Log in
Once Upon a Time, There Was a King...

Once Upon a Time, There Was a King...

1955 · 107 min · ★ 8.0 · Family, Comedy, Fantasy

A selfish self-centered widowed ruler, barely tolerated by his subjects and called appropriately enough, 'King Myself, First' asks his three daughters to name the measure of their love for him. When one of them says, "more than salt", he banishes her from the kingdom. Not understanding what she meant the King assumes love can only be measured by precious metals or one's own talent, the 'correct' answers from his other two daughters. The arrogance of the King leads him to gather all the salt in the kingdom and destroy it. Of course, this backfires as he slowly learns the universal value of the substance, and of course, the essence of his daughter's reply. With the help of the wise and magical old 'herb woman', the King also learns what it means to be a true and wise ruler.

Directed by Bořivoj Zeman · Written by Oldřich Kautský

Your Rating

Where to Watch

Rent or Buy

Amazon Video

Cast

Make it a double feature

Once Upon a Time, There Was a King...

Holiday with Angel

Both from Bořivoj Zeman.

More from Bořivoj ZemanSee all →

The Young Lady from the RiversideThe Young Lady from the Riverside · 1959
The Young Lady from the Riverside
★ 8.51959
MovieComedy
The young worker Helena Pokorná and her widowed father are employed in the same factory. The father is spending his holidays at home in Prague and is looking forward to work. Helena is to go to the seaside for a rewarding holiday. On a hot July day, the girl rides to work in a crowded tram. On the embankment, the crowd pushes her out and Helena fails to get into several other cars. Tempted by the river, the girl calls in sick to work. She takes a steamer to Modřany. There she meets a young man who wants to sleep by the river after his night shift. Helena is drawn into the strange pastimes by a group of notorious loafers and water girls.
Holiday with AngelHoliday with Angel · 1953
Holiday with Angel
★ 7.61953
MovieComedy
Strict and always dissatisfied grumbler Mr. Angel gets a voucher for summer recreation. He rejects it at first but he eventually decides to use it and spend 14 days in unionist hut Jezerka together with other merited co-workers.
Páté kolo u vozuPáté kolo u vozu · 1958
Páté kolo u vozu
★ 7.51958
MovieComedy
Although the emancipated editor of a women's magazine proclaims that grandparents in particular should not be abused by their adult children, she accepts without scruple the fact that her mother, still a sprightly pensioner, works in her household as a jack-of-all-trades without receiving not only any pay but also no recognition. However, the grandmother learns from an article written by her daughter - and rebels.
The Terribly Sad PrincessThe Terribly Sad Princess · 1968
The Terribly Sad Princess
★ 7.51968
MovieMusicComedy
Like a fairy tale, King Henry and King Good-thought decided long ago that their only children should marry and so prevent war arising between their kingdoms ever again. But the young prince is wary of marrying anyone he doesn’t know.
The Proud PrincessThe Proud Princess · 1952
The Proud Princess
★ 7.21952
MovieFamilyComedy
It's very human and nice story about lofty princess (her father is amiable but incapable - unforgettable performance of S. Neumann) and good, nice, kind and well-principled young king (prince) who tries to make tender her calm heart to get married with her. After being refused (she's very capricious), he conclude to make her better. He start to work as a gardener at her castle (in secret) and successively bring she to her senses...The story continues when already reformed princess and the young king (she learn about his real identity later) have to take refuge from troops, that princess father (old king) has sent (of course he took a bad and mean counsellors advice). They have to take shelter by several ordinary and poor families, which are always very friendly and give them a help... Of course the tale has happy end.
The Phantom of MorrisvilleThe Phantom of Morrisville · 1966
The Phantom of Morrisville
★ 7.01966
MovieComedyMystery
Inspector Brumpby (Jaroslav Marvan) and the young crime reporter Allan Pinkerton (Vít Olmer) attend wedding of Sir Hannibal Morris (Oldrich Nový) with beautiful Clarence (Kveta Fialová). After the ceremony, Clarence's ex-husband, criminal Manuel Diaz (Waldemar Matuska), who was believed dead, shows up in her room. He wants to get his hands on Clarence and, most importantly, on the money she would inherit in the eventuality of her new husband's death. Diaz makes attempts on Hannibal's life. He knows his way about an underground labyrinth in the château and the traps he sets up for Hannibal seem to work, since Hannibal is apparently found dead after an explosion in the labyrinth, after which his body vanishes. The inspector tries to solve the countless mysteries. In this, he is joined by Allan, always ahead of the man of the law in his estimation and judgment of the situation.
A Dead Man among the LivingA Dead Man among the Living · 1947
A Dead Man among the Living
★ 7.01947
MovieDrama
Human bravery can take many forms, just as ideas about it can. Small-town public opinion begins to despise a postal clerk because he gave cash to robbers who didn't hesitate to shoot. The result is a successful study of a man whose previous certainties begin to crumble due to a fateful event.
Women OffsideWomen Offside · 1971
Women Offside
★ 7.01971
MovieComedy
Kastl is a hairdresser but his real passion is his second job as football referee. This job takes all his free time and makes his wife very nervous.
Nevíte o bytě?Nevíte o bytě? · 1947
Nevíte o bytě?
★ 7.01947
MovieComedy
A comedy about the post-war housing crisis in Prague, which several young people are struggling with. The young puppeteer Josef lives in a sublet with the singer Šimůnek, who is currently missing. After returning from a trip, Josef discovers that a demobilized member of the foreign army, a Slovak woman named Elena, has been given a decree for the apartment. And she does not want a sublet. The couple starts looking for a new sublet, but is unsuccessful due to the housing crisis. However, since the two young people have fallen in love in the meantime, the solution seems obvious...
Angel in the MountainsAngel in the Mountains · 1955
Angel in the Mountains
★ 6.91955
MovieComedy
Mr. Angel goes winter sporting and at the same time investigates his son's fiancee.
Almost KingAlmost King · 1977
Almost King
★ 6.21977
MovieFantasyFamily
A fairy tale about how those who have a heart and are not stingy will not fail. The most popular hero of Czech fairy tales, besides the brave prince and the beautiful princess, is undoubtedly Honza, who is often not stupid at all, but on the contrary brave, clever, handsome and cheerful.
A Christmas DreamA Christmas Dream · 1945
A Christmas Dream
★ 5.81945
MovieAnimationFantasy
Christmas has arrived. As a little girl and her parents enter the room, the little girl finds all kinds of toys under the Christmas Tree. She immediately throws her old doll aside and starts playing with her new dolls. But that night she has a dream. Or maybe it isn't a dream?
13th district13th district · 1946
13th district
★ 4.61946
MovieCrimeDrama
Inspector Cadek from the 13th police station keeps an eye on the released safe-cracker nicknamed The Cat. He rightly suspects that Cat will go and pick up his last loot which the police didn't manage to find and that he will want revenge on Karta who helped put him behind bars. At the hospital, Cat's ex-lover Fróny hopelessly falls for doctor Chrudimský and decides to start a new life. She still refuses to help the inspector in his search for The Cat and Karta.
Bolek i Lolek Zimowe WakacjeBolek i Lolek Zimowe Wakacje · 1963
Bolek i Lolek Zimowe Wakacje
1963
MovieAnimationFamily
Pan NovákPan Novák · 1949
Pan Novák
1949
MovieComedy
Mr. Novák, an insurance company clerk, only cares about his job, nothing else interests him. Even the social changes in February 1948 leave him indifferent. He only becomes aware of them when the insurance company is closed down. He has to make a decision: either retire or go to work in a factory. Neither of these options appeals to Mr. Novák...
La magie Karel ZemanLa magie Karel Zeman · 2015
La magie Karel Zeman
2015
MovieAnimationFantasy
French DVD compilation of five short films by Czech animator Karel Zeman.

More Like This

An Occurrence at Owl Creek BridgeAn Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge · 1961
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
★ 7.61961
MovieDramaFantasy
During the American Civil War, a Southerner is about to be hanged from a bridge for sabotage when something unexpected happens.
Give the Devil His DueGive the Devil His Due · 1985
Give the Devil His Due
★ 7.71985
MovieFamilyFantasy
Dorota, a bad woman married the miller, out of sheer greed drives him to death. She then took the mill away from his son Peter and threw him out of the hime. Lucifer, who is known to rule in hell, sends out the devil Janek. He is supposed to fetch Dorota because the measure of her earthly sins is overflowing. But the devil himself can not handle this evil woman and flees to the military. There he meets Peter. By joining forces, they finally succeed in transporting the wicked Dorota to hell. Since then hell is hell. But for Peter, who is suddenly in possession of a magic mantle, begins a nice time, because strangely, the prince shows great interest in him.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter