The Blue Bird (1908)

• 57%
• 1908
• Fantasy

In this beautiful incline we see Princess Florine with her queen mother and sister Trouty in their apartment in the castle. Trouty, who is very ugly, is the spoilt child of the family, while Florine, who is beautiful, seems to be in no great favor with her mother, the Queen. The King now enters, bearing a message from Prince Charming, stating that he intends paying a visit, They make great preparations to entertain the young nobleman, and when he arrives they receive him with great pomp and ceremony. He is introduced to Florine and falls desperately in love with her at first sight, but the mother, who has other designs for her royal guest, presents Trouty, who she hopes will captivate the young man, but when the Prince sees her ugly face he turns away in disgust and leaves. The Queen has Florine locked up in the tower so as to be rid of her and her beguiling ways; but the girl's governess succeeds in getting the keys away from the keeper and is assisting Florine to in escape when they meet the Queen on the stairs and she forces the girl back into her prison. In the meantime, Prince ('harming, who has come to aid in the rescue, is waiting at the foot of the stairs. The mother, bent on having her way, throws a veil over Trouty's head, and the happy Prince, thinking the veiled lady is the beautiful Florine, gently leads her away to the fairy Queen and King, who make great preparations for the wedding. Just as they are about to be married he discovers the deception and denounces the woman, and refuses to accept her as his wife. The King, to protect him in his designs, turns him into a blue bird and he flies away, paying a visit to Florine in the tower. The soldiers chase the bird and capture it, and take it back to the Fairy King, who changes it into Prince Charming again. The young man is then supplied with an army, which he leads in an attack on the castle, and, rescuing Florine, carries her away to Fairyland. The last picture shows the grand reception and the marriage of the happy Prince and Florine, while they kneel and receive the father's blessing.