. He can now marry Lisbeth but can a heart of ice make you and the others happy...?

Written by

Wilhelm Hauff, Marieluise Steinhauer, Paul Verhoeven

Directed by

Paul Verhoeven

Cast

Lutz Moik, Hanna Rucker, Paul Bildt

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

Germany

Production Companies

DEFA

Languages

Deutsch

Awards

1 win

Scores
# of Votes
713
Average Rating
7.3 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA