The Little Mermaid (1976) User Reviews

Very nice movie, we lack such ones now.

[AMur · 8/10 · 19 June 1999]

One more wonderful "Barrandov Movie". Back in USSR we used to watch anything, that came from "Barrandov Studios", especially children movies. This one matches the great standards they had in Czechoslovaky at 60-70-80s. Maybe too many "blank spaces", where they just show the sky or sea, but generally, beautiful scenery, nice costumes and the very best actors of the genre make this move one of the best filming of Andersen's "Little Mermaid".

"I collect human follies."

[morrison-dylan-fan · 8/10 · 24 April 2016]

Talking to a DVD seller about Czech cinema,I found out about a very early Czech adaptation of The Little Mermaid.Being interested in seeing an adaptation that is different to the Disney take,I decided that it was time to Czech out the mermaid.

The plot:

Getting told that her dad is able to see what humans are doing on the land,mermaid Malá morská Víla creeps in,and is surprised to find a stature of her mum.Getting caught by her dad, víla is told about how great her mother was,and how great she will be,when she takes over from him as leader of the mermaids. Receiving a chance to put her head above the sea for the first time, Víla spots Prince Jizní Rise drowning,and decides to save Rise by taking him to shore.Being well aware that humans do not live for the 300 years that mermaids do, Víla is unable to stop a great desire of wanting to do anything to swim into Rise's heart.

View on the film:

Made when the Czech New Wave had gone under the sea,co-writer/(along with Ota Hofman) director Karel Kachyna looks towards the New Wave music that was coming into shore.Giving each of the mermaids very…unique haircuts, Kachyna and cinematographer Jaroslav Kucera dive into the New Wave atmosphere,with the mermaids being covered in floating clothes and the waves of smoke over the sea (which was actually a lime quarry location!) , breath-heavy songs and lavish eye shadows swimming in the New Wave vibe. Swept up in the whimsical New Wave mood of their Hans Christian Andersen adaptation,the screenplay by Kachyna and Hofman is initially unsure over what direction the river is running,with everything in the relationship between Král vsech morí and Malá morská víla being kept on the surface, and pulling away from an emotional depth.

Stepping onto land,the writers reveal a new set of legs in their confidence,by showing an impressive delicacy over casting víla's richly melancholy love for Ríse across the sea,as a startlingly stylised red sea bleeds for the inevitable doomed romance.Joined by an elegant Jaroslava Schallerová, (who made her debut in the Czech Fantasy Valerie and Her Week of Wonder) Miroslava Safránková gives an extraordinary performance as Víla,whose painful love for the prince Safránková expresses with a gradual change in body language ,as the little mermaid swims out to sea.

MAGIC !

[chanatr · 10/10 · 4 January 2001]

Forget everything you may have seen regarding the "Little Mermaid". This movie is by far the best adaptation of the story. We all know more or less the story but there is some magic in this film, the way Kachyna used the colors (mostly blue).The main actress is just amazing and her submarine kingdom is beautiful. One word to describe this movie: MAGIC

A beautiful film..

[yasmin67 · 10/10 · 1 August 2005]

I first saw this film when I was ten in Germany. Quite by chance! I still remember listening to the little mermaid singing that bewitching beautiful haunting song at the beginning of the film and it stayed with me...until 15 years later, in England, they showed it... The film is far more than just another fairy-tale retelling! It is artful! It is more a film about unconditional love and the sacrifices one makes in life. The little mermaid gives up her father (who she loves above all else) and her home to be with the man whose life she saved. The film is beautifully shot - the mystical allure of the waves is captured and the music seems to dance with the waves. The Kingdom beneath the sea is somewhere magical and tangible. Her father laments on the nature of man who is bent on destruction and the film even touches on philosophy. It shows that man is subject to the laws of Nature. No-one can conquer the sea! There are things beyond Heaven and Earth. Other realms. It is a film rich in symbolism - from the little mermaid's bloodied feet upon the sand where she walks to the knife her father sends her through the ocean's waves so that she can kill her Prince and regain her immortality.I am now 39 and recorded this off German TV (have German satellite here in England!) and watch it every year..you can get the DVD at Amazon.de...it always reminds of me of why I am alive and that the secret of happiness is very simple indeed...This film is not a cartoon, but a proper film made in Czechoslovakia and will appeal to those of us who believe in the soul...The Little Mermaid is Innocence itself and her Beauty shines through every scene...

Fabulous

[Atulur · 10/10 · 23 June 2005]

Of course, this Czechoslovak film ranks among the best of the 70's. The movie came to being at the time after the ominous 1968, the directors were allowed to shoot either political (i.e. communist) propaganda pieces, or if they did not want it, they chose fairy tales. Kachyna tried the Little Mermaid and he did right.Time has not washed away its magic and inner beauty... The Safrankova sisters are excellent in their competing roles, the depiction of the Deep Blue Sea is flawless. The score is also fitting. The whole mood of the film is rather sad, the end, of course, tragic. If I compare the Czechoslovak films coming from those days to the films that are shot at present, it is clear that despite all modern computer methods and tricks the present ones lack the atmosphere of those in the past. It is not only the production that makes them worse but also the quality of screenplay and acting. Very sad.

The Little Mermaid

[peter-2007 · 10/10 · 4 January 2014]

This is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. The sets and costumes for the world under the sea are dressed in blue and pale green and the world above in crimson and russet. The Sea People don't have tails due to 70's special effects limitations, so slow motion is used to represent movement underwater. This results in a dream-like vision of the mer-people's world. It's by far the most faithful adaptation of Hans Anderson's tale of painful unrequited love. If you're only aware of the jolly (and yet delightful) Disney version, be aware that this one is heart-breaking and quite haunting. There is definitely an English version out there (The German and Czech versions have released on DVD). I can remember it being shown in English on BBC1 around 1976/7. I do hope they release that version also. This is a true unsung classic and deserves to be seen by a wider audience.

little mermaid

[cherishedcat · 9/10 · 16 January 2007]

When i saw this movie in 1977 on the TV i was impressed and touched by it. Remember crying at the end of the movie. It was very touching.The way the father appears at the beginning on the rocks. And the way the mermaid leaves the bloody footprints on the sand at the beach.The acceptance of her father of his youngest daughters choice. The flowers at the end on the water. The scene where she holds the dagger but can not strike. Her inner struggle between her love for the prince and the choice of staying with her family.The toys the girls play with. The dead sailors at the sea bottom.The make up. The clothes, the slow motion in the walking and running scenes when she visits the salt statue of her mother. Never have forgotten it and was given the DVD (german narrated) a few years ago as a present. Have not found the original version yet. The song the mermaid sang i still remember.It is a pity it never was on TV here again.

Impressed

[sstefis · 10/10 · 26 October 2020]

I discovered this film by mere casualty. I was surprised to know there was this adaptation of the story who definitely correspond better w the original tale. How precious is to find these lost gems. Nice decor and beautiful way of storytelling

By far my favorite farytale(movie)

[simonmattera · 10/10 · 30 September 2023]

I think the little mermaid is the most tragic and sad lovestory in world literature. Forget disney, thats not hans christian andersons tale especially not what he ment to tell us. It's about unforfilled love. The sacrifice you are willing to make for the one you love. Alienation, loosing your voice and ultimately giving your own life for a greater good. This adaption is haunting and melancholic. The only downside is that the mermaid doesn't have a tail (well no cgi back then) but it may look odd when its about a mermaid becoming a human with legs, when she had them before, but they tried the best with those long blue ropes simulating the mer people. The main actress is simply stunningly beautiful and she's a redhead, even before disney she was ;-) Music adds up perfectly to the melancholy and the overall production is rich for a 70s czech production, like all their farytalemovies (three wishes for cinderella, sleeping beauty and others). I just saw the life action disney version. Worlds apart. You cant even compare cause its not the same story. Go watch this one!

This film is available in Germany.

[kehkehbia · 1 September 2007]

Hello, I wish I could understand German,or Czech, because this is a fantastic Film which I saw in 1974, and is now available on WWW.AMAZON.DE

That is the German Amazon. And also with WWW.YOPI.DE Its called "Die Kleine Meerjung Frau" it was directed by Karel Kachyna, and It is the best little mermaid film! I recently viewed you tube and someone claimed to have a clip of Mala Morska Vila but it was the Russian film , and although good its nothing compared to this Great Czech version, and its 2 great stars the Safrankova sisters Miroslava and Libuse Safrankova. excellent and timelessly haunting.

If anyone has a copy in English or subtitled in English please please email me at

Sabina@in box.com