TALLINN FILM STUDIO 1959
THE MONSTER FROM THE NORTH
Based on a fairy-tale by Franz Kreitzwald
Screenwriter - Kaarel Korsen
Director- Elbert Tuganov
Art director - Rein Raamat
Camera - Eme Beekman
Composer - Boris Kyrver Sound - R Schoenberg
Puppets R Laidre Art F Martoenets, V Vantrik Advisor A Moora
Executive producer- Ants Looman
Once upon a time there lived a terrible monster.
It came from the north and, crossing from one land to the other, it crushed everything alive.
In due time, most likely, it would have wiped out all life on earth.
Many had tried their luck in defeating the monster, but all in vain.
There was a rumor
that one could only be saved from the disaster
with the help of a magic ring.
On the cachet of this signet ring were secret symbols
that would show how to deal with the monster.
But where this ring was kept, no one knew.
At that time, there was young man with a brave heart and a sharp mind
who decided to go get the ring.
Perhaps he would be lucky and succeed?
Yet it so happened that the faithful servants of the monster, evil crows,
had taken notice of the young man and told their master about him,
who decided to destroy the lad.
Behind the monster only remained the ashes of houses,
scorched fields and meadows,
burnt forests.
The young man managed to escape the monster. His road went on through a dark forest
where dangers were to be expected at every step.
A boar closed off the way to everyone who wanted to explore the world.
He didn't want anyone to get to hear the sage's advice.
The young man walked on over unfamiliar paths.
Someone on a quest does not know what "far away" is,
and does not give in to the difficulties awaiting on the road.
He headed north.
On the third day he reached the sage.
And he asked him how he could find this ring.
The sage listened and did not refuse him his help.
After all, the brave youngster had already defeated an enemy on his way to him.
"The wisdom of man is powerless here.
Only birds can lead you to your goal.
But for that it is necessary to learn their language!"
The sage prepared a magical potion made from nine herbs.
The young man drank it and began to understand the language of the birds.
After parting with the sage, the world seemed to have changed to him.
Everywhere the lad found friends,
because he understood the language of birds,
and he learned a lot of interesting things.
One day he heard two birds talking at the top of a tree.
They talked about a dew-spring where in the early dawn...
the fairy who kept the ring came to wash herself.
One can get to the spring by following that deer.
The young man decided immediately not to let the deer slip from his sight.
As the moonlight advanced, the fairy came to the spring.
She was about to leave again, when she noticed a young man under the tree.
And she went up to him.
The young man told her about the disaster that threatened mankind,
and that he wanted to defeat the monster,
so people could live in peace again without their homesteads being destroyed.
They came to a large stone.
It was the entrance to the palace.
The palace was all of gold and silver,
and it was as bright as daylight.
The fairy agreed to help the lad.
Here she had kept the ring locked away.
She took out her key, opened a luxurious casket
and gave the ring to the boy.
This is a magical ring.
If you put it on your right hand - you'll have great strength.
If you put it on your left - you'll become a swallow.
Then they parted and the young man hurried home.
It was easy for him to fly as a bird, but was it safe?
The crows flew up and tried to block the swallow's way.
But the young man's will was stronger than the anger of the black birds.
At last he arrived at the site of the settlement, where the people all the time had been waiting for him.
The best forge masters were called from all the surrounding settlements.
The blacksmiths forged a spear, thick as an average birch-tree
It was sharp at both ends.
Raising the spear was only possible with the help of the ring
The masters also cast an iron horse
which the youngster could ride like a steady boat, pushing at the earth with a spear.
Once more the monster appeared and destroyed everything in its path,
leaving more and more ashes where houses had been.
It was already very close.
The body of the beast was covered with scales that couldn't be penetrated by anything.
Arrows were like straws against it.
Even rocks didn't bother the monster.
It was time to try the magical powers of the ring.
The monster neared the gates of the settlement.
It caught sight of the lad and opened its greedy mouth wide.
The monster's breath brought the iron horse to a stop.
Although the boy's heart grew cold,
he overcame his fear and rode even faster.
Then the monster sent a flock of crows to meet him.
More and more new birds tried to tear the lad apart.
But with each swing of his sword they became less and less.
Finally he had defeated them all.
And here the monster from the north entered the battle itself.
It breathed fire at the youngster,
but even then he was not afraid.
A terrible roar sounded over many miles.
That is how the people realized that the spear had pierced the monster's mouth.
Three days and three nights the monster roared and struggled.
For the crows, the death of the master also meant their own death.
People rejoiced greatly
when they learned that the terrible enemy was defeated.
The victor was met with royal honors.
Before the people stood the brave youth,
who had been not afraid to look danger in the face.
He certainly had something to remember,
and, as befits every brave man - had memories to cherish.
He remembered the wise man that had helped him with advice,
and the kind and trusting fairy
who had known the right person to entrust with the magic ring.
No one ever saw that signet ring again,
but people know that anyone who is brave
could find it again and fight for a good cause.
THE END Subs by Eus after Russian subs, Oct 2017 (Youtube: eus347) Edited - Niffiwan, 2022