The DEFA film "The Devil's Three Golden Hairs”

The DEFA film "The Devil's Three Golden Hairs” comments on how the upper class has a tendency to exploit the lower classes. In this sense, the upper class engages in immoral and even criminal behavior and unruly behavior of the lower classes is thus somewhat justified. This would clearly appeal to the middle classes, serving to grant them a sense of importance and empowerment. Also, I should be considered that the film was made at a time when the Nazi regime in Germany would be a not too distant memory. The linking of the monarch with the devil may be a metaphor for Hitler and his ties to evil. Like the Snow White film the DEFA film "The Devil's Three Golden Hairs” utilizes obvious physical humor. This aspect of the film incorporates younger members of their middle class target audience; perhaps hoping to influence them early on.

DEFA Films

There are obvious parallels between The Devil’s Three Golden Hairs and DEFA’s Schneewittchen. The emphasis on work in The Devil’s Three Golden Hairs becomes apparent in the opening scene at the blacksmith’s shop because the scene seems longer and more detailed than necessary. The idolizing of anything “good” or “hardworking” also manifests itself early in the film, as it also does in Schneewittchen with the scene in the kitchen that cinematically values the work done by the kitchen help. Another similarity between the two films lies in the mockery of the monarchy and disparaging of the vices enjoyed by the monarchy, which include food and money. In The Devil’s Three Golden Hairs, the film seems to associate the monarchy with debauchery (the king’s drunkenness in the forest), along with stupidity (the refusal to believe in the existence of robbers). Interestingly, one major difference between The Devil’s Three Golden Hairs and Schneewittchen is the more chaotic and hectic atmosphere in The Devil’s Three Golden Hairs compared to Schneewittchen, in which the chaos seems confined to scenes involving the monarchy.

The target audience for The Devil’s Three Golden Hairs might have been children in East Germany, whom the government hoped to teach important lessons with the film. The slapstick humor seems like it would have appealed most to children, because it appears a bit too juvenile for an older audience. However, some of the lessons embedded in the film might be hard for children to interpret so maybe the film is also meant for the parents watching the film with their children.

This film is easily spotted as a DEFA production based on its slapstick style. In each that we have seen so far, there was a heavy reliance on physical humor, akin to our American 3 stooges. The audience, therefore, was likely a young adult audience, who could appreciate the adaptation of a simple and probably familiar storyline, as well as enjoy the crude-ish humor of the film. This sort of adaptation would likely only be effective in a visual medium, as opposed to written, and so this filmic rendition serves us well.

Assignment 7 - 17.March 2009

Hi Caitlin, Brian, Amy-Lee, Briana and Lydia,

Here's the assignment for this week. Please note that the deadlines are different from the usual.


After having viewed the DEFA film "The Devil's Three Golden Hairs", do the following:

1. Try to interpret from the movie, who the target audience might be. Keep in mind, that the film was made in 1977 in East Germany.

2. Compare the movie with the DEFA version of Snow White.

3. Explain how the medium 'film' is used to tell the story. You could consider talking about the plot, dialogue, etc.

Do try to touch upon all three points in your blog.

Deadline for posts: 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday

Deadline for comments on at least two posts: Midnight on Wednesday

Looking forward to your posts!

Ann