Moritzburg – The most beautiful fairy tale film of all time turns 50! For the anniversary, BILD reveals seven secrets about the “Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella” – and why the Christmas classic almost didn’t exist.
1. Million injection from the GDR!
The Czechs ran out of money even before shooting started, the film was about to end! In order to save him, DEFA was brought on board, and the GDR studios donated 1 million marks. Condition: German actors had to take part! Rolf Hoppe became king and Karin Lesch queen.
2. Wrong season!
The film was actually supposed to play in the summer, but the DEFA studios in Babelsberg were occupied. Next available date: Winter 1972/73! The script had to be rewritten for Winter.
3. The model was a picture!
Director Václav Vorlícek loved the winter picture “Hunters in the Snow”, 1565 by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Ä. painted. This is exactly how the Moritzburg scenes should look like!
Another apartment building during the shoot: Schloss Moritzburg
4. Skinny costumes!
Since the costumes were tailored for the originally planned summer shoot, they were far too thin. The actors froze when it was below zero.
5. Smelly Snow!
Since it was bitterly cold during the Moritzburg shoot (January 18-22, 1973), but there was hardly any snow, artificial snow was used to help. It was made from fishmeal – it still smelled weeks later!
Because there was hardly any snow, the palace steps were sprayed with white paint from spray cans
6. Money for light!
In 1973 there were still many rented apartments in the castle. Each tenant received 5 marks if they had to switch on the light during filming – so that the castle looked festively lit from the outside.
7. Wallpapers too ugly!
The scenes in the ballroom were not filmed in Moritzburg, but beforehand in the Babelsberg studios. Director Vorlícek thought the brown leather wallpaper in the castle was too hideous…
By the way: If you come in the costume of a film character from January 18th to 22nd, you can enter the castle free of charge with your companion!
Artificial snow made from fishmeal was sprayed on for the outdoor shoot. It stank for weeks in the Moritzburg Forest…
