Jim Henson's The Storyteller

Cafe Society
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I’ve just re-watched Jim Henson’s The Storyteller series on DVD. I loved this series when it was on, and it still holds up. And why shouldn’t it? The stories have been around for hundreds of years!

John Hurt is in the title role, and he does a good job of it. He doesn’t look like a kindly grandfather or Santa Claus, but like an old imp. He sits by the fire telling his stories to his dog (voice of Brian Henson), and to the camera.

My favourite episode is the first: Hans My Hedgehog. I once tried to memorise it verbatim just in case I ever found myself in a room with a bunch of receptive children. In it, a woman wants a child. She wants a child so bad that she doesn’t care ‘if it were a strange thing, made of marzipan or porridge; or if it were ugly as a hedgehog!’ ‘Now to say you wouldn’t care when you want something is a dangerous thing,’ says The Storyteller, ‘Ears twitch that shouldn’t be listening. And no sooner said than done, she got her wish, the Farmer’s wife! She’s all swollen stomach and thinks it’s the baths she took or the sleepin’ upside-down! But in fact, of course, it’s the saying you wouldn’t care what you got what gets you jiggered! As everyone knows, what heard a proper story!’

Other offerings are Fearnot, about a boy of that name who goes on a quest to learn how to shudder; A Short Story, which features The Storyteller’s tale of a time when he couldn’t think of a story to – literally – save his life (this one features the ‘Stone Soup’ story within it); The Luck Child, a Russian tale of an evil King who wants to kill the child prophesied to succeed him; The Soldier And Death, who captures Death in a bag; The True Bride, about a girl who is given three impossible tasks by a troll, bests him, and then must outwit the Troll’s daughter to win her true love; The Three Ravens, about a witch that enchants three Princes, which causes the Princess to make a difficult sacrifice; Sapsorrow, about the eponymous Princess who accidentally becomes betrothed to her own father; and The Heartless Giant, who tricks a young Prince into releasing him from captivity.

The acting iis good. The muppets are frequently good (and occasionally laughable). The editing and cinematography brings the viewer into the story. And John Hurt is a great actor.

If you have kids, or, if you’re like me, a child at heart, this one definitely deserves a look. I’ve already ordered a copy for my ex-fiancée’s birthday. (Yes, we’re still best of friends.) Too bad she’s going to have to wait until November! (Incidentally, amazon does not have any for sale; however they do have people selling new and used copies.)

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I love these, and I especially love the Storyteller’s little dog.

They’re beautiful – the artwork is like the best children’s books.

I’m surprised Amazon’s sold out. So was DeepDiscount DVD, but I found some here .

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I was a little surprised as well. I bought my copy just over a year ago. I figured that if they carried it 18 years after it was on TV, that they’d still have it now. So since you went to the trouble of finding it for sale, did you order it? Or do you have it already?

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I haven’t seen the original series. I’ve got The Greek Myths edition, which has, in place of John Hurt, the guy now playing Dumbledore. They’re very well done, and mre faithful to the myths than any other versions. I take particular interest in Perseus and Medusa (the reason I bought the series), which is far more accurate than Clash of the titans.

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You neglected to mention Sapsorrow, which is probably my favourite. Also, Death and the Soldier - that story, but I think that’s not the correct name.

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:wink:

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I bought mine last year too, when it first came out.

I didn’t know about the Greek Myths stories; might have to get that one too.

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I didn’t see that series when it was on. I debated getting it last year and decided to wait… then never thought of it again. I should think about picking up a copy.

9

Holy shit, I need to get more sleep.

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Upon reading the description of the Greek Myths DVD, I think I’ll pass on it. It seems it only had four episodes.

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Wow, I didn’t know this was out - that’s outstanding. I loved those tails. There’s one that really sticks with me, but I forget the details - I remember a bunch of little red demons. Is that one included?

I’ll have to order this, I think. Thanks for posting!

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That was in The Soldier And Death. The Soldier is returning from The Wars, whistling a tuneless tune. He gives a beggar one of his three biscuits, and the beggar gives him a ‘ruby whistle’. (That is, his whistling becomes jewel-like.) He comes upon another beggar to whom he gives a biscuit. The beggar gives him the ability to dance. The Soldier is very hungry and is about to give a third beggar half of his remaining biscuit; but he doesn’t feel right giving the beggar less than the others, so he gives him both halves. The beggar gives him a deck of cards and the wish that he will never lose while using them. He also gives him a bag. Whatever the Soldier calls into the bag must get into it.