The Tale of the Fox - Wladyslaw Starewicz (1930) Part 1/6 (English subtitles)

Original title: Le roman de renard

Note: I wrote 1930 because that's the date IMDb gives. Wikipedia, though, says it was released in 1937 in Germany and in 1941 in France. I doubt the 1930 date is accurate.

Quick summary from Wikipedia: In the kingdom of animals, the fox Renard is used to tricking and fooling everyone. Consequently, the King (a lion), receives more and more complaints. Finally, he orders Renard to be arrested and brought before the throne.

This is the legendary feature film by Wladyslaw Starewicz (or Ladislas Starevitch, or Ladislas Starewicz, or Ladislaw Starewicz, or Ladislas Starewitch, or Ladislaw Starewitsch). It is also his only one, and he directed it with his wife, Irène Starewicz. The story is an adaptation of a compilation or medieval French legends called "Le roman de renart". It's an entertaining story, a social satire, but most of all a landmark in early animation. I find the stop-motion truly remarkable, even by Starewicz's standards. The facial expressions and the movements are very smooth and fluid.

It had a good reception when it was first released, but as it was wartime people quickly forgot about it. They later exploited in under the form of shorts, since it contains many independent stories with one linking narrative.

I'm sorry about the subtitles, as they are crap. I couldn't find anything better. I tried to tweak some parts, but frankly, it was very hard and I got tired. I might reupload it when I've figured out how to do softsubs, and maybe then I'll have improved on them. I hope you can still appreciate the film.

IMDB credits: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021309/

• Category

  Film & Animation

[MissBillieDove]

I had the same experience, and I waited quite long for a video of this film to surface after hearing about it only as a sort of legendary, mythical, unattainable film. I felt I beat the system when I found it!

If you're interested in Starewicz's work, I uploaded some other earlier shorts of his on my channel. I've also subtitled Fétiche en voyage de noces and Fleur de fougère, and I'll upload them soon. It'll all be tied up in a playlist once I've finished.

[Thomas Barnier]

This movie was released in 1937 in its sound version, while the original, from 1930, was silent. The editing of the sound proved to be a difficult work, and lasted for seven years.

[gerald colucci]

NO COMPUTOR GRAPHICS CAN EQUAL THE MAGIC OF STAREVICH..I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW TIME CONSUMING IT WAS TO DO THIS...INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!

[Lucius1958]

Who knows: this might even have been a source of inspiration for Disney's "Robin Hood"...

[boliussa]

Why? You should see "cameraman's revenge" where he animated insects!!

[boliussa]

At 4:11 that's not a real fox corpse is it? it looks like a regular puppet. (I understand his insect ones used real corpses)

[ThisisToplist]

The original title is "Le roman de Renart"

[febbra2]

This is brilliant!

[bobbyjordan37]

it has never been better

[1567tommy]

absolute work of art

[DeepEye1994]

The gran gran gran granfather of "Fantastic Mr. Fox"!

[Gisellegiselle1986]

does the black bird say " oh shit " ?! :O