SOYUZMULTFILM Moscow 1954
AT THE FOREST STAGE
written by Sergei Mihalkov directed by Ivan Aksenchuk art directors Boris Stepantsev, Yevgeniy Galey
music Moissei Vaynberg camera Yelena Petrova sound Nikolay Prilutskiy
Assistants: L. Kovalevskaya, G. Brashishkitie, A. Firsova
animators Boris Butakov, Fyodor Hitruk, Igor Podgorskiy, Boris Stepantsev, Tatyana Taranovich artists Ye. Tannenberg, O. Gemmerling
Forest Stage today Fables by S. Mihalkov
The program will now begin. Animal Fables The first fable
"Cautious Birds"
Toptygin was sick:
Temperature: Fever, heighten, normal
A boil came up on his neck
He could not sit, nor lie, neither moan, nor sigh and he didn't get any sleep
He sent for a woodpecker to quickly come to him
So his boil would get punctured right away
When the doctor arrived he looked at it this way and that;
From all sides He looked at the boil
But open it, however, he did not dare.
To Toptygin he then said this:
Well, if the evil thing will not break open by itself this night
and we will have to pierce it
we'll need to consult a board of doctors.
In any case, it is the owl who has the sharpest beak.
And so they sent for the owl and for the rooster.
The poor patient did not sleep all night.
The next morning all the doctors flocked
They flocked, then sat around, deciding how to help.
Collectively they came to the conclusion:
For the time being the boil should not be popped.
If in the evening it is still no better
The doctors would all meet again and call the crane,
because his eye is sharper, and...
...his beak is longer!
Meanwhile the bear, tossing and turning in his corner,
accidentally almost crushed a bee.
And the brave bee, as she got accosted, buzzing in his fur, plunged in her stinger.
And our bear came back to life! It seemed the bee had saved him.
The doctors too sighed from relief
not because the stinger hit the bull's eye, but because the little bee
had freed them from their responsibility.
You folk who always play it safe, I read to you this fable...
not for you to set your hopes on bees!
The fable of "The Tipsy Hare"
On his name day, or perhaps it was his birthday
The hare was invited to a party at the hedgehog's.
In the circle of friends, amid the loud conversation, the wine flowed freely.
Neighbours filled each other's glasses. Our hare had sat down,
And, not moving from his spot, He became so drunk,
That, detaching himself from the table with difficulty,
He said: "I ish goin' home!"
You think you can find your home?
Ay, Ay, Ay!
Wait until you feel better!
Lay down and sleep a bit until you are sober.
In the forest, you'll get lost on your own.
It's said the lion is on the loose nearby!
- What use is it persuading him? - Our little hare's all tipsy.
What's the lion to me?!
Is he supposed to scare me? Maybe it's me who'll eat him!
Put him before me!
It's time to settle affairs with this lion!
I'll... I'll skin him 7 times over!
And send him naked back home to Africa!
Staggering his way between the tree-trunks, as if they were tables,
The boss-eyed hare ambled, made noise in the woods at night.
I've seen wilder animals in the woods than this lion!
And even them, I've shred to pieces!
The sleeping lion woke up from all this drunken noise
just when our hare was wading through the thicket.
The lion grabbed him by his collar!
Look who's turned up in my clutches! So you're the blockhead making all that noise!
Wait a minute, I see, you stink of booze!
You've drunk some filthy swill!
In a stroke of fear his head got sober
and he tried to find an escape from his troublesome situation...
Yes! Yes I am, you... we are...Let me explain!
Please excuse me!
I was at a party just now!
I drank too much, but it was all for you!
For your cubs! For your lioness!
How could one not drink too much?
Withdrawing his claws, the lion let loose the scoundrel!
Our little braggart had saved his skin!
The lion hated drunkards
He never drank himself!
But being boot-licked... he adored!
The end Subs by Eus & Niffiwan