by Linda Kay

English Title: The Story of Little Mook

Directed by: Wolfgang Staudte

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: An elderly hunchback named Muck (Johannes Maus) is taunted by the children of an Oriental city so he traps them in his home and makes them listen to his life story, a tale so fanciful it changes their opinion of the man. A clever fantasy film now marred by the fact it was a German production with Caucasian actors playing the Arabian parts in brown makeup.

Cat Cattle Call: As a child, Little Muck sets out on a journey to find the legendary Merchant of Fortune, a quest which takes him across the great desert. As he crosses the vast sandy waste, he is surprised to suddenly find a lovely longhair seal point cat crouching near some rocks for shade.

He cradles the cat in his arms and decides to take the kitty with him on his journey. Muck is startled when he sees a large, beautiful palace; a mirage over what is actually a dilapidated building. A man he believes to be the Merchant of Fortune also disappears before his eyes.

An aged woman named Ahavzi (Trude Hesterberg) opens the door to Muck and happily collects her cat, whose name is Ibrahim . . . only the cat’s color has changed to a mottled tortoiseshell, indicating the cat was also partly a mirage.

Ahavzi explains that she has a great fortune and lives in the middle of nowhere to avoid thieves. She offers Muck food and treasure but quickly forgets, leading him inside her home where she owns what appears to be dozens of cats alongside her many treasures.

Little Muck reminds Ahavzi that she was going to give him some food but she orders him to comb Ibrahim instead. Little Muck doesn’t remember which one is Ibrahim and Ahavzi says he must learn to remember, explaining that cats are more grateful than people.

As he combs Ibrahim, Ahavzi burns his shoes and walking stick so he can’t leave and won’t be tempted to strike her cats.

She calls the cats to dinner and orders Little Muck to make sure they eat and don’t fight. With nothing else offered, Little Muck helps himself to some of the cats’ porridge.

Ahavzi leaves him alone with the kitties, telling him not to get into any mischief.

Ibrahim knocks down a large vase to reveal a lovely walking stick and a pair of ornate shoes.

Little Muck asks the cat if he should take the items for himself and the cat meows his assent.

Ahavzi returns and is startled to see the broken vase and missing cane and shoes. A cat actually jumps down onto her as she stands in wonderment.

Little Muck manages to hide behind Ahavzi as she moves around the room then looks outside, making his escape.

The film is based on a story written by Wilhelm Hauff and first published in The Fairy Tale Almanac for the Year 1826. The main story, entitled The Caravan, mimics the idea of 1001 Arabian Nights with a merchant sharing a series of stories to an interested listening audience, including The Story of Little Muck. In the original story, Ahavzi owned both dogs and cats.

Final Mewsings: You can keep your gold and jewels. Cats are the real treasure.

Many thanks to Jack for letting us know about the cats in this film.

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